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LEARNING INTENTIONS• Describe key events from John Balliol’s time as King
of Scotland
• Describe ways that Balliol’s time as king was undermined by King Edward and other people
After the Great Cause, John Balliol was selected as King of Scotland. His time as king would be
difficult, undermined by many different people and ultimately ending in failure.
John Balliol officially became Scotland’s king on
St Andrew’s Day (30 November) 1292 at a ceremony in Scone.
However one of his first acts as king was to swear loyalty to King Edward of England. He was forced to travel to Newcastle to do
this.
The Scots had hoped that Edward would not enforce
his overlordship once they had a king. They were
wrong.
Although Alexander III had also done this for his land in England, Balliol’s
oath was to cover all of his lands, including Scotland.
One role that a king had was in settling legal disputes between different people.
King John made numerous decisions. However when
people disagreed they appealed to Edward, undermining Balliol’s power and influence.
Only a week after Balliol became king. A burgess
(politician) of Berwick appealed to Edward about a
decision made by Balliol.
Edward forced Balliol to change his verdict, a
complete humiliation for a king. He also forced Balliol to
admit the Treaty of Birgham no longer stood.
Edward also undermined Balliol in other ways.
He forced the Scottish king to have an Englishman,
Master Thomas of Hunsingore as his new Chancellor (and to call him Treasurer, following
English and not Scots law).
The clearest case of Balliol’s weakness was the Macduff Case. A Scot who had his land removed (Macduff)
appealed to Edward.
In 1293 Edward embarrassed King John by forcing him to travel to England to explain
his verdict. When John protested, Edward threatened
to confiscate Scottish land and castles.
King John was also facing problems from amongst
Scots nobles.
The losing candidates in the Great Cause –
especially the Bruce family – were still angry
and limiting (or simply not giving) their support to the
Scottish king.
Edward’s constant demands were causing anger in Scotland – this
became a crisis because of events involving France.
France was England’s real enemy and the two
countries were in a dispute over land (over the French
region of Gascony). By 1294, Edward had decided
to attack them.
King Edward, treating the Scots like his own
country and army, ordered them to join the
fight against France.
King John, along with other barons and
their armies, were to go to England and
prepare for war with France.
Attacking France was unpopular in Scotland
because:
• It treated Scotland as simply an English
region• France was Scotland’s
main trading partner and the two side had
good relations• Scots nobles were to pay
tax to England to fund the war
The Scots finally resisted the English demands. The
Community of the Realm appointed 12 new Guardians.
The Guardians sent representatives to France to
reach a deal to oppose Edward. They agreed a deal to
attack England and marry Balliol’s son into the French
royal family.
The Treaty of Paris between Scotland and
France was signed on 23 February 1296. It became
known as the Auld Alliance.
Some historians are unsure what role Balliol played in this. However
when Edward heard about the deal he was furious and planned a brutal
revenge.
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