_-_Saint_Margaret_(c.1045%E2%80%931093),_Queen_of_Scotland_-_998409_-_National_Trust.jpg)
Early Life
Saint Margaret was born in 1047.
Though she was born in Hungary, she was not Hungarian. She was a Saxon
princess. She had two siblings, Edgar and Christine. Her mother was a Hungarian
princess named Agatha, and her father was Edward the Exile, who fled to Hungary for
safety. Once it was safe, Margaret’s great-uncle, Edward the Confessor, invited
them back to England. Shortly after, Margaret’s dad died.
In 1066, Margaret’s great-uncle died. Margaret’s brother was
next in line for the throne, but instead, the great uncle’s brother-in-law took
the throne quickly. He was killed that year in the Battle of Hastings by
William the Conqueror. Margaret and her family fled for safety, knowing that
they were in danger since her brother was next in line for the throne. They
were bound for Hungary, but a storm shipwrecked them in Scotland.
Becoming Queen
When they arrived in Scotland, the ship landed on the Firth
of Forth. King Malcom III was in power, and he came to greet the family. He had
a wife and two kids, but the wife disappeared. No one knows what happened to
her. In 1070, even though she wanted to be a nun, Margaret married Malcom. She
was 24 and he was 40.
The couple was a power couple. Margaret could read, write,
and speak in multiple languages, which Malcom could not do. Because of this, Margaret
was involved in communications for Malcom, often sending letters on his behalf.
When Margaret did charity work, which she did for God, Malcom would tag along
for PR reasons.
She also had several religious books that she read, and
Malcom decorated the covers for her. Together, Margaret and Malcom had eight
children.
Notable Acts
During her lifetime, Margaret did a number of incredible
things. She restored Iona and other Celtic churches. She was especially devoted to caring
for the sick and the destitute
Malcom, along with Edward, died in what was meant to be
their final raid. Margaret died on November 16, 1093 after their deaths. Many say
that she died of a broken heart. Her remains were taken to Dunfermline Abbey.
Sainthood
Margaret was made a saint in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV. She
was named patroness of Scotland in 1673. She is still venerated across Scotland
today. Many saints become saints because
of their purity, innocence, and virginity. However, Margaret was married and
had eight kids.
She became a saint because of miracles and good works, which
she was known for throughout her life. Some people have said that they were
cured of illness and diseases after visiting her shrine. When she dropped her
Gospel book in the river, she sent a servant to find it for her. It was
retrieved in perfect condition without any water damage. She established the “Queen’s
Ferry,” which was a ferry service that took people across the water to Fife.
She helped Roman Catholicism rise in Scotland.
During the Reformation in 1560, her shrine was destroyed, but
the base remains intact and can be viewed today. Her shoulder bone is the only
bodily relic from Margaret for which the location is known. It survives in Scotland today. She also has St.
Margaret’s Chapel, which is located at Edinburgh Castle. It was dedicated by
her son, David, and is the oldest standing building in Edinburgh.
Legacy
Little is written about Margaret’s life. There was a biography
about her that was written by Turgot, Bishop of St. Andrew’s. He was a religious
person, and his goal was to make Margaret seem as saintly as possible. As such,
his biography of Margaret should be taken with a grain of salt.
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