The Reign of John Balliol
The King is Chosen 1292
In November 1292, the thirteen leading candidates for the Scottish throne were summoned to Berwick Castle, where Edward I announced that he had chosen John Balliol to be king. Not everyone was pleased with this choice. The Bruce family were ambitious and were determined that one day the Scottish throne would belong to them.
On 30th November (St Andrew’s Day), John Balliol was crowned at Scone. December saw him ordered to Newcastle to swear homage to Edward and accept him as his overlord. The sight of a Scottish king on his knees accepting Edward as his superior made some Scottish nobles angry. They began to whisper that a ‘deal’ had perhaps been done between Edward and Balliol. Had Balliol been given the throne so long as he agreed to carry out Edward’s wishes?
Task 11: Balliol Becomes King
Write a short paragraph including the following details:
Ø When Balliol was selected as King and where it was announced;
Ø His coronation at Scone;
Ø The ceremony of overlordship at Newcastle;
Ø How the Scots felt about the way Balliol was treated.
Highlight the key facts in your paragraph.
The Scots’ Rebellion 1294
For two years, the Scots watched as their king was forced to carry out everything that Edward commanded. There was much anger that Balliol was acting merely as a ‘puppet’ king. Edward seemed to take great delight in undermining the authority of the Scottish king. Offenders punished in Scottish courts found that they could appeal to Edward against Scottish legal decisions. Although only a few did so, Edward handled these appeals in a way that brought shame on the Scottish King. In 1293 Edward had forced Balliol to attend a meeting of the English Parliament in London. A few years later a chronicler wrote:
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.
In 1294, Edward went even further. He demanded that Balliol, ten of his earls and sixteen of his barons, with their fighting men, should join him on his campaign against the French. Finally the Scottish nobles had had enough. Discussions began to take place as to how the Scots could break free from Edward’s control. In order to do this, three problems would have to be overcome:
1. All the Scottish nobles including Balliol had agreed that Edward was overlord of Scotland (remember the deal at Norham).
2. King John found it difficult to stand up to Edward’s temper and threats.
3. Scotland was not powerful enough to stand alone against England.
The Scots’ first move was to ask the Pope in Rome to cancel all the promises and agreements that they had made with Edward. Arguing that Edward had bullied them into proclaiming him as overlord, the Scots knew that the relationship between the Pope and Edward was not a good one and hoped he would sympathise with them. The plan worked and the Pope declared that the Scots’ promises to Edward were cancelled.
The second move was an attempt to help strengthen John Balliol. 12 men were elected to help him rule. Consisting of 4 bishops, 4 earls and 4 barons, this group was known as the Council of 12.
Finally the Scots decided to make a Treaty of Alliance with France – the Franco-Scottish Treaty. The French were already at war with Edward. The Treaty stated that Scotland would support the French in their fight and that neither country would make a separate peace with Edward. On discovering these details Edward was furious and plotted revenge.
Task 12: The Scots’ Rebellion
a) What do you understand by the phrase ‘puppet king’?
b) Give two examples from before 1294 of how Edward undermined Balliol’s authority as Scottish King.
c) What was the ‘final straw’ as far as Balliol and the other Scottish nobles were concerned?
d) Copy and complete the following table:
Problem for the Scots / The Scottish Solution
Many Scottish nobles including Balliol had agreed that Edward was overlord of Scotland.
The Council of 12 was elected to help Balliol run Scotland. They included 4 each of bishops, earls and barons.
Scotland was not powerful enough to stand alone against England.
Preparations for War
Despite Edward’s anger, he was faced with the dilemma of fighting the Scots and the French at the same time. This problem would resolve itself when he convincingly defeated the French in 1295, forcing them to make peace. As 1296 began, Edward was now ready to turn his attention to Balliol and the Scots.
The English Invasion of Scotland
Edward’s decision to attack Scotland caused problems for many Scottish nobles, as many owned land in both countries. Nobles were being forced to make a choice. The powerful Comyn family supported Balliol, their close relation. The Bruce family supported Edward, seeing an opportunity to have the Scottish throne handed to their branch of the royal family tree.
Knowing that attack was inevitable, the Scots decided to attack first. In March 1296, a Scottish army under John Comyn attacked the English stronghold of Carlisle Castle. Robert Bruce (the competitor’s son) defended the castle for the English. Comyn’s men were unable to break the defences.
Task 13: Preparations for War
a) Explain the dilemma facing Edward as he planned revenge on Balliol and Scotland.
b) Now explain the dilemma facing Scottish nobles.
c) How did the Comyn and Bruce families react to the situation?
d) Where and when did these two families find themselves on opposing sides in Edward’s fight against Balliol?
Edward I Attacks Berwick
Instead of attacking this Scottish army at Carlisle, in the same month, Edward crossed the border and headed for Berwick, one of Scotland’s richest ports and burghs. The attack was not unexpected and the people of Berwick had built a wooden wall to defend the town as well as recruiting extra soldiers to defend it. When Edward’s troops arrived, they faced the town with over 25 000 men and over 4000 cavalry. Scottish soldiers numbered around 5000.
