2. the great cause

LEARNING INTENTIONS

• Describe events before and during the Great Cause

• Describe the reasons for Edward’s decision

The death of Alexander III and his granddaughter, Margaret had left Scotland without a king or heir. King Edward of England was asked to choose a

new king for Scotland.

The decision to ask Edward to choose a new Scottish king may seem surprising, but actually

made sense.

Edward’s good relations with Scotland made him

appear trustworthy, and he was so strong that no-one

could oppose his final decision.

The process of choosing a new king would take more

than a year. However Edward’s first act was to

meet with Scotland’s guardians.

The Scots were at Uppsetlington just north of

the River Tweed; Edward and his men were at

Norham Castle on the south side of the river.

The guardians wanted Edward to travel to them but he refused; eventually

Scotland’s guardians went to Norham.

Edward then caused outrage by demanding the

Scots accept him as overlord before he made

his judgement.

The guardians refused the overlord demand, saying only the new

king could agree to this.

Edward’s strong military presence – including his

fleet being ready to blockade Scottish ports – showed that his attitudes towards Scotland were

changing.

Edward’s view of the Scots was changing for different

reasons.

His good relationship with Alexander counted for less if all Alexander’s relatives were

dead.

Threats of civil war suggested Scotland was not a stable country. His control of Wales may have influenced

him too.

In total, 13 men put their name forward to be

considered as new King of Scotland.

Edward then announced that he would not choose

anyone who did not promise to accept his as overlord. Although many

refused at first, eventually all candidates made the

promise.

The decision to promise Edward the position of

overlord is known as the Award of Norham.

Edward now had the legal power to control Scotland,

including giving away parts of its land if he wished to.

Some Scots believed he would give back this power after choosing a new king.

Edward finally made his decision in

November 1292. His choice was based on the

candidate who had the strongest legal

claim.

John Balliol was chosen as the new

king.

Some people later claimed that Balliol was only chosen as he was the

weakest of all the candidates.

However Balliol was in fact the last candidate to pledge allegiance to

Edward (Robert Bruce having done so much

earlier).

Balliol’s claim was the strongest based on the

concept of primogeniture.

This means that inheritance is always

passed down based on the eldest child. Bruce and

Balliol were both related to King David I, but Balliol was related to his oldest

daughter.