Under this Prince, who successfully put down the usual northern
risings, the old suit about the claims to Northumberland was finally
abandoned for a trifling compensation (1237). Alexander had married
Joanna, daughter of King John, and his brother-in-law, Henry III., did
not press his demand for homage for Scotland. The usual Celtic
pretenders to the throne were for ever crushed. Argyll became a
sheriffdom, Galloway was brought into order, and Alexander, who died in
the Isle of Kerrera in the bay of Oban (1249), well deserved his title
of “a King of Peace.” He was buried in Melrose Abbey. 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.