Edward demanded that the people of Berwick surrender. They refused and instead shouted insults such as ‘longshanks’. English ships sailed into the harbour and the land army attacked the town walls. A slaughter then followed. Edward ordered that no prisoners should be taken and soon the bodies of Berwick’s men, women and children began to pile up in the streets. Homes and businesses were burned to the ground. Edward was sending a clear message to Scotland – surrender or face devastation.
Source A – from an English chronicler’s description of the capture of Berwick.
The King tried to persuade the leading men to surrender, promising them personal safety, security for their possessions, pardon for their offences. He waited for three days. They gave no reply to his generous offer. He spoke to them in a friendly manner; they redoubled their insults. Some of them putting themselves on the heights, bared their buttocks and insulted the King. Others fiercely attacked the fleet. Troops were brought into action and the city occupied. No fewer than fifteen thousand men and women perished, some by the sword, others by fire.
Task 14: Edward I Attacks Berwick
Write a brief note on Edward’s attack on Berwick. Include the following details:
Ø How Berwick tried to protect itself;
Ø The numbers of soldiers on each side;
Ø How the Scots insulted the English King;
Ø How Edward treated the town and its people.
Highlight the key facts in your note.
The Battle of Dunbar
After destroying Berwick, Edward’s army marched north to face Balliol’s army. At the Battle of Dunbar in April, 1296, the Scots were heavily defeated. Outnumbered four to one and with many Scottish nobles supporting Edward, Balliol’s men were always in a weak position. This largely English army was also better trained and had more weapons. As they had recently finished their two year fight against the French, it could also be argued that Edward’s army had much more fighting experience.
Task 15: The Battle of Dunbar
Make a mind map showing the reasons for the English victory at the Battle of Dunbar.
Edward Pursues Balliol
Following the heavy defeat at Dunbar, the Scots army fled. Many additional Scots nobles decided to make their peace with Edward. Balliol escaped with the remnants of the army and fled north. Throughout the summer of 1296, Edward pursued Balliol, capturing castle after castle. At Stirling, a chronicler at the time noted that
‘…they that were in the castle ran away and left none but the porter who did hand over the keys.’
Balliol travelled as far north as Aberdeen but increasingly saw that his plight was hopeless. His army had been beaten, most nobles had made peace with Edward and most of Scotland’s key towns and castles were in the hands of the English. He agreed to meet Edward in July 1296 to make peace.
Task 16: Edward Pursues Balliol
Collect the map of Edward I’s pursuit of Balliol and stick it in your jotter.
Match up the following heads and tails and copy them correctly into your jotter in chronological order, starting with Berwick and finishing with Aberdeen.
Berwick / The ill equipped Scottish troops were no match for the experienced and well-armed English army.
Dunbar / The site of the Stone of Destiny, confiscated by Edward as a symbol of Scottish independence.
Scone / Balliol marched this far north before accepting that he had no chance of success against the English.
Stirling / This was the location for Balliol’s surrender to Edward I.
Montrose / Edward killed 15 000 Scots to serve as a reminder of the cost of Scottish disobedience.
Aberdeen / One of the castles easily taken by the English as they marched northwards tracking Balliol.
The Surrender of Balliol
Balliol’s meeting with Edward took place in Montrose. Balliol begged forgiveness and apologised for his disobedience. Edward was in no mood to forgive and decided to strip Balliol of his title as King of Scots. In front of the Scottish nobility, Balliol’s crown and royal robes were removed from him. Receiving the nickname ‘Toom Tabard’ or ‘Empty Coat’, Balliol was taken as prisoner to London where he would be imprisoned in the Tower of London. He would later be allowed to leave England for France, but would never return to Scottish soil.
Task 17: The Surrender of Balliol
Paste the illustration of the surrender of Balliol into your jotter and note three details about Balliol’s treatment by Edward.
Edward Takes Control
After the defeat of Balliol, Robert Bruce (the competitor’s son and defender of Carlisle Castle) asked Edward to make him king. Edward replied “Have we nothing else to do but win kingdoms for you?” Edward did not intend to replace one Scots king with another. Instead he set about trying to reduce and remove a number of important parts of the Scottish identity as a separate nation and kingdom. These plans included:
· Scotland should no longer be referred to as a ‘kingdom’ but merely the ‘land’ of Scotland.
· The removal of the Scottish crown jewels to London.
· The removal of the Stone of Destiny (the stone on which Scottish kings had been crowned for centuries) from Scone to London.
· The removal of Scottish government papers to London.
· The appointment of important English officials to positions of power in Scotland. John de Warenne, the Earl of Surrey became the ‘Governor of Scotland’ whilst Hugh Cressingham became ‘Treasurer’.
· The forcing of all Scottish nobles to sign the so-called ‘Ragman Roll’, a document where they would promise to obey Edward I.
Thus, by the end of 1296 Scotland was firmly under Edward’s control. Scotland had had her independence taken from her and was effectively taken in as part of England.
Task 18: Edward Takes Control
Make an illustrated table in your jotter showing the six measures that Edward I took to remove Scotland’s national identity.