The village of Abernethy is not too far from Perth, not only is it a picturesque village but it also has one of Scotland's two surviving round towers. It was also the place where, in 1072, the Treaty of Abernethy was signed. This truce secured the Scottish border for the Normans.
Abernethly's Round Tower. Image Credit: Stephen Samson
William the Conqueror had successfully taken control of Northumbria by devastating the whole region, however, King Malcolm of Scotland was doing the same, his raids over the border were a threat to Norman control (Malcolm had given refuge to Edgar the Atheling who had been named by King Harold's council as his heir) Both parties met at Abernethy where William forced Malcolm into submission, took the king's son as security, and demanded the return of Harold's heir. The Conqueror then set his sights on Wales.
Image: The Landing of St. Margaret at Queensferry by William Hole.
At this time Malcolm was a widower, his first wife was Ingibiorg, a niece of a Norwegian nobleman and mother to Duncan, Malcolm's heir. When the Anglo-Saxon royal family fled to Scotland for protection Malcolm married Edger's sister Margaret.
Margaret was exceptionally pious, her intention was to enter a religious order, but she agreed to the marriage. Despite Margaret's natural inclination the marriage to the king of Scotland lasted for some twenty-three years and produced six sons and two daughters who all survived to adulthood. Her three sons all became kings of Scotland, and her elder daughter, Matilda became queen of England when she married Henry I.
Margaret was exceptionally pious, her intention was to enter a religious order, but she agreed to the marriage. Despite Margaret's natural inclination the marriage to the king of Scotland lasted for some twenty-three years and produced six sons and two daughters who all survived to adulthood. Her three sons all became kings of Scotland, and her elder daughter, Matilda became queen of England when she married Henry I.
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