Alexander II, King of Scots
| Alexander II | |
|---|---|
_i.JPG) |
|
| King of Scots | |
| Reign | 4 December 1214 – 6 July 1249 |
| Coronation | 6 December 1214 |
| Predecessor | William I the Lion |
| Successor | Alexander III |
| Born |
24 August 1198 Haddington, East Lothian |
| Died | 6 July 1249 (aged 50) Kerrera, Inner Hebrides |
| Burial | Melrose Abbey |
| Consort |
Joan of England Marie de Coucy |
| Issue |
Alexander III of Scotland Marjorie (illegitimate), wife of Alan Durward |
| House | Dunkeld |
| Father | William I the Lion |
| Mother | Ermengarde de Beaumont |
Alexander II (Mediaeval Gaelic: Alaxandair mac Uilliam; Modern Gaelic: Alasdair mac Uilleim; 24 August 1198 – 6 July 1249) was King of Scots from 1214 until his death in 1249.
He was born at Haddington, East Lothian, the only son of the Scottish king William the Lion and Ermengarde of Beaumont. He spent time in England (John of England knighted him at Clerkenwell Priory in 1213) before succeeding to the kingdom on the death of his father on 4 December 1214, being crowned at Scone on 6 December the same year.
In 1215, the year after his accession, the clans Meic Uilleim and MacHeths, inveterate enemies of the Scottish crown, broke into revolt; but loyalist forces speedily quelled the insurrection. In the same year Alexander joined the English barons in their struggle against John of England, and led an army into the Kingdom of England in support of their cause. This action led to the sacking of Berwick-upon-Tweed as John's forces ravaged the north.
The Scottish forces reached the south coast of England at the port of Dover where in September 1216, Alexander paid homage to the pretender Prince Louis of France for his lands in England, chosen by the barons to replace King John. But John having died, the Pope and the English aristocracy changed their allegiance to his nine-year-old son, Henry, forcing the French and the Scots armies to return home.
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