Issue 1: The Succession Problem, 1286-1292 Flashcards
The problem of the Scottish church
The problem of th
Scottish church:
•
There had been a poor relationship between the Scottish and english church
• Scottish archbishops were subordinate to the english bishops in York.
In 1192, the Scottish church successfully Lobbied the pope for special Status,
angering those in York.
The Scottish church would fight to Keep this Special Status
The death of Alexander the III
The death of Alexander III:
By 1280, the Scottish golden age was
over.
Alexander’s wife, son and daughter died young and a political crisis
would ensue.
weather
• Alexander died in 1286, travelling home in Stormy weather
With no heir, this created a power struggle in Scotland especially between the Bruce’s and Balliols/comyn’s
To some civil war seemed innertable.
The events of his death
The events of his death.
• Alexander was at a meeting (with his high counal in edinburgh)
•
He wished to join his new wife (Yolande) at Kinghorn castle…
• His advisors tried to perseaude him to spend the night in Edinburgh,
• The night was dark and stormy •
The ferryman (at Delmeny) reluctantly carried the king across the forth. •
The King was encouraged to spend the night at Inverkeithing (by Provost) •
Alexander ignored the advice not
to take the coastal path end to take the Longer inland route
The next moming the kings body was fand at the bottom of the cliffs.
The maid of Norway
a
The maid
id of norway.
Alexander had one grandchild, and she
was named Queen to avoid civil war.
• She was Margaret, the child of her mother and the king of Norway •
Alexander, fearing the worst, ensured
that this would be allowed in 1284.
The problems of the maid being queen
•
Too young to rule herself, so a regent would be required. This would also be asking hity sensitive as picking a king
A husband could be picked by the council to rule until she came of lage. This would also be a highly
sensitive choice
•
There were fears over her safety. what if she was captured?
·
She would be unable to lead a force in battle, a normal requiremen of a king
•
Might she be suspectible to foreign influence
•
Whatever happened, this could still end in war
The guardians
σ
A council of guardians was formed to make important decisions in the absence of a king.
Eventually, they agreed the best way to secure a peaceful transition was to accept margaret •
The Guardians would make Key decisions like the picking of Margarets
husband
•
The council consisted of lords and bishops, such as Wishart of Glasgow •
Neither Bruce or Balliol, Key Contenders for the throne were selected. This was deliberate
Bruce acts
Hoping
that all the nobles would not…
accept Margaret, Bruce and his allies assembled an army in South
West Scotland
“He tried to steal londs from his old rival Comyn
The gardians unibed and raised troops to contain his rebellion.
•It was clear the Guardians were acting in the interests of Scotland, not pursuing any personal interests (unlike Bruce)g
The treaty of Birgham
• It was proposed that Margaret would be married to Edwards son, Edward 11
•This suited both sides, avoided Civil wars and would secure the border.
Negotiations began in 1290. and the guardians were careful to ensure the independence of
Scotland
•Scotland would be “free in itself seperate, and without Subjugation
The treaty: details
•Scottish churchmen were elected free from York
•
Scottish nobles pay homage to King of Scotland only.
•
No-one accused of a crime in Scotland could be judged abroad
or under any other law than Scots
New Scottish seal to be produced
- No parliament to be