In his reign the clergy were allowed to hold Provincial or Synodal Councils without the presence of a papal Legate (1225), and the Dominicans and Franciscans appeared in Scotland.
ALEXANDER III.
The term King of Peace was also applied to Alexander III., son of the second wife of Alexander II., Marie de Coucy.

Alexander came to the throne (1249) at the age of eight.

As a child he was taken and held (like James II., James III., James V., and James VI.) by contending factions of the nobles, Henry of England intervening.

In 1251 he wedded another child, Margaret, daughter of Henry III.

of England, but Henry neither forced a claim to hold Scotland during the boy's minority (his right if Scotland were his fief), nor in other respects pressed his advantage.