Margaret was born about 1045 in Hungary, the daughter of Edward Atheling and his wife Agatha. She later came to England, but after the Norman Conquest she fled with her mother, sister and brother from Northumberland to Scotland, where they placed themselves under the protection of King Malcolm. The _Worcester Manuscript_ relates the following:

'Then the king Malcolm began to desire Margaret as wife, but her brother and his men opposed it for a long time, and also she herself refused, and declared that she would not have him, nor any, if the Graciousness on high would grant her that with bodily heart she might please the mighty Lord with pure continence in maidenhood in this short life.

'The king eagerly pressed her brother until he said 'yes' to it, also he dared not otherwise, because they had come into his power. So it came to pass as provided by God, and it could not be otherwise, just as he himself says in his gospel that even one sparrow cannot fall into a snare without his providence.

'The king then received her, although it was against her will; and her customs pleased him, and he thanked God, who so powerfully gave him such a consort, and reflected wisely, since he was very prudent, and turned himself toward God, and despised every impurity.'

Young, lovely, vivacious, learned and pious, Margaret had won the heart of the Scottish king, Malcolm Canmore, and they were married. They had eight children of whom four, including two future kings of the Scots, would have progeny. She did much to civilise the northern realm and still more to assimilate the old Celtic church to the rest of Christendom. In 1251 she was canonised by Pope Innocent IV.