The Maid of Norway: Scotland's Lost Queen and a Succession Crisis

In 1286, the death of King Alexander III plunged Scotland into a succession crisis that would reshape its history. His only direct heir was a four-year-old girl living in Norway: Margaret, the Maid of Norway, daughter of King Eric II and Alexander's daughter. This episode explores the unprecedented plan to bring a child queen from across the North Sea to rule Scotland, the political maneuvering of the Guardians of Scotland, the Treaty of Salisbury that secured her succession, and the tragic voyage that ended with her death in Orkney in 1290. We discuss the negotiations with Edward I of England, who saw an opportunity to assert influence, and the scramble for power that followed Margaret's death, leading directly to the Wars of Independence. Along the way, we touch on the Norse legacy in the Isles, the role of the Scottish Parliament, and the 'Great Cause' that erupted over competing claims to the throne. It's a story of what-ifs and the fragility of royal bloodlines. #MaidOfNorway #QueenMargaret #ScottishSuccession #AlexanderIII #KingEricII #TreatyOfSalisbury #GuardiansOfScotland #GreatCause #EdwardI #Orkney #NorseScotland #WarsOfIndependence #MedievalScotland #ScottishHistory #History #FexingoHistory #BirghamTreaty #ThroneOfScotland Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo