A Fairhair Thistle TL- Margaret, Maid of Norway Survives

Potential husband, for Margaret, Maid of Norway?

  • King Edward II of England

    Votes: 12 46.2%
  • King Louis X of France

    Votes: 3 11.5%
  • Robert Bruce

    Votes: 3 11.5%
  • John Balliol

    Votes: 1 3.8%
  • A Scandinavian Match

    Votes: 1 3.8%
  • A English Match

    Votes: 2 7.7%
  • A Scottish Match

    Votes: 4 15.4%

  • Total voters
    26
  • Poll closed .
TL: Margaret, Maid of Norway survives her bout of illness in September, 1290 and travels to the Kingdom of Scotland, where is crowned,

Sorry, if this has been done before this is my first threat,

Was also wondering, which husband would be best for her?
 
I don't know who would be best, but OTL the arrangement involved Edward Prince of Wales (Edward II to be), and breaking that would probably not end well.
 
Like Elfwine, I think Edward II would probably be the best match for the Maid of Norway. According to what I read, Eric II of Norway, Margaret's father, asked Edward I to intervene to secure the Maid of Norway's position in Scotland. It seems that, from that moment on, Edward I planned to marry his son Edward II to Margaret: he even had received a papal dispensation ten days after he signed a treaty with Eric II. So, it's likely Edward I would intervene to secure Margaret's position and ensure her marriage to the Prince of Wales.
Of course, if Edward II marries Margaret, then he won't marry Isabelle de France later on. Since the bethroal of Isabelle to Edward II was linked to a treaty between Philippe IV and Edward I, I think it would result in different terms. I'm also starting to wonder who Isabelle de France would marry in such a scenario...

If the Scott truly wish to remain independent (Margaret's marriage with Edward II would result in an Anglo-Scottish Personnal Union), then it's possible they will ask for Margaret to wed John Balliol or Robert Bruce since they are possible counter-claimants. I doubt though that the Scot will wish to risk a war with Edward I.
I doubt Louis X of France would be considered: the French might wish to have the Scots as allies against England, I doubt Philippe IV of France (Louis' father) would see any interests in that marriage. Scotland is too far away from France and, furthermore, too close to England for the Roi de fer*'s tastes in my opinion.

*Iron King. It's a common nickname given to Philippe IV of France because he was described as a very cold being. He is more known as Philippe le Bel (the Fair) in the World though.
 
This scenario, while potentially creating an earlier Union of the Crowns, would incidentally mean that the English Kings have no claim to the French throne itself - save for their lands in Aquitaine they have nothing to hold against the Capetians.
 
This scenario, while potentially creating an earlier Union of the Crowns, would incidentally mean that the English Kings have no claim to the French throne itself - save for their lands in Aquitaine they have nothing to hold against the Capetians.

That might actually help them--being able to fight against French overlordship without having to claim the French throne means (Edward III)* stands a chance of actually achieving his goals. Especially if the Valois find themselves facing a civil war from rival claiments, which, let's be honest, isn't unlikely.
 
That might actually help them--being able to fight against French overlordship without having to claim the French throne means (Edward III)* stands a chance of actually achieving his goals. Especially if the Valois find themselves facing a civil war from rival claiments, which, let's be honest, isn't unlikely.

It would be better off for both France and England in the end.
 
Hard to tell. It depends who Isabel marries, and if they want to try for the throne--which, again, isn't exactly unlikely, Phillipe VI Valois being... well, him.
 
If the Scott....
Minor nitpick here if you don't mind. Scott is a surname. The people can be referred to as Scots or Scottish (Scotch is a drink).

As to what might happen had she lived, it was already a done deal. Although this marriage might not have ended with a hot poker.....
 
Space Oddity said:
Hard to tell. It depends who Isabel marries, and if they want to try for the throne--which, again, isn't exactly unlikely, Phillipe VI Valois being... well, him.

Speaking of Philippe de Valois... How likely would it be for him to marry Isabelle de France in a scenario where Edward II is married to Margaret of Scotland? After all, Isabelle is only one year older than Philippe and while she married in 1308 OTL, Philippe didn't marry Joan of Burgundy, daughter of Duke Robert II of Burgundy, before 1313: he could be available.

Even not countring the possibility of Isabella's son, there is another counter-candidate that could show up againt Philippe de Valois though: Charles II of Navarra, son of Joan II of Navarra and thus grandson of Louis X of France. He would be excluded from the throne by Salic Law but that didn't stop him from plotting against the French King OTL. Without the Hundread Years' War, he could effectively rose up in rebellion against Philippe de Valois. How good he does is another story...
 
Does anyone have any information of how the Scottish were intending to deal with the regency for Margaret at the time? It could give us a clue of how would her reign be until her marriage to Edward II.
 
I have never seen the full text of the treaty of Salisbury which arranged the marriage of Edward II and Margaret, the Maid of Norway. I do know that the treaty acknowledged the continued existence of Scotland as a separate and independent kingdom subject to its own laws. This treaty was signed by the Guardians of Scotland who were:

William Fraser, Bishop of St Andrews
Robert Wishat, Bishop of Glasgow
John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland

I would assume that if Margaret had lived, the Guardians would have ruled Scotland during her minority. Whether Edward I would have allowed them to rule Scotland without his interference is subject to debate. But imagine the benefits to both kingdoms if the Union of the Crowns had taken place three centuries earlier than OTL.
 
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