Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Norway

Margaret of Scotland
Queen consort of Norway
Tenure	1281 – 9 April 1283
Born	28 February 1261 Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England
Died	9 April 1283 (aged 22) Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norway
Burial	Old Cathedral, Bergen
Spouse	Eric II of Norway
Issue	Margaret, Maid of Norway
House	Dunkeld
Father	Alexander III of Scotland
Mother	Margaret of England

Margaret of Scotland (Old Norse: Margrét Alexandersdóttir; Norwegian: Margrete Alexandersdotter; Scottish Gaelic: Maighread Nic Rìgh Alasdair; 28 February 1261 – 9 April 1283) was Queen of Norway as the wife of King Eric II.^[1]

Biography

She was born at Windsor Castle, the daughter of King Alexander III of Scotland and his first wife, Margaret of England. Margaret came to Norway at 20 years of age to marry the 13-year-old king Eric Magnusson. Eric became king of Norway on 9 May 1280. A marriage contract was signed in royal burgh of Roxburgh on 25 July 1281. The treaty also included a provision for the children of Margaret and Eric to succeed to throne of the kingdom of the Scots. Margaret's dowry was set at 14,000 marks sterling. The year after the wedding was held in Bergen, Norway when Margaret was also crowned queen.

The marriage between Margaret and Eric stands out as a typical marriage of political note. It would reconcile and resolve the Scottish-Norwegian antagonisms that had developed since 1266 resulting from the terms of the Treaty of Perth.^[2] Under the treaty, Norway had given up the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland, in return for a lump sum of 4000 marks and an annuity of 100 marks. Scotland also confirmed Norwegian sovereignty over Shetland and Orkney Islands.

Queen Margaret died in Tønsberg, during or shortly after giving birth to Margaret, Maid of Norway, who would become queen regnant of the Kingdom of Scotland upon the death of her grandfather, King Alexander III on 19 March 1286.^[3]

Queen Margaret was buried in the Old Cathedral on Holmen in Bergen. This cathedral was demolished in 1531. The site, in present day Bergenhus Fortress, is marked by a memorial.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Norway

16. Henry, Earl of Northumbria               8. William I of Scotland                       17. Ada de Warenne               4. Alexander II of Scotland                             18. Richard I, Viscount de Beaumont               9. Ermengarde de Beaumont                       19. Constance FitzRoy               2. Alexander III of Scotland                                   20. Ralph I, Lord of Coucy               10. Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy                       21. Alice de Dreux               5. Marie de Coucy                             22. Jean I, Lord of Montmirail               11. Marie de Montmirel                       23. Helvide de Dampierre               1. Margaret of Scotland                                         24. Henry II of England               12. John of England                       25. Eleanor of Aquitaine               6. Henry III of England                             26. Aymer, Count of Angoulême               13. Isabella of Angoulême                       27. Alice of Courtenay               3. Margaret of England                                   28. Alfonso II, Count of Provence               14. Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence                       29. Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier               7. Eleanor of Provence                             30. Thomas I, Count of Savoy               15. Beatrice of Savoy                       31. Margaret of Geneva

Sources

The primary Scottish accounts of the life of Margaret are found in the Chronicle of Lanercost and the Chronica Gentis Scotorum by John of Fordun. The date of the death of Queen Margaret is given as 9 April 1283 in the Chronica Gentis Scotorum, but the Chronicle of Lanercost states her death to have been 27/28 February 1283.

References

1. Margrete Aleksandersdotter – utdypning (Store norske leksikon)
2. Agreement between Magnus IV and Alexander III, 1266
3. Margrete Eiriksdotter – utdypning (Store norske leksikon)

Other sources

• Anderson, A. Orr Early Sources of Scottish History (Vol 2, Edinburgh. 1922)