On 17th January 1284 Alexander, Prince of Scotland died aged just 20.
The young prince was the son and heir of Alexander III, there are a few snippets about oor Alexander online, he was matched up and married to Margaret, daughter of Guy, count of Flanders, a dowry was agreed, they were married at Namur, present day Belgium on 15th November 1282.
Alexander’s sister died in Norway in childbirth in 1283, leaving Alexander as the sole surviving child of the King of Scotland, hastily the King married Yolande of Dreux in an attempt to stop any succession issues.
Now the dates on this differ, I was flagged yesterday, 16th, but after researching it another date, the 28th, came up, add to that a third date, today’s was also given, I have plumped for today…….the young Alexander died, at Lindores in Fife, he was buried at Dunfermline Abbey.
The Royal court waited until February to see if the widow Margaret was pregnant, when it became apparent she wasn’t moves were made to acknowledge Margaret, the Maid of Norway, as legitimate heir of Alexander III.
Alexander fell of his horse doon a cliff in Fife two years later, Margaret, Maid of Norway died en-route to Scotland, King Edward I of England got involved and we all know what that led to.
Pics are reconstructions of how Lindores Abbey, and Dunfermline Abbey may have looked back in the day.
