Bizarre Deaths of Scottish Royalty

Oct 27, 2024

Scottish history is filled with dramatic events and violent ends, especially when it comes to its kings and queens. However, what sets the tales of Scotland’s royal tragedies apart is the rich folklore that surrounds them. Many deaths were not merely seen as the result of political scheming, accidents, or natural causes but were explained through mystical forces, omens, and curses. These supernatural interpretations helped shape Scotland’s legendary status as a land where fate, folklore, and reality often intertwined.

Alexander III: The Fatal Fall and the Masked Apparition

One of the most mysterious royal deaths in Scottish history is that of King Alexander III. His reign is often remembered for stability and prosperity, but his death marked the beginning of a dark period for Scotland. On the night of March 19, 1286, Alexander, then in his mid-forties, set out on horseback to reunite with his new wife, Yolande of Dreux. As he rode in bad weather along the cliffs near Kinghorn, his horse stumbled, and the king fell to his death.

What made this already tragic event more ominous was the eerie legend surrounding it. Chroniclers, including the historian John of Fordun, recount that a ghostly figure appeared during a masked ball held just days before the king’s death, gliding silently among the dancers. The apparition, described as ghastly and grim, was interpreted as a portent of disaster. Soon after, the kingdom found itself without a direct heir, as Alexander’s granddaughter, the Maid of Norway, was too young to assume the throne, plunging Scotland into a period of political uncertainty and strife. To many, this spectral visitor seemed to forewarn of the coming chaos.

James I and The Spaewife’s Grim Prediction

Another haunting legend involves the fate of King James I of Scotland. His assassination in 1437 is one of the most violent and eerie events in Scottish royal history. James I was stabbed 16 times by conspirators led by Sir Robert Graham. However, the supernatural side of the story is often recounted alongside these brutal facts.

According to tradition, James had been warned about his impending doom by a spaewife, a Scottish seer. On his way to spend Christmas at the Blackfriars Monastery in Perth, a woman is said to have approached him, telling him that she had seen his ghost wrapped in a winding sheet. She implored him not to continue his journey, for if he crossed the water, he would never return. Dismissing her warning as mere superstition, James continued his journey, sealing his fate.

The tale did not end with James’s death. It is said that on the night of his assassination, the same spaewife was seen outside the monastery gates, crying out in warning. Had James heeded her earlier prophecy, some believe, he might have escaped his grisly end. The story of the spaewife reflects the deep-rooted belief in omens and the supernatural that permeated Scottish society.

The Tragic Flodden: James IV and the Specter of Doom

James IV, one of Scotland’s most popular kings, met a similar fate of doom seemingly foretold by supernatural forces. Before embarking on his ill-fated campaign against England, which culminated in the devastating Battle of Flodden in 1513, James IV is said to have received multiple ominous warnings.

The first took place at the Church of St. Michael, near Linlithgow Palace, where a mysterious man, described as tall and ghostly, appeared out of nowhere during a service. The man reportedly walked straight up to the king, leaning on his prayer desk, and warned him against going to war. The figure then vanished as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving those present in awe. Many believed this man was a divine messenger or a ghost come to warn the king of his impending death.

A few days later, another strange event occurred. According to Pitscottie’s chronicle, an invisible voice was heard at the Market Cross in Edinburgh, calling out the names of the men who would die in the battle to come. This eerie "summons of Plotcock" was said to include almost all of the Scottish nobles who would perish at Flodden. These apparitions and spectral voices were taken seriously by the superstitious population, and the subsequent defeat and death of James IV at Flodden cemented the belief that the king had been forewarned by otherworldly forces.

Mary, Queen of Scots: A Curse of Blood and Tears

Perhaps the most famous and tragic figure in Scottish royal history, Mary, Queen of Scots, was also surrounded by myths of curses and prophecies. Her life was marked by political upheaval, personal betrayals, and an ultimate downfall that many believed was predestined by dark forces.

Mary’s connection to the supernatural began early in her life. She was born into a country where prophecies and omens held powerful sway over people’s lives. As a descendant of a long line of Scottish kings who had faced violent deaths, it was whispered that a curse followed the Stewart dynasty. This belief was strengthened as Mary's life took a tragic turn—from the mysterious death of her second husband, Lord Darnley, to her forced abdication, and finally her execution at the hands of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

One of the more chilling legends associated with Mary involves a prophecy given by Thomas the Rhymer, a 13th-century Scottish seer. According to folklore, Thomas foretold the downfall of the Stewart line, predicting that a queen would meet her end in a blood-soaked execution. This prophecy was seen as having come true when Mary, dressed in scarlet, the traditional color of martyrdom, was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587. The violent nature of her death and the subsequent misfortunes that befell her descendants seemed to confirm the idea that her life—and that of her dynasty—was cursed.

The Supernatural in Scottish History: Reality or Legend?

The recurring theme of bizarre deaths explained by mystical and supernatural events in Scottish history raises intriguing questions. Were these stories simply the product of a deeply superstitious society, eager to explain the chaos and tragedies that frequently befell its rulers? Or were they tools used by the political elite to manipulate public sentiment and justify royal decisions?

In many cases, the line between reality and legend is blurred. Chroniclers like John of Fordun, George Buchanan, and Pitscottie often recorded these supernatural events alongside factual accounts, adding to their credibility at the time. However, it is likely that many of these stories were embellished over time, growing in the retelling to become the legends we know today.

What remains clear is that these mystical explanations were powerful forces in Scottish culture. They provided comfort in times of uncertainty, gave meaning to random tragedies, and offered a sense of justice in a world where royal power could seem both absolute and capricious. Whether or not these apparitions and curses were real, they have left an indelible mark on the history and mythology of Scotland’s royal lineage.

Conclusion

The bizarre deaths of Scotland’s kings, coupled with their supernatural explanations, reflect the country’s unique relationship with folklore, prophecy, and destiny. From the spectral warnings that haunted James I and James IV to the tragic prophecies that seemed to follow Mary, Queen of Scots, these stories remain integral to Scotland’s national identity. They remind us that in the turbulent world of medieval and early modern Scotland, fate was not just determined by political events but also by unseen forces, curses, and the eerie specters that wandered through the royal courts.