by Elspeth Raisbeck

Created on: August 25, 2009   Last Updated: August 12, 2011

Calling all Margarets! Calling all Margarets! And for that matter all Gretas, Gretchens, Margerys, Margos, Megans and Ritas. Why not raise your glass and toast your namesake on her feast day - November 16th?

The woman who was to be canonised for her piety and faithfulness, the mother of another saint and three Scottish kings, Margaret of Scotland was actually from an ancient English royal family but she grew up in Hungary where her family had been exiled. Fate had a hand in her destiny every step of the way.

In 1066 Margaret's great uncle, Edward the Confessor died and her brother, Edward the Aetherling had a strong claim to the English throne - so the family returned to England. But when they tried to make this claim they found that the invading Normans had other ideas and drove them north in to Northumbria. From here they set sail again to go back to the continent and this time a storm blew their ship off course, landing in Fife at a little place now called Saint Margaret's Hope.

Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore or Great Head) offered his protection to the family and fell in love with young Margaret.

Legend has it that she refused his proposals of marriage many times but Malcolm was a persistent king and eventually the couple were married in Dunfermline in 1069. Margaret was 23 years old.

They had several children including Edgar, Alexander and David who all followed their father to the throne.

During her time in the Scottish court gentle Margaret tamed the raucous behaviour of her husband and his lairds. She introduced European manners and culture and was responsible for the Queen's Ferry over the River Forth, which allowed pilgrims to more easily reach St Andrew's shrine. Margaret also worked hard to quell the bloody warfare between Scottish clans. She encouraged them to celebrate Mass in church using the Latin language as Christians did in Europe, thinking that if they worshiped together the fighting might cease.

But tragedy struck in 1093. Margaret's husband Malcolm and their eldest son Edward were treacherously killed at the Battle of Alnwick in Northumbria and just a few days after hearing the news, on November 16th, Margaret died at Edinburgh Castle aged forty seven. She is buried along side Malcolm, before the high altar in Dunfermline Abbey.

So what made Margaret the saint she became? It was her piety and devotion to the church that initially lead to her refuse King Malcolm's proposals. This and her dedication to helping those less fortunate, often serving orphans and the poor before she ate herself, are why Pope Innocent IV canonised her in 1251. And as well as representing Scotland, she is also the patron saint of queens, large families, learning and widows.

Several Scottish buildings and institutions are named after her. For example Queen Margaret University (Edinburgh) was founded in 1875; Queen Margaret Hospital (Dunfermline, Fife); North Queensferry; South Queensferry; Queen Margaret Academy (Ayr) and last but not least Saint Margaret's Chapel. This is the oldest building still standing at Edinburgh Castle and was built by Margaret's son King David (later Saint David) to commemorate her.

So have a small celebration on November 16th- Saint Margaret's story is a romantic but holy one and she was a strong and remarkable woman.

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