Alexander II of Scotland

Alexander II ( born August 24, 1198 Haddington, East Lothian, † July 8th, 1249 at Kerrera ) was Scottish king 1214 until his death. He was the son of William I and his wife Irmgard de Beaumont.

Life

In 1215 the Clan MacWilliam and Macbeth, bitter opponents of the Scottish royal house, an uprising instigated; but loyal troops could translate this. In the same year, Alexander allied with the English nobles to depose King John. But after his death in 1216 agreed the new English king Henry III. and the French crown prince Louis VIII a peace treaty, which also joined Scotland. Diplomatic relations were deepened by the marriage of Alexander with Henry's sister Johanna on June 18, 1221.

1222 by then semi- sovereign Argyll has been fully integrated into the Scottish kingdom. Royal troops crushed an uprising in 1235 effortlessly Galloway down, and the subsequent attempt an invasion by the exiled leader was unsuccessful. In the Treaty of York border disputes with England were in 1237 ended with a compromise.

Johanna died in March 1238 in Essex and Alexander married on May 15, 1239 Marie de Coucy Boves out of the house. On September 4, 1241 she gave birth to the future King Alexander III.

The threat of invasion by Heinrich in 1243 temporarily ended the peaceful relations with England. Alexander responded promptly and sent an army to the south. The English nobles, however, were not interested in a renewed war and forced Henry in 1244 to the signing of a peace treaty in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Now, Alexander turned his attention to the inclusion of the Outer Hebrides, which were nominally still connected to Norway. The negotiations on a purchase of the islands failed. Ewen, son of Duncan, Lord of Argyll, was still the Norwegian king loyal to. Alexander wanted to achieve that Ewen aufkündigte this connection, however, was rejected.

Alexander set sail to force Ewen by the threat of force to back down. In the island of Kerrera ill in the Inner Hebrides Alexander, however, difficult, and died on July 8, 1249, respectively. He was buried in Melrose Abbey in Roxburghshire. His son Alexander III. followed him to the throne.