So, I've toyed with this idea before, but it's really coming back into the fore now for some reason. Essentially, in 1286, King Alexander III of Scotland fell off a cliff and died, leaving his granddaughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway as his heir and successor as Queen, she however, died on the journey over to Scotland, leaving the succession to the throne uncertain. This meant that in order to avoid civil war, the nobles of Scotland invited Edward I to mediate over the successor. He chose John Balliol, and history happened.
However, my question is this, what if Margaret, Maid of Norway never needed to leave Norway? By this I mean, what if Alexander III had left surviving male issue before he had died, either in the form of his son Alexander, Prince of Scotland or a son by his second wife Yolande of Dreux?
I personally believe that in both cases there would be no Great Cause, and therefore no War of Scottish Independence and no Auld Alliance, leaving Edward I to focus more on goings on in France.
In the former case as well, if Alexander Prince of Scotland manages to have children by his wife Margaret of Flanders then the line of succession is secure and I imagine Scotland would be at peace.
In the latter case however, if Alexander leaves a son by Yolande of Dreux and then dies, I imagine that there will be a regency which will be hotly contested between different factions mainly Bruce and Comyn one imagines. This could therefore cause strife in Scotland, potentially involving England.
Thoughts?