Margaret of England

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Margaret of England (1240–75), queen of Alexander III of Scotland. Eldest daughter of Henry III, she married Alexander III at York on 26 December 1251. Her early married life was disrupted by the factional quarrels of Alexander's minority (1249–60), and Henry III was frequently concerned for her welfare, himself coming to Scotland to see her in 1255—and to back a new government by Scottish nobles who had his confidence. She later made several visits to the English court, and in 1261 gave birth at Windsor to her eldest child Margaret (married to Eric II of Norway in 1281). Her sons Alexander and David were born in 1264 and 1273 respectively. Apparently a beauty and deeply pious, she was buried in Dunfermline abbey. By 1284 her three children were also dead, which left as heir to the Scots throne her granddaughter Margaret, ‘the Maid of Norway’.

Keith J. Stringer

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Margaret of England

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