Great Cause + Edwards Decison

Question 1

The Great Cause

Answer 1

• The task of choosing the new king has come to be known as the Great Cause. Of the nine claimants only three were serious, these were descendants of the daughters of David the Earl of Huntingdon.
  -In order to ensure he would be overlord of Scotland, Edward demanded that all claimants accepted this before he would pass judgement on them.
• the Guardians held out for as long as they could despite constant threat of force form Edward.
• The Agreement of the claimants is generally known as the ‘Award of Norham’.
• By 12 June 1291 all nine of the original claimants had sworn the oath to the English King.

Question 2

The Great Cause

Answer 2

• The Claimants not only agreed that Edward was their Overlord, but that he had legal possession of the Kingdom and that it was his to freely give away.
• the Guardians were furious as rather than Edward being a neutral observer choosing between Bruce or Balliol, Edward was now a judge who had the right to give away Scotland.
• In the end, all agreed to Edwards demands , though it was understood by the Scots that once Edward had made his choice then the oaths would revert to the new King of Scotland.
• It would be easier for him to hold on to the legal position of overlord after a longer period of time.

Question 3

The Great Cause

Answer 3

• The Great Cause involved discussion between claimants as well as the presenting of evidence that supports their claims.
• Edward I decided that the most appropriate legal method to choose the next King was through the laws of Primogeniture.
• Under this legal system the crown passed from a King to his closest living male relative.
• At Berwick, Edward I called a Parliament where he could hear evidence; he decided to hear Balliol and Bruce as the most powerful families then compare all the others.
• Both families were asked to provide 40 supporters each to act as auditors and present their evidence
• Edward himself appointed 20 supporters, the decision of King would take over a year to be reached.

Question 4

Edwards Decision

Answer 4

• Edward announced his decision on 17 November 1292, after 13 months of political arguments and debate.
• In the end, John Balliol clearly had the better legal claim and thus duly chosen become King John of Scots.
• Subsequent Scottish Kings put forward the idea that Bruce had the better claim, and that Edward chose Balliol only because he thought he would be easier to manipulate.
• John Balliol was the last of the claimants to acknowledge Edward’s overlordship. He did so only after 10 June 1291 when everyone else had already given their oath.

Question 5

Edwards Decision

Answer 5

• Edward makes demands over Scottish castles, forts and key land; as during Edwards Overlordship he wanted to ensure he had military authority over Scotland as while Edward is deliberating on who should be the next King of Scotland he wanted to guarantee military position and essentially wanted Scotland as his vassal.
• As legit ate inheritance is always passed down the eldest line until that has fully expired then it is clear that John Balliol had the torn gear claim.
• this legal procedure in inheritance law was called ‘Primogeniture’.