Higher Migration and Empire - Push factors (Highlands)
Scottish Wars of Independence - the great cause
1.
2. LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe events before and during the Great Cause
• Describe the reasons for Edward’s decision
3. The death of Alexander III and his granddaughter, Margaret
had left Scotland without a king or heir. King Edward of
England was asked to choose a new king for Scotland.
4. The decision to ask Edward to
choose a new Scottish king may
seem surprising, but actually
made sense.
Edward’s good relations with
Scotland made him appear
trustworthy, and he was so
strong that no-one could
oppose his final decision.
5. The process of choosing a new
king would take more than a year.
However Edward’s first act was to
meet with Scotland’s guardians.
The Scots were at
Uppsetlington just north of the
River Tweed; Edward and his
men were at Norham Castle on
the south side of the river.
6. The guardians wanted Edward
to travel to them but he
refused; eventually Scotland’s
guardians went to Norham.
Edward then caused outrage by
demanding the Scots accept
him as overlord before he
made his judgement.
7. The guardians refused the
overlord demand, saying
only the new king could
agree to this.
Edward’s strong military
presence – including his fleet
being ready to blockade
Scottish ports – showed that
his attitudes towards
Scotland were changing.
8. Edward’s view of the Scots was
changing for different reasons.
His good relationship with
Alexander counted for less if all
Alexander’s relatives were dead.
Threats of civil war suggested
Scotland was not a stable country.
His control of Wales may have
influenced him too.
9. In total, 13 men put their
name forward to be considered
as new King of Scotland.
Edward then announced that
he would not choose anyone
who did not promise to accept
his as overlord. Although many
refused at first, eventually all
candidates made the promise.
10. The decision to promise Edward
the position of overlord is known
as the Award of Norham.
Edward now had the legal power
to control Scotland, including
giving away parts of its land if
he wished to. Some Scots believed
he would give back this power
after choosing a new king.
11. Edward finally made
his decision in
November 1292. His
choice was based on
the candidate who had
the strongest legal
claim.
John Balliol was
chosen as the new king.
12. Some people later claimed that
Balliol was only chosen as he
was the weakest of all the
candidates.
However Balliol was in fact the
last candidate to pledge
allegiance to Edward (Robert
Bruce having done so much
earlier).
13. Balliol’s claim was the
strongest based on the concept
of primogeniture.
This means that inheritance is
always passed down based on
the eldest child. Bruce and
Balliol were both related to
King David I, but Balliol was
related to his oldest daughter.
