Margaret Drummond

Queen Consort of Scotland

**Margaret Drummond** (C. 1155 - 1189) was the First wife of Alexander II of Scotland, and Queen Consort of Scotland, from 1185 until her murder in 1189. Making her Queen for only 4 years. She was the eldest daughter of Sir Edmund Drummond and his wife Lady Mary Hardings. At just 12 years old, she was betrothed to Alexander of Scotland, who held the Earldom of Fife, Alexander was not expected to ever become King, until his older brother David I of Scotland died without an heir. Margaret was upgraded from Countess of Fife, to Queen Consort of Scotland. But her husband was unfaithful and had kissed other woman in front of Margaret Drummond. He soon got tired of his Queen and wanted to marry the younger Yolande de Dreux, so he arrested Margaret, accused her of treason and crimes she did not commit, and attempted to strangle her, but Margaret suvived, so her husband forced Margaret into a bag and drowned her in a pool of blood and wine, she is remebered to the scots as "Margaret the Unfortunate."

## Early Life

Margaret Drummond was born in 1155 in Edinburgh to a wealthy Scottish moneylender and nobleman named Sir Edmund Drummond, and Lady Mary Hardings. Margaret was the eldest daughter, making her a worthy bride, and heiress to 10,000 pounds. When Margaret was 3, her mother gave birth to her younger sister Lady Elizabeth Drummond. The 2 sisters were famously known as the "Drummond Sisters", and the Drummond sisters were worthy brides, Elizabeth and Margaret were raised by Lady Catherine Aberdour who was also a lady-in-waiting to Margaret of England. The Drummond sisters were taken to court at ages 10 and 7, and Margaret Drummond was noted to be a court beauty according to many local lords. Margaret was charming young girl with blue eyes, and blond hair.

## Life at Court

Margaret Drummond and Elizabeth became courtiers in Linlithgow Palace, the Drummond sisters were granted there own room which was paid for by there absent father, Margaret was first betrothed with her sister in the Scottish court, her sister was betrothed to Henry, 2nd Earl of Luton, and Margaret was betrothed to Edmund, 1st Earl of Morton. But Edmund broke of the betrothal, so he could marry Catherine of Berwick. Margaret was then betrothed to James, 2nd Earl of Fotheringhay who was an English Earl, but James broke of the betrothal in favor of Margaret of Worcester, when Margaret was 11, her sister was already married, but she was still unmarried, her mother betrothed her to Robert, 1st Earl of Yarmouth and Cley, but he died before the marriage could take place, at last when Margaret was 12, she was betrothed to the second child of King of Scotland, whom was Alexander, 1st Earl of Fife.

## Marriage

In 1168, when Margaret was 14, she married to her 11 year old fiancee in Strilling Palace, her husband was at first faithful to her and she moved into Fife Castle with his governess. But as Margaret aged as a 18 year old her 16 year old husband cheated on her with her friend Lady Katherine Stormont. According to legend, when Margaret heard of the affair, Margaret her throat open in dispair and died on the spot, but that legend was certainly false as there is plenty of evidence of her exisantce through-out the 1170's. Elizabeth Drummond had already given birth to 6 children, and Margaret still had no children, thus a disgrace to the Drummond family. The now King of Scotland, David I of Scotland was a harsh brother-in-law, whenever Margaret complained about Alexander's womanizing, he would insult Margaret and humiliate her which Alexander supported. Elizabeth Drummond was not sympathetic to her sister, she made fun of her sister as she had no children, but that did not mean Margaret was alone, she was a popular woman at court and she shared witt and science interests with the local Earls.

## Queen Consort of Scotland

David I of Scotland wen't on Crusade, and Alexander wen't with him to aplease the Pope. While David was in Acre, Jerusalem he was killed in battle. Alexander was next in line and Margaret and Alexander were crowned King and Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth Drummond was exetreamly jealous and Elizabeth usually acted cool around her sister, Margaret was tired of Elizabeth's haughtiness, so Margaret had her sister privately beheaded in Edinburgh Castle, Margaret did not spare her husband, her husband was murdered while imprisoned in Luton Castle. Margaret spared Elizabeth's children as she famously said "There are just children, why thou kill them?" Her husband however was not pleased as he planned to annul the marriage between them and seduce Elizabeth Drummond. But nevertheless he still had to cancel his plans on annullment as he needed to preform his everyday duties as King.

## Downfall

Alexander was still plotting to arrest Margaret and accuse her of murder, but he still had to attend council meetings so he hired an English lesser Lord named Sir Norman Welston to arrest Margaret Drummond and put her on trial, Margaret was with her ladies-in-waiting when she was arrested, she was imprisoned in Alnwick Tower where 78 other common prisoners stayed, historically the prisoners usually looked up to rich people and offered them there support to escape, when Margaret was sent out of the tower to go on trial, 78 prisoners beat the guards and tried to let them free chanting "Spare the Lady! Spare the Lady!" 10 of the guards died in the fight and only 3 wounded guards survived, the prisoners pulled Margaret's arm and tried to save her, but 6 other guards helped the 3 guards carry Margaret to trial, Margaret was found guilty of Murder and she was not allowed any defense on Alexander's orders she was then imprisoned in Edinburgh hall where 152 common prisoners were held captive, they once again supported Margaret.

## Execution

Margaret was originally suppose to be executed by hanging, but the gallows collapsed on the day of Margaret's supposive execution, instead Alexander ordered Margaret be strangled, but the day of her strangulation, she managed to save herself by putting her hand's between the rope on her neck, the prisoners also beat up the guards who tried to kill her, Alexander tired of his wife getting lucky, ordered Margaret be shoved inside a bag and be drowned in blood mixed with wine, the prisoners attempted to beat the guards, but they were forcefully pushed back, and Margaret was drowned in the pool of blood and wine, when her body was pulled of the bloody wine water, she was buried Dunfermline Abbey, where she was given her own chapel which was a custom for executed Queens.