The Great Cause

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

A. Alexander III

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

2. Which country ruled the Western Isles up to 1266?

A. Norway

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

2. Which country ruled the Western Isles up to 1266?

3. Margaret, Alexander’s first wife, was sister to which European monarch?

A. Edward I of England

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

2. Which country ruled the Western Isles up to 1266?

3. Margaret, Alexander’s first wife, was sister to which European monarch?

4. During the reign of Alexander, the English King was considered overlord of Scotland. True or False?

A. False

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

2. Which country ruled the Western Isles up to 1266?

3. Margaret, Alexander’s first wife, was sister to which European monarch?

4. During the reign of Alexander, the English King was considered overlord of Scotland. True or False?

5. Which Scottish town was Alexander going to the night he died?

A. Kinghorn

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

2. Which country ruled the Western Isles up to 1266?

3. Margaret, Alexander’s first wife, was sister to which European monarch?

4. During the reign of Alexander, the English King was considered overlord of Scotland. True or False?

5. Which Scottish town was Alexander going to the night he died?

6. Margaret, Maid of Norway, was named Alexander’s heir however there were 2 main issues with this.

The first was that she was 3 years old at the time; what was the second issue?

A. She was a female

Starter

1. Who was King of Scotland between 1241-1286?

2. Which country ruled the Western Isles up to 1266?

3. Margaret, Alexander’s first wife, was sister to which European monarch?

4. During the reign of Alexander, the English King was considered overlord of Scotland. True or False?

5. Which Scottish town was Alexander going to the night he died?

6. Margaret, Maid of Norway, was named Alexander’s heir however there were 2 main issues with this. The first was that she was 3 years old at the time; what was the second issue?

7. Name the Treaty that said the Maid of Norway would marry Edward, Prince of Wales.

A. Treaty of Birgham

The Great Cause

Recap

• Alexander III died without a direct heir in 1286 • The nobles honoured their agreement to proclaim his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway, as his heir • They signed the Treaty of Birgham which pledged Margaret to Edward, Prince of England Alexander III (1241-1286)

The Guardians

The Guardians

• After Alexander’s death, 6 nobles from across Scottish society were chosen at Scone to act as Guardians of Scotland • They were: – Bishop Fraser of St Andrews – Bishop Robert Wishaw of Glasgow – John Comyn – James the Steward – Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan – Duncan, Earl of Fife

Alexander III (1241-1286)

The Guardians

This was their seal to be used on all royal documents

The Guardians Who was missing from the Guardians?

The Guardians

Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale

John Balliol

It was believed that to have the two claiments on the council together would have made decisions politically difficult and explosive

The Guardians

Robert de Brus did not think the Guardians would accept Margaret and began to seize Royal castles in Dumfries, Wigtown and Buittle.

The Guardians

However, de Brus failed to gain support outside of the South West and the Guardians were able to raise an army against him

This was not the only issue the Guardians were to face:

The Great Cause

• Duncan, Earl of Fife, was accused of lining his own pockets through his position and was later murdered by his kin in 1288 • Fighting almost broke out in the North East of Scotland between the two Comyn Guardians and one of their rivals, the Earl of Atholl.

• Despite these issues, the Guardians were able to work together to avoid civil war and do what was best for the Scottish throne.

Death of a Maid

Recap

• Margaret, Maid of Norway, would marry Edward, Prince of England • Other terms of the Treaty of Brigham – Elections of Scottish Churchmen would be independent of England – Scottish nobles with Scottish land would only pay homage to the King of Scots – No one accused of a crime in Scotland would face trial outside of Scotland or under English law – No Scottish Parliaments would be held outside of Scotland – No taxation of Scots unless for the needs of Scotland

Death of a Maid

• Margaret arrived on Orkney after a long voyage from Norway in autumn 1290 • However in Sept. 1290, she died of pneumonia • This left Scotland with no clear heir to the throne and the Treaty of Brigham was null and void • Civil war once again loomed over Scotland.

Margaret arriving at Orkney

Death of a Maid • Fraser wrote to Edward I explaining that de Brus, along with the Earls of Athol and Mar were plotting to overthrow the Guardians and seize the throne.

• He asked Edward to march to the border in order to prevent war.

• De Brus dispatched his own letter to Edward, appealing that his claim should be upheld – this was known as the Appeal of the Seven Earls.

Bishop Fraser’s seal

Death of a Maid

Edward travelled north to the border and arrived at Norham Castle in April 1291

Why Edward I?

The Great Cause • Edward I was known to be one of the great legal minds at the time • He was considered to be neutral in the affair • The Guardians believed that he had enough power and influence to prevent a civil war from breaking out • Both de Brus and Balliol were happy with this appointment as they believed that Edward would favour their individual claims.

Edward I (1272-1307)

Recap

• Golden Age of Scotland • Guardians of Scotland • Succession of Alexander III

• • •

Battle of Largs, Treaty of Perth, Wool, England Six, de Brus, Balliol, Rebellion, Bishop Fraser Maid of Norway, Kinghorn, Edward Prince of Wales, Treaty of Brigham, Yolande

Issue of Overlordship

Overlordship

When Edward reached Norham Castle he refused to travel any further north. The Guardians would have to come to him.

Overlordship • Whilst at Norham, Edward tasks the monasteries to find proof that England had the right to claim overlordship of Scotland • The Guardians hoped that Edward would cross the border to Scotland, thus symbolising that England had no authority over Scotland • However, it became clear that Edward was never going to cross the border

Edward I (1272-1307)

Overlordship

The Guardians were forced cross the River Tweed and meet Edward I on English soil.

Once they arrived at the castle, Edward demanded that they acknowledge him as Overlord of Scotland before he made his decision about who would be crowned King of Scotland.

Overlordship

However the Guardians informed Edward that such a decision could only be made by the King and therefore he had to appoint one of the claimants to the throne before he could be appointed as Overlord.

Overlordship • In response, Edward found another 11 claimants (including himself)

Edward I (1272-1307)

Overlordship

• Out of the 13 claimants, only 3 had a credible and serious claim: – John Balliol, Robert de Brus (5th Lord of Annandale) and John, Lord of Hastings

• All three were descended from the line of David, Earl of Huntingdon • Edward made all the contenders to accept his Overlordship before he would pass judgement over them • Many stalled, however, fearing that they would be left out of the judgement, they accepted his Overlordship • This was known as the ‘Award of Norham’

Overlordship Who would you choose to rule Scotland based solely on the family tree?

Robert de Brus

In your jotters, write an explanation why you reached this conclusion.

Recap

Alexander III

Recap

Treaty of Birgham

Recap

Award of Norham

Recap

Guardians of Scotland

Recap

John Balliol

Recap

Bishop Fraser

The Great Cause

The Great Cause

• Edward now had the legal possession of the kingdom and it was his to freely give away.

• Guardians were furious but there was little they could do.

• Edward was now basically owner of Scotland.

• Was still believed that when Edward made his judgement, then all power would revert to the new king.

The Great Cause

• Edward announced his decision on 17th November 1292, 13 months after he began. • John Balliol was selected but others believed that Bruce had the better claim.

The Great Cause

Balliol was selected due to PRIMOGENITURE

The Great Cause

• Some claim that Balliol was only selected as Edward believed he was weaker and would be easier to control. • In fact, Balliol was the last of the major claimants to swear homage to Edward.

Historians Views

Historians’ Views

• Historians Michael Brown and Alan Macquarie stress it would now be harder for a new Scottish king to establish his authority.

Revision Websites

Revision

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history /warsofindependence/thegreatcause/revision /1/ • http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/quiz/q570104 53