Alexander III of Scotland vs Myeongjong of Goryeo

Alexander III married Margaret, daughter of Henry III of England, at York Minster. The marriage was intended to secure peace between Scotland and England, but it also gave English kings a claim to interfere in Scottish affairs.

Alexander III's forces repelled a Norwegian invasion led by King Haakon IV at Largs in Ayrshire. The battle was indecisive but marked the end of Norwegian attempts to control the Hebrides and the Isle of Man.

Alexander III signed the Treaty of Perth with Norway, purchasing the Hebrides and the Isle of Man for 4,000 marks plus an annual payment of 100 marks. This extended Scottish sovereignty over the Western Isles.

Alexander III died after falling from his horse while riding from Edinburgh to Kinghorn in Fife during a storm. His death left no surviving legitimate children, triggering a succession crisis that led to the Wars of Scottish Independence.

After the military dictator Choe Chung-heon deposed King Sinjong, he installed Myeongjong as a figurehead ruler. Myeongjong had no real power, with all decisions made by the Choe family's private military regime.

During Myeongjong's reign, the Choe family established a parallel government with private armies and tax collection. The king was confined to the palace and used only for ceremonial purposes, while the Choe regime suppressed dissent.

Choe Chung-heon deposed Myeongjong after the king was implicated in a plot to restore royal authority. Myeongjong was exiled to Ganghwa Island, ending his 25-year reign as a powerless monarch.