The Succession Crisis

The Succession Crisis

The Scone Parliament 1286

Important Nobles met at Scone and agreed

1. Margaret, Maid of Norway would be their Queen

Scone

2. To elect 6 Guardians to govern Scotland till Margaret was old enough

3. To keep peace in Scotland

1

6

2

345

1 Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan (Noble)

John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (Noble)

Bishop Robert Wishart of Glasgow

Duncan Macduff, the young Earl of Fife (Noble)

Bishop William Fraser of St Andrews

James the High Steward, Baron of Renfrew(Noble)

2

3

4

6

5

The 6 Guardians

Edward I of England

The Guardians ask his help to keep peace in Scotland...

Good Christian King Passed good laws

Controlled Wales, Ireland, large areas of France

The Maid’s great uncle

WHY ASK FOR

EDWARD’S HELP?

Neighbour

Was this a wise decision?

An English Marriage

The Scots wanted the Margaret, Maid of Norway to come to Scotland

6 Nov 1289 Discussions took place between...

The GuardiansMaid’s father

(King of Norway)Maid’s great-uncle (King Edward of

England)

What was agreed…..

Treaty of Salisbury

Margaret would not be promised in marriage to anyone unless Edward I gave his permission

Margaret would arrive in Scotland by 1290

Henry III

Edward I Margaret m Alexander III

Edward Prince of Wales Margaret m Eric II of Norway

Margaret “The Maid of Norway”

Edward had asked Pope’s permission for Margaret to marry his son the Prince of Wales

What the Scots didn’t know...

Edward Prince of Wales

Margaret Maid of Norway

Why?

Edward proposed the marriage between Margaret, Maid of Norway and Edward Prince of Wales to the Guardians

The Guardians agreed in the Treaty of Birgham, in return for a guarantee….

18 July 1290

• The Kingdom of Scotland shall remain separate and divided from the Kingdom of England.

• The Kingdom of Scotland shall keep her rights, laws, freedoms and customs.

• No Parliament of Scotland shall be held outside the Kingdom of Scotland

• The ruler of Scotland and the ruler of England shall freely rule their own kingdoms.

Treaty of Birgham

Extract from the Treaty

The Marriage Contract

Also at this time Edward I .....

Took control of the Isle of Man (part of the kingdom of Scotland)

Isle of ManAppointed the Bishop of Durham (English) as his representative in Scotland to help run the country

The Succession Crisis

Oct 1290

Margaret Maid of Norway (aged 7) left Norway for Scotland

Bergen

Orkney

Margaret took ill during the long sea voyage

Margaret died soon after reaching Orkney

William I the Lion (1165-1214)

Alexander II (1214-1249)

Alexander III (1249 -1286)

Margaret mEric II(King of Norway)

Alexander David

Margaret, Maid of Norway

(1) Margaret m m (2) Yolande

Who would rule Scotland now?

Some Scottish Nobles were gathering at Perth when they heard the news

Robert Bruce of Annandale had come with a great force

Earl of Mar was gathering a force

Earl of Atholl was gathering a force

John Balliol declared himself heir

Bishop Fraser of St Andrews (Guardian)

There is fear of a general war and a great slaughter of men. Let your excellency come with troops towards the border, to help save the shedding of blood, and choose for king him who of right ought to have the succession.

Feared war would break out so he wrote to Edward

Edward saw an opportunity

Norham

Edward agreed to meet the Scots at Norham

However, Edward had his own plans...

Edward announced that he was at Norham because...

The OVERLORDSHIP belonged to him

Edward’s Steps to OVERLORDSHIP

•The Scots were shocked by Edward’s claims of overlordship

•The Scots were frightened to say no - Edward had an army

•They avoided giving Edward an answer by saying only a King could answer this

Taken control of the Isle of Man (part of the kingdom of Scotland)

Isle of ManAppointed the Bishop of Durham (English) as his representative in Scotland to help run the country

Edward I made it known to the Guardians he had.....

Step 1 - The ‘Competitors’

Edward spoke to these men and made them agree he was overlord of Scotland

Step 2 - Castles

Edward took control of Scotland’s castles until it was agreed who should be King

Step 3 - Guardians

Edward persuaded the Guardians to resign, he could then replace them

Step 4 - The Nobles

Edward made the nobles agree he was their overlord and promise to obey him

The Great Cause

At Norham the competitors agreed that Edward..

has shown us by good reason that the sovereign lordship of the kingdom of Scotland and the right to try out claims belong to him. We, by our own force will, without any kind of constraint, do desire and grant that we should receive justice before him as Lord Superior of the realm

The Great Cause

• There were 14 competitors, even the King of Norway tried his luck!

