Alexander II.

Alexander II., born at Haddington in 1198, succeeded his father, William the Lion, in 1214. He early displayed that wisdom and strength of character, in virtue of which he holds so high a place in history among Scottish kings. The first act of his reign was to enter into a league with the English barons who had combined to resist the tyranny of King John. This drew down upon him and his kingdom the papal excommunication; but two years later, the ban was removed, and the liberties of the Scottish Church were even confirmed. On the accession of Henry III. to the English throne, Alexander brought the feuds of the two nations to a temporary close by a treaty of peace (1217), in accordance with which he married Henry's eldest sister, the Princess Joan (1221). The alliance thus established was broken after the death, without issue, of Queen Joan (1238), and the second marriage of Alexander with the daughter of a noble of France. In 1244 Henry marched against Scotland, to compel Alexander's homage. In this emergency, the Scottish king received the steady support of the barons, whose ordinary policy was opposition to the crown, and, according to Matthew Paris, he found himself, in a short time, at the head of 100,000 foot and 10,000 horse. A peace was concluded without an appeal to arms. In 1249, while engaged in an expedition to wrest the Hebrides from Norway, Alexander died of fever at Kerrera, a small island opposite Oban. During his reign, Argyll and Galloway were brought into subjection to the crown.