Scottish Wars of Independence - king john Balliol

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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).

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.