3 the reign of balliol

The Reign of King John Balliol

Recap

• Alexander III died without a direct heir in 1286 • After the death of the Maid of Norway, the Guardians of Scotland turned to Edward I for help • In return for the Overlordship of Scotland, Edward I agreed to help choose the new Scottish King • His choice was John Balliol

Margaret the Maid of John Alexander III Balliol (1241-1286) Norway 1292-1296

Balliol’s Coronation

Balliol’s Coronation

• Edward proclaimed that John Balliol would be King of Scotland on 17 November 1292 • On St Andrew’s Day, John was crowned King of the Scots at Scone – the ancient throne of Scottish Kings • This was attended by many of the important noblemen Edward I (1272-1307)

Balliol’s Coronation

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However, despite this, King John’s position was different to that of previous kings: ‘He was king not by unquestioned right, but by judgement of a court and the events leading up to that judgement made him both a vassal king and a factional king.’

The Wars of Scotland, 1214–1371, Brown, M., Edinburgh University Press, 2004.

What do you think Michael Brown meant by this?

Issues of Overlordship

Overlordship

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Edward I made his authority over King John clear when he acted as supreme judge in appeals from the Scottish king’s court.

Even before John’s homage, Edward was hearing his first Scottish case.

Edward I (1272-1307)

Overlordship Master Roger Bartholomew, a burgess of Berwick, had been involved in a case in the court of the Guardians. The Guardians had ruled against him and Balliol decided to uphold the Guardians’ decision

Dissatisfied with this, Bartholomew complained to King Edward at Berwick on 7 December 1292, one week after Balliol’s enthronement.

Overlordship

Edward reversed the previous judgement in Roger Bartholomew’s favour.

Edward I (1272-1307)

Overlordship

What has Edward just done?

What existed at the time which was supposed to protect Scottish law?

Overlordship

Edward argued that the Treaty of Brigham was primarily a marriage treaty and without a marriage to uphold it, the treaty was now null and void.

In other words, Edward could now interfere as much as he liked in Scottish politics Edward I (1272-1307)

Overlordship

• Despite this, Balliol travelled to Newcastle to spend Christmas at King Edward’s court.

• On 26 December 1292 he paid homage to Edward for the second time, saying:

Overlordship

Lord Lord Edward, Edward, lord lord superior superior of of the the realm realm of of Scotland, Scotland, I,I, John John Balliol, Balliol, King King of of Scots, Scots, become become your your liegeman liegeman for for the the whole whole realm realm of of Scotland Scotland

Overlordship

• Edward immediately began to interfere in the administration of Scotland.

• He ordered the wording of the Royal Seal of Scotland to be changed.

• John was made to accept Master Thomas of Hunsingore, a Yorkshire man, as his new chancellor.

• The office of treasurer was introduced; this title had never been used in Scotland before. This was clear imitation of English practice Edward I (1272-1307)

Overlordship

• John faced a difficult situation even without the issue of Edward’s overlordship:

Overlordship

• Politics within Scotland remained factional – John needed to win the allegiance of all his subjects and to cement his authority as king.

• In February 1293 he called a parliament at Scone; most of the Scottish nobles accepted Balliol as king and attended.

Overlordship

Three new sheriffdoms were created in the Isles and Argyll (area in pink), showing that Balliol had an awareness of the need to extend royal authority into these areas in order to effectively rule the kingdom.

Overlordship

• The Scots protested to Edward that he had promised to preserve the laws and customs of Scotland, and that he had agreed that Scottish lawsuits should not be dealt with outside of Scotland (Treaty of Birgham).

• Edward publicly forced John to back down. On 2 January 1292 John issued letters which freed Edward from all obligations and promises which the English king had entered into with the Guardians.

• This meant that the Treaty of Birgham, and all other guarantees of Scottish independence, were null and void.

Overlordship: The Macduff Case

Overlordship

• The case of Macduff, younger son of Malcolm, Earl of Fife, was the most well known example of Edward asserting his superiority over King John. • Macduff claimed that he had been unjustly deprived of his inheritance and then imprisoned by John Balliol.

Overlordship Balliol This iswas the initially oldest part defiant; of Westminister he arrived atPalace Westminster and where to argue Edward thatI Edward’s court would had have no right held to an judge audience the case. for John Balliol refused to answer without consulting his ‘chief men’

In response to this, Edward threatened to charge John with contempt of court and confiscated three royal castles, in Scotland.

Overlordship

Balliol gave in to these demands and renewed his homage to Edward for a third time.

Overlordship

• English chroniclers describe the humiliation experienced by the Scots king at the English court, where he was not permitted to speak through a representative.

• The case was not resolved in 1293, and was adjourned until the following year.

• The case was then postponed until 1295, when it was forced off the agenda by news from France.

Anglo-French War & Return of the Guardians

Anglo-French War

• Tensions between Scotland and England came to a head over England’s proposed war with France.

• Edward I held land in France – the duchy of Aquitaine.

• He inherited this land from his greatgrandmother

Anglo-French War

• On 19 May 1294, Philip IV of France confiscated Edward’s land following Edward’s failure to appear in the French court.

• On 24 June Edward renounced his homage as Duke and sent his formal defiance to the French king.

• This meant war…

Anglo-French War

• On 29 June formal summons were issued to the King of Scots, 10 Scottish earls and 16 barons to raise knights and join Edward’s army at Plymouth in early September.

• This seemed to confirm the subjection of the Scottish realm to their overlord.

