ABSTRACT
In 1209, Margaret and Isabella, daughters of William ‘the Lion,’ king of Scots, were handed over to King John of England at Carlisle.1 They remained in English custody from 1209 until 1221 and 1222, respectively. The princesses are listed as hostages in Adam J. Kosto’s recent book, Hostages in the Middle Ages,2 and, according to some English chronicles, this designation is correct.3 Other sources, however, did not call them hostages, suggesting instead that, while Scots hostages were given to John in 1209, the two princesses did not belong to that group.4 In some places, the young women’s marriage, perhaps to sons of John, or to a son of John and an English nobleman, was given as the reason for their transfer to the English king.5
