Alexander 3rd....1249-1286
Akexander came to the throne at 8 years of age.
At the battle of Largs in 1263, he succeeded in defeating King Haakon of Norway and his Vikings.
His first marriage was to Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry 3rd of England. Alexander had 3 children but they all predeceased him and he married for the second time to Yolande de Deux, a French noblewoman, Within six months of the marriage however, Alexander was killed in an accident when his horse stumbled in the dark and threw him off a cliff. It is said that Yolande was pregnant at the time and miscarried when she heard this news.

Margaret, the Maid of Norway. ...1286-1290.
The Grand-daughter of Alexander 3rd, Margaret became Queen of Scotland at age three. She was the last of the House of Canmore. Alexander's daughter had married Eric 11 of Norway and Margaret was born of that union.
In 1290, she left Norway for Scotland but took ill on the voyage and died before setting foot in her new realm.
Prior to this, by the Treaty of Birgham in 1290, it had been agreed that Margaret would marry the future King of England, Edward 2nd., but her death invalidated this treaty.

Inter-regnum ...1292.....1296
Their were thirteen claimants to the now empty throne of Scotland, the two main ones being John Baliol and Rober Bruce, Eral of Annandale. It was decided to ask King Edward of England to settle the crown on one of these. Edward of course, ever anxious to annexe Scotland, used this to his own advantage, insisting that the King of Scotland should be subservient to the King of England. Edward settled on John Baliol, at the same time demanding custody of many of the important castles in Scotland.

John Baliol 1292-1296
Baliol was crowned at Scone in 1292, however King Edward's demands became intolerable and Baliol tried to renew the 'Auld Alliance' with France. A furious King Edward then invaded Scotland and routed the Scots army at Dunbar in 1296. Baliol was stripped of his Royal Insignia and sent to the tower. He was later released and spent the rest of his life in France.

Inter-regnum....1206-1306.
With Baliol now out of the way, King Edward effectively ruled in Scotland for the next ten years.
William Wallace and Andrew de Moray defeated Edward at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and were made Guardians of the Realm of Scotland. De Moray died shortly after the victory and Wallace briefly governed the country. He was defeated at the Battle of Falkirk but continued a guerilla campaign agains Edward's forces in Scotland.
He was betrayed and captured in 1305 and executed at London.

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