Scottish Wars of Independence - edward as scotland's overlord

1. Scottish Wars of Independence
Edward as
Scotland’s
overlord

2. In today’s class, I am learning to:
• Describe ways that King Edward
controlled Scotland, up to 1296
• Describe the Scottish response to
Edward’s control and overlordship
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

3. After the Great Cause, John Balliol was selected as
King of Scotland. His time as king was undermined by
the actions of King Edward of England.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

4. John Balliol officially
became Scotland’s king on
St Andrew’s Day (30
November) 1292 at a
ceremony in Scone.
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.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

5. The Scots had hoped that
Edward would not enforce
his overlordship once they
had a king. It was clear that
they were wrong.
Although Alexander III had
sworn allegiance to Edward
for his land in England,
Balliol’s oath covered all
land, including Scotland.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

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.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

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. This
was a complete humiliation
for a king, and showed that
Balliol had little power.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

8. Edward also forced Balliol
to admit the Treaty of
Birgham no longer stood.
The treaty had guaranteed
that Scotland would
remain an independent,
country and that Scots
would not pay taxes to
fund English wars. This was
no longer the case.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

9. Edward also undermined
Balliol in other ways.
He forced the Scots to have
an Englishman, Master
Thomas of Hunsingore to
control Scotland’s money.
His title was to be
Treasurer, following
English and not Scots law.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

10. In the 1293 Macduff
Case,a Scot whose land
was removed (Macduff)
appealed to Edward.
Edward forced King John to
travel to England to explain
his verdict. When John
protested, Edward
threatened to confiscate
Scottish land and castles.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

11. 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.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

12. Some people believe that
the Bruce family hoped to
see Balliol fail and then be
removed as king.
In this case, following the
Great Cause, the Bruces
expected that it would be
their family that would
then take the throne of
Scotland.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord

13. Other Scots supported
Balliol’s right to rule, but
they detested English
interference in their
country.
As such they began to build
links with France, in the
hope of removing King
Edward’s influence over
Scotland.
Edward as Scotland’s overlord