Anglo-French War

• Overseas service had never before been demanded of the Scots on such a large scale.

• King Malcolm IV of Scotland had performed overseas service for Henry II of England in 1159.

• This was the last time a King of Scots had provided military service for England.

On that occasion, he had returned to find his earls angry.

Malcolm IV 1153-1165

Anglo-French War

•According to an English chronicle, Balliol promised to give aid.

•However, neither Balliol nor any of his barons appeared in response to Edward’s summons, instead making various excuses.

Anglo-French War

Scotland was appalled with the ideas of going to war with France – they were one of Scotland’s largest trading partners at the time.

Anglo-French War

• At a parliament held at Stirling in July 1295, a Council of Twelve was appointed.

Anglo-French War

• An embassy of four Scots was sent to Paris in July, 1295.

• By 23 October 1295 they had entered into a treaty with King Philip of France.

• The treaty guaranteed that Scotland would maintain hostilities against England in return for military aid from the French should Scotland be invaded; a peace could only be made if both sides agreed.

Anglo-French War

• It also contained the agreement that King John’s son and heir, Edward Balliol, would marry King Philip’s niece, Jean Valois.

• The Treaty was ratified by the king and a wide cross section of the Scottish political community on 23 February 1296.

Anglo-French War

So instead of this, the 12 Guardians formed‌

Anglo-French War

‌ the Auld Alliance against England!

Anglo-French War

&

Council of Twelve

The Council of Twelve •This has been the topic of historical debate. Some historians believe that the existence of the Council of Twelve shows that John was being sidelined by his own nobles, lending further weight to the argument that John was a weak king. •However, it has been argued that the Council of Twelve may in fact have been appointed to support the king, and that it did not replace him.

Subjugation of the Scots

Subjugation

Timeline – March – April 1296 23 March – English host assembles at Wark

25 March – Bruce join Edward’s army

Subjugation

• In 1296, there was nothing wrong with morale in the Scottish Army • The Scottish nobles had raised 10,000 men and the defences at Berwick were considered impressive

Subjugation What the Scots lacked was any real fighting experience in large engagements.

Despite this, they began to raid the English border – this prompted Edward to cross the river Tweed and head towards Berwick

Subjugation On 30 March 1296 the English arrived before the walls of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an important Scottish burgh

Subjugation

Subjugation On 30 March 1296 the English arrived before the walls of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an important Scottish burgh

The town surrendered, and thousands of the inhabitants of Berwick are reported to have been slaughtered.

Subjugation

• The Scots’ response to this was formal defiance of Edward; Balliol renounced his homage.

• In the last week of April Edward sent an army to secure Dunbar castle.

• On 27 April 1296 a sizeable Scottish army was defeated at Dunbar. Many Scots were killed and important nobles were captured.

Subjugation

Edward’s progression north in 1296

© The Scottish Wars of Independence, 1286–1328 by Andy McPhee, reproduced by permission of Hodder Education

Subjugation

Following Dunbar, Scots refused to contemplate fighting Edward began surrendering.

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West Coast Alexander AlexanderMcDougal McDougal (head (headofofpowerful powerful family) put family) putup upsome some resistance. resistance.

Stirling Didn’t Didn’tput putup upaafight fight––defenders defendersran ran away and left keys hanging on the away and left keys hanging on the front frontgates gatesfor forapproaching approachingEnglish English army! army!

Jedburgh & Edinburgh Castles held off for a while – but forced to surrender when powerful new siege engines arrived.

Roxburgh surrendered surrenderedafter afteraafew fewdays days ofofsporadic sporadicfighting fighting

Toom Tabard

Toom Tabard

After 27 April – Edward receives homage from Scots. Removes Scottish records and Stone of Destiny. He places the Stone of Destiny under the throne of England – symbolising that Scotland is subservient to England.

Toom Tabard

• c. 2 July – Balliol surrenders at Kincardine.

• c. 9 July – Balliol abdicates at Brechin – stripped of royal insignia – Toom Tabard.

Toom Tabard

August: Almost 1600 Scots swore loyalty to Edward by attaching their seal to the ‘Ragman’s Roll’.

Those who paid homage included nobles, the clergy and freeholders of land.

Toom Tabard

Timeline – April – August 1296 • 22 August – Parliament at Berwick: – Earl of Surrey becomes Lieutenant of Scotland; – Hugh de Cressingham becomes Treasurer of Scotland; • collects £5,188 from Scots by June.

– 30 English sheriffs appointed – English Exchequer and Justiciars

Historians’ Views – Was John Balliol a bad King?

Historians’ Views

G.W.S Barrow 'At every step he took, the new king would have to pause, examine its implications, and find out whether it could be allowed under the new regime… It was John’s misfortune that he had succeeded to a kingdom which could not have been ruled by anyone forced to walk such a narrow tightrope.'

Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, Edinburgh University Press, 2005

Historians’ Views

• 'It is true he was not a forceful man and certainly no match for Edward I. But he was not a complete nonentity nor altogether lacking in dignity.' G.W.S Barrow • 'Historians have been aware for some time that Balliol’s reputation as king resulted in part from the very difficult circumstances of his reign, but more particularly from the effect on that reputation of the propaganda of the man who usurped his throne, Robert Bruce, and subsequent pro-Bruce writers, such as John Barbour.' F. Watson, Under the Hammer: Edward I and Scotland, 1286–1306

Revision Websites

Revision

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/war • http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/quiz/q86117980