ALEXANDER, St, whom St Irenæus reckons the fifth bishop of Rome, succeeded St Everistus in the year 109, and died in the year 119. There is no account of his life, and the epistles attributed to him are supposititious.
ALEXANDER I., king of Scotland, youngest son of Malcolm Canmore, succeeded his elder brother Edgar in 1107. His kingdom was turbulent; but he contrived by energy and valour to overcome all opposition. His most formidable competitor was Angus, grandson of Lulach, son of Macbeth's queen; but the dangerous insurrection was put down by the vigour of Alexander. He was no less determined in resisting all attempts on the independence of his crown by foreign princes. He died childless at Stirling in 1124, and was succeeded by his brother, David I. See SCOTLAND.
ALEXANDER II., king of Scotland, succeeded his father William in 1213, at 16 years of age. He made an expedition into England, to oppose the tyranny of King John, who returned the visit, and was offered battle by Alexander, but refused it. He took the city of Carlisle from Henry III., which was afterwards exchanged for Berwick. Alexander died in 1249, in the 51st year of his age and 35th of his reign, and left for his successor his son.
ALEXANDER III., who was crowned king of Scotland in 1249. The Comyns, a powerful family, took arms against him, and, taking him prisoner, confined him at Stirling; but he was afterwards released by his subjects. He first married the daughter of Henry III., king of England; and next the daughter of the Count de Dreux; but was at length killed by a fall from his horse, on the 10th of April 1290, after having reigned 42, or, according to others, 37 years.