Alexander (of Scotland) III

King of Scots (1249–86), the son of Alexander II. In 1251 he married Margaret (1240–75), the eldest daughter of Henry III of England. He completed the consolidation of the W part of the kingdom by annexing the Hebrides and the Isle of Man, after defeating Haakon IV of Norway at Largs in 1263. The period between 1266 and the death of Queen Margaret in 1275 has often been seen as a golden age for Scotland.

Alexander III
King of Scots
Reign	July 6, 1249–19 March 1286
Born	4 September 1241
Died	19 March 1286
Buried	Dunfermline Abbey
Predecessor	Alexander II
Successor	Margaret
Consort	Margaret of England Yolande de Dreux
Issue	Margaret, Alexander, David
Father	Alexander II
Mother	Marie de Coucy

Alexander III (4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286), King of Scots, was born at Roxburgh, the only son of Alexander II by his second wife Marie de Coucy. At the marriage of Alexander to Margaret of England in 1251, Henry III seized the opportunity to demand from his son-in-law homage for the Scottish kingdom, but Alexander did not comply. She died in 1274, after they had three children:

Margaret (28 February 1260–9 April 1283), who married King Eirik II of Norway Alexander (21 January 1263–28 January, 1283) David (20 March 1272–June 1281)

According to the Lanercost Chronicle, Alexander did not spend his decade as a widower alone: "he used never to forbear on account of season nor storm, nor for perils of flood or rocky cliffs, but would visit none too creditably nuns or matrons, virgins or widows as the fancy seized him, sometimes in disguise." Robert the Bruce: King of Scots, 1996

Preceded by: Alexander II

King of Scots 1249–1286

Succeeded by: Guardians of Scotland then John

v • d • e Monarchs of Scotland (Alba)

	Traditional List of Monarchs of the Picts Legendary Monarchs • Drest of the 100 Battles • Talorc I • Nechtan I • Drest II • Galan • Drest III • Drest IV • Gartnait I • Cailtram • Talorc II • Drest V • Galam Cennalath • Bruide I • Gartnait II • Nechtan II • Cinioch • Gartnait III • Bruide II • Talorc III • Talorgan I • Gartnait IV • Drest VI • Bruide III • Taran • Bruide IV • Nechtan IV • Drest VII • Alpín I • Óengus I • Bruide V • Cináed I • Alpín II • Talorgan II • Drest VIII • Conall • Caustantín • Óengus II • Drest IX • Eogán • Ferat • Bruide VI • Cináed II • Bruide VII • Drest X
something	Traditional List of Monarchs of the Scots Cináed I • Domnall I • Causantín I • Áed • Eochaid* • Giric • Domnall II • Causantín II • Máel Coluim I • Idulb • Dub • Cuilén • Cináed II • Amlaíb • Cináed II • Causantín III • Cináed III • Máel Coluim II • Donnchad I • Mac Bethad • Lulach • Máel Coluim III • Domnall III Bán • Donnchad II • Domnall III Bán • Edgar • Alexander I • David I • Máel Coluim IV • William I • Alexander II • Alexander III • First Interregnum • John • Second Interregnum • Robert I • David II • Edward • David II • Robert II • Robert III • James I • James II • James III • James IV • James V • Mary I • James VI** • Charles I** • The Covenanters • The Protectorate • Charles II** • James VII** • Mary II** • William II** • Anne** * status as King is doubted ** also monarch of Ireland and England