• Only 3 had serious claims to the throne

Malcolm IV1153-1165

William the Lion1165-1214

David, Earl of Huntingdondied 1219

Alexander II1214-1249

Alexander III1249-1286

Margaret mEric II of Norway

Margaret ‘The Maid of

Norway’1286-1290

Margaretm Lord of Galloway

Devorgilla

John Balliol

Isabellam Lord of Annandale

Adam Henry Hastings

Robert BruceHenry

John of HastingsJohn Balliol

Robert Bruce

John of Hastings

John Balliol

Robert Bruce John of Hastings

The Main Competitors

August 1291

Edward established a court at Berwick to judge the claims to the throne

John of Hastings

Wanted Scotland to be divided up between descendants of David, Earl of Huntingdon’s daughters

• John of Hastings

• Robert Bruce

• John BalliolDavid, Earl of Huntingdon

died 1219

Margaretm Lord of Galloway

Devorgilla

John Balliol

Isabellam Lord of Annandale

Adam Henry Hastings

Robert BruceHenry

John of HastingsJohn Balliol

Robert Bruce

John of Hastings

John Balliol

• Lord of Galloway

• Descended from eldest daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon

• Related to powerful Comyn family

• Bishop Fraser supported his claim

• Had lands in Northern France and England

• Had always been loyal to Edward IDavid, Earl of Huntingdon

died 1219

Margaretm Lord of Galloway

Devorgilla

John Balliol

Isabellam Lord of Annandale

Adam Henry Hastings

Robert BruceHenry

John of HastingsJohn Balliol

Robert Bruce

John of Hastings

Robert Bruce

• Lord of Annandale

• Came from a powerful family who dominated a vast part of south west Scotland along with other estates in Scotland and England

• Grandson of David, Earl of Huntingdon

• Generation closer to David, Earl of Huntingdon than John Balliol

David, Earl of Huntingdondied 1219

Margaretm Lord of Galloway

Devorgilla

John Balliol

Isabellam Lord of Annandale

Adam Henry Hastings

Robert BruceHenry

John of HastingsJohn Balliol

Robert Bruce

John of Hastings

How was the decision made?

• Balliol and Bruce were each asked to appoint 40 ‘auditors’

• The auditors would listen to the arguments of each competitor and his lawyers

• Edward I appointed 24 auditors

• For 18 months there was discussion, argument, gathering and presenting of evidence

17 November 1292

After 18 months King Edward I announced his judgement…..

Who was to be King?

The Award of Berwick

17 Nov 1292 King Edward announced his decision

Edward chose John Balliol

This was no surprise – even 29 auditors Bruce had chosen voted for Balliol

The Reaction of the Bruces’

The Bruce family were:

• Angry

• Would not accept Balliol as King

• Determined to continue their claim

Robert Bruce of Annandale

‘The Competitor’

Robert Bruce

Earl of Carrick

Robert Bruce

(later to become Robert I - Robert the Bruce)

Bruce ‘the competitor’ handed over his claim to his son Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick

The Earl of Carrick also had a son Robert Bruce who was eager for the family to succeed

John Balliol’s coronation

• Took place at Scone

• St Andrews Day (30 Nov 1292)

• Balliol sat on the Stone of Destiny

• List of Balliol’s ancestors was read out

26 Dec 1292

2 weeks later at Newcastle John Balliol paid homage to Edward I

During the ceremony Balliol:

• Knelt in front of Edward I (his master)

• Promised to obey Edward

• Accepted Edward as his overlord

• Accepted if he broke his promise he would be punished severely

My Lord, Lord Edward, lord superior of the realm of Scotland, I, John Balliol, King of the Scots, hereby become your liegeman for the whole realm of Scotland….and I will maintain faith and fealty to you and your heirs, the kings of England.

Balliol was to become a puppet King

King John and King Edward

• Balliol had agreed Edward was his overlord

• No one was quite sure what this meant or what it would lead to…

• The Kingdom of Scotland shall remain separate and divided from the Kingdom of England.

• The Kingdom of Scotland shall keep her rights, laws, freedoms and customs.

• No Parliament of Scotland shall be held outside the Kingdom of Scotland

• The ruler of Scotland and the ruler of England shall freely rule their own kingdoms.

Treaty of Birgham

• Edward had promised in 1290 that Scotland would…

• He now said the Treaty was only a marriage agreement and it was no longer valid

Edward takes control

Edward gave orders to King John

But sometimes sent them directly to the nobles

Edward takes control

Edward made King John take part in Royal Ceremonies in England

Edward takes control

Edward began hearing appeals from the Scottish Courts of Law

The Kingdom of Scotland shall keep her rights, laws, freedoms and customs.

Treaty of Birgham

Edward takes control

The Nobles were annoyed and persuaded King John to protest…but this made Edward angry

In 1293 King John attended a meeting of the English Parliament to argue his case….

Standing in court in front of him, John carried out Edward’s orders and having experienced many insults from all, contrary to his kingly rank and dignity, he returned home greatly crestfallen

Chronicler

War Between England and France 1294

May 1294 war broke out between England and France

• Why did war break out ?

• How did this affect Scotland ?

Why did war break out?

King Philip IV (The Fair King) Edward I

• Edward ruled land in France

• 1294 Philip said Gascony was part of France and wanted Edward to do homage for it

Why did war break out?

• Edward refused to do homage

• King Philip decided to take the land from Edward

• May 1294 England declared war on France

King Philip IV Edward I

In 1294 Edward asked

• King John

• Ten Scottish earls

• Sixteen Scottish barons

• Fighting men

to join him in his war against France

The Scots did not want this - they had no problem with France

How did this affect Scotland

Meanwhile Edward had problems...

• Sept 1294 Edward was preparing to sail to France

• Edward needed the Welsh to help fight in France • The Welsh were unwilling to fight abroad and rose up against Edward

• Edward once again had to fight the Welsh

• English army was reduced in numbers due to the problems in France.

• He was forced to stay in England till March to deal with the revolt.

The Scots Rebellion

In 1295 the Scots faced 3 main problems…

The Scots RebellionPROBLEM 1

They had all agreed Edward was overlord

The Scots Rebellion

PROBLEM 2

King John would not stand up against Edward

The Scots Rebellion

PROBLEM 3

Scotland was not strong enough to fight Edward on its own

The Scots Rebellion

Gradually the Scots found solutions to these problems…

The Scots RebellionPROBLEM 1They had all agreed Edward was overlord

SOLUTION 1

• They asked the Pope to cancel all agreements made with Edward

• They said King Edward had bullied them into making agreement

• The Pope had these agreements cancelled

The Scots RebellionPROBLEM 2

King John would not stand up against Edward

SOLUTION 2• The nobles (led by the Comyn’s) declared Balliol incompetent to rule

• (Stirling 1295) ‘Community of the Realm’ elected 12 men to help rule - The Council of Twelve

• Similar to the Guardians - 4 earls, 4 bishops, 4 barons

The Council of Twelve sent a letter to Edward stating that he had…

Caused harm to the liberties of ourselves and our kingdom by summoning us outside our realm at the mere beck and call of anybody

The Scots RebellionPROBLEM 3Scotland was not strong enough to fight Edward on its ownSOLUTION 3

The Auld Alliance stated:

• Scotland and France would help each other against Edward

• Neither country would make a separate peace with Edward

If the foresaid king of England personally leaves his land of England…while the war lasts… the said king of Scotland with all his power shall see to it that he invades the land of England as widely and deeply as he can

Extract from the Auld AllianceOctober 1295 the Scots made a Treaty with King Philip IV

Edward was furious and saw this as a declaration of war

Scots Army invades North England

11 March 1296 Scottish leaders gathered feudal army near Selkirk

Scots army was led by Sir John Comyn

Scots army invaded north of England and attacked Carlisle

Selkirk

Carlisle

Scots Army invades North England

• Carlisle castle was commanded by Robert Bruce (stayed loyal to Edward)

• Carlisle was too strong to capture

• The Scots withdrew but continued to carry out brutal raids on north of England Sir John Comyn invaded England

with an army of Scots, burning houses, slaughtering men and driving

off cattle English Chronicler

Edward’s response

Edward marched his army to Berwick

Berwick

Scotland’s chief port and wool trade centre

Attack on Berwick

Berwick was preparing for an attack

• Wooden wall built around the town • Soldiers sent from Fife to defend the town• Women and children were moved out

Attack on Berwick

• 30 March he subjected the town to 3 days of destruction and killing

• Soldiers charged across wall

• Ships sailed into the harbour to attack from sea

• Edward ordered no life should be spared

When Edward arrived he gave the town 3 days to surrender The Scots replied with insults

Attack on Berwick

• Town was burned to the ground

• Edward’s men killed without mercy

• 20,000 were killed• Bodies were hung on

spikes on town walls

Berwick now became the headquarters of Edward’s administration

• Houses were looted

The Scots revenge

• Scottish army burned towns in north of England

• In Northumberland they burning towns, villages, and churches

• However, Edward was not going to be distracted from his attack on Scotland…..

King Edward tried to persuade the head men of Berwick to surrender and promised not to harm them or their possessions. They laughed at him and gave no reply. They kept him waiting for three days.

When King Edward came to them on the fourth day, they increased their insults. Some of them climbed onto the roof tops where they bared their buttocks and shouted insults at the king.

Because of their stubbornness, the troops were brought into action. The pride of these traitors was humbled and, almost without use of force, the city was occupied.

Source A gives a description of the attack on Berwick. It come from the Lanercost Chronicle, which was English.

In four brutal days bodies ‘fell like human leaves’, until the dead lining the streets became a hazard and had to be thrown into wells or the sea since there was nobody left to bury them. It was only with the pleading of the clergy that the carnage came to an end. An English source gives an incredible 15000 killed.

Source B is from Freedom’s Sword by Peter Traquair (1998). It describes the attack on Berwick in 1296.

Berwick

Dunbar

Capture of John Balliol 1296

EdinburghStirling

Montrose

Aberdeen

BanffElgin

Perth

Whilst Edward was invading Scotland King John had fled to Aberdeen

At Perth Edward received letters of submission from King John

8 July Balliol surrendered in person at Montrose

Toom Tabard

Balliol was then imprisoned in the Tower of London

Edward held a ceremony in which he:

• Renounced the treaty made with France

• Ripped Balliol’s royal crest from his jacket and threw it on the floor

• Toom Tabard – Empty Coat

• Removed Balliol’s crown

• Broke Balliol’s seal of office

What eventually became of Balliol

• After a request from the Pope he was sent to France in 1299

• 1301 he was released to live on his land in France

• Many Scots hoped he would return to Scotland

• However, he died in France in 1313

Edward takes control of Scotland

With Balliol in prison Robert Bruce asked Edward to make him King of Scots

Edward replied

Have we nothing else to do but win Kingdoms for you

Edward takes control of Scotland

Edward did 4 things to show he controlled Scotland

1. Ragman Roll

2000 important Scots were made to sign an oath of loyalty to Edward

Edward takes control of Scotland

2. Important Scots documents taken to England so Edward could rule Scotland

Edward takes control of Scotland

3. Symbols of Scottish Nationhood were taken to England

1) Stone of Destiny

Taken to Westminster Abbey

2) Holyrood of St Margaret

Taken to Westminster Abbey

Edward takes control of Scotland

4. English officials appointed to control Scotland

John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey – ‘Keeper of Scotland’

Hugh Cressingham – Treasurer (controlled finances)

Sir Walter of Amersham – Chancellor

Sir William Ormesby – Chief Justice

Reasons for the Scottish Rebellion

Edward left Scotland in 1296

He believed he had the country firmly under his control...

Why?

Edward’s control over Scotland

Nobles

Many had paid homage to Edward

Some were given lands in England

Edward’s control over Scotland

Prison

John Balliol was in the Tower of London

Many Scottish leaders and nobles were imprisoned

Edward’s control over Scotland

Hostages

Sons and relations of noblemen were taken to England

Edward’s control over Scotland

Promises of Loyalty

2000 Important Scots signed the Ragman Rolls

Edward’s control over Scotland

Castles

English garrisons controlled Scottish castles

Edward’s control over Scotland

Government

Englishmen governed Scotland

John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey – ‘Keeper of Scotland’

Hugh Cressingham – Treasurer (controlled finances)

Sir Walter of Amersham – Chancellor

Sir William Ormesby – Chief Justice

Edward’s control over Scotland

Church

Only Englishmen were promoted

Many continued to resist Edward

Bishop Fraser of St Andrews never agreed Edward was King

Despite this the Scots still rebelled...

Over the winter of 1295-96 both the Scots and English made preparation for war

Edward’s Invasion of Scotland

The Scots nobles did not all fight for Scotland

Why?

Comyn family

• Most important noble family in Scotland

• Sir John Comyn supported the Scots

Why?• He was John Balliol’s nephew

Bruces

• Important noble family in Scotland

• Bruces supported Edward I

Why?

• Did not accept John Balliol as King

• They had land in England

• Their rivals were the Comyn’s

Other nobles

• Many found it difficult to decide which side to fight on

Why?

• Many nobles had land in both England and Scotland

Wallace at Lanark

Wallace and the Ragman Rolls

• Family deliberately refused to pay homage?

• Perhaps Wallace was an outlaw after Dunbar?

• 1297 Wallace fought with some English soldiers in Lanark

• The soldiers murdered his wife

• Wallace returned to Lanark and killed the English Sheriff – Sir William Hazelrigg

Why did Wallace come to the attention of Edward I?.....

Effect of Murder of Sir William Hazelrigg

• Created stir across south-west Scotland

• Men flocked to join Wallace

From that time there gathered to him all who were of bitter heart and were weighed down beneath the burden of bondage under the intolerable rule of English domination, and he became their leader.

John of Fordun wrote in the 14th century

Andrew Murray

• Scottish rebel in North East

• Young nobleman from rich powerful family

• Father captured at Dunbar

• Many of the families castles were garrisoned by

English

Wallace and Murray

• Attracted a large number of men

• Had the support of the church

• Used guerrilla tactics

The Nobles at Irvine

Bishop Wishart of Glasgow (original

Guardian)

James Stewart the Steward (original

Guardians)

Robert Bruce

Wallace’s followers grew to include important men

Sir William Douglas (captain of Berwick Castle

before English attack)

June 1297

• Nobles met English army at Irvine

• Their self-confidence was broken by the size of the English army

• They asked for peace

• Talks lasted several weeks

• Eventually the Scottish lords agreed to obey Edward

Irvine

The Nobles at Irvine

William Wallace and Ormsby

Wallace slipped away at Irvine to continue attacks on English

Sir William Ormsby (Edward’s Chief Judge in Scotland)

Wallace and men rode 80 miles to Scone Abbey where Ormsby was based

Attacked Ormsby by surprise

He fled Scotland is great speed

Abandoned great number of valuables

Scone

Wallace’s fame spread and numbers grew

Aug 1297

Wallace and Murray joined forces at attack Dundee

Dundee

Earliest known picture from around 1640 by Scottish artist George Jameson

William Wallace a Mysterious Man

Where was Wallace born?

But some argue it was Ellerslie in Ayrshire

Elderslie

Most sources say..

Wallace’s Background

• Second son of Sir Malcolm Wallace

• Sir Malcolm Wallace was a knight and owned a certain amount of land

• The second son was expected to follow the education of the church - the eldest son inherited the lands and title

• Spent time living with an uncle who was a priest

• Well educated by the church

What did Wallace look like?

Was he 7 feet tall?

What the Chroniclers said...

Wallace had the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance with agreeable features, broad-shouldered and big-boned. A most spirited fighting man.

Walter Bower 1440

John of Fordun 14th century

In 1297, William Wallace murdered the English sheriff of Lanark. From that time all those people who hated the English flocked to him and he became their leader. He was wondrously brave and bold.

What the Chroniclers said...

There was a public robber called William Wallace, who had been outlawed many times because he would not accept Edward as his king. Because he was a wandering outlaw, he attracted all the other bandits to himself and made himself almost their prince.

Walter of Guisborough 14th century

Lanercost Chronicle 13th and 14th centuriesNot daring to disobey King Edward openly, they encouraged a certain, blood man, William Wallace, who had formerly been a chief of robbers in Scotland, to revolt against King Edward and to gather the people in his support.

What do modern Historians say....

We know less about Wallace than we know about almost any of the great national figures in our history

Geoffrey Barrow notes in Robert Bruce 1988

Andrew Fisher writes in William Wallace 1986

Wallace is at best a shadowy figure and likely to remain so.

Therefore very little is known about Wallace’s early life

To find out some information try using this web site

http://www.highlanderweb.co.uk/wallace/