(Photo: Getty/iStock)
Each year on 16 November, the life and contributions of St Margaret of Scotland are commemorated. Born in Hungary and rising to become Queen of Scotland, she played a pivotal role in revitalizing the religious landscape of the nation. Here is an exploration of her remarkable journey.
Royal Lineage and Exile
Margaret hailed from the English Saxon royal lineage of Wessex, which had fled from the Danes, Vikings, and subsequently the Normans. She was a descendant of King Alfred the Great and related to Edward the Confessor.
Hungarian Beginnings
Margaret’s birth in Hungary in 1045 was a result of the complex political dynamics of the English Dark Ages. Her grandfather, Edmund Ironside, son of King Ethelred II, briefly ruled England in 1016. Following his death under suspicious circumstances, King Canute of Denmark ascended the throne. Edmund’s sons, Edward and Edmund, were exiled to Hungary, where Margaret’s father, Edward “the Exile,” married Agatha, a Hungarian royal.
Return and Uncertain Times
After Danish rule ended in England, Edward the Confessor ascended the throne in 1042. In 1057, Edward “the Exile” returned to England with his children, including Margaret. Although Edward was considered an heir, he died prematurely, leaving his son Edgar Atheling as the successor.
Upon the death of Edward the Confessor in 1066, Edgar was named king by the Saxon Parliament. However, he was never coronated due to the rise of William the Conqueror, who claimed the throne after defeating Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
Seeking Refuge in Scotland
Fearing for their lives after William’s ascension, Edgar, his mother Agatha, and sisters Margaret and Cristina sought refuge. Their journey led them to Scotland, welcomed by King Malcolm III at Dunfermline. Margaret remained in Scotland, while Cristina returned to England.
A Royal Union
In 1070, Margaret married King Malcolm III, becoming Queen of Scotland. Despite Malcolm’s efforts, Edgar could not reclaim the English throne. Margaret and Malcolm had eight children, and she embraced her new homeland, though she never mastered Gaelic.
Religious Reforms and Charitable Works
Appalled by the state of the Scottish Church, Queen Margaret initiated reforms to align it with Catholic practices. She established the abbey at Dunfermline and restored the Abbey at Iona. Her charitable efforts included founding schools, hospitals, and redeeming English slaves.
She also facilitated pilgrimage by establishing the “Queen’s Ferry” across the Firth of Forth. Her efforts earned her the moniker “Pearl of Scotland.”
Final Years and Enduring Impact
After King Malcolm’s death in 1093, Queen Margaret passed away shortly thereafter, reportedly from grief. She was interred at Dunfermline Abbey, a site she had revitalized.
Legacy and Sainthood
In 1100, her daughter Edith married King Henry I of England, uniting royal lineages. Margaret was canonized in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV, praised for her holiness and dedication to the Church. She became a patron saint of various groups, including large families and widows.
Commemoration and Dedications
St Margaret of Scotland is honored by numerous churches, most notably St Margaret’s Chapel in Edinburgh Castle. Her feast day, 16 November, is observed across the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Catholic Church, and the Anglican Communion.
The Collect Prayer
The collect prayer for Margaret of Scotland is:
“God, the ruler of all, who called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne and gave her zeal for your Church and love for your people that she might advance your heavenly kingdom: mercifully grant that we who commemorate her example may be fruitful in good works and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
