The death of Alexander III in 1286 plunged Scotland into a crisis of succession. As a result, Scotland came close to civil war and Edward I of England gained control of the country.
Alexander III ruled Scotland from 1249 to 1286. During that time he took control of the Western Isles and oversaw an increase in agriculture and trade for Scotland. His rein saw a stable period in Scotland’s history. But his death plunged the country into a succession crisis.
In March 1286, Alexander was travelling from Edinburgh to Fife when he became separated from his advisers during a storm. The next day, he was found dead, apparently having fallen from his horse. He left no immediate heir.
Alexander's daughter and two sons had died before him. His second wife, Queen Yolande was pregnant, but lost the child.
As a result, the Scottish nobles agreed to the coronation of Alexander's granddaughter Margaret, the Maid of Norway. However, this choice was not a perfect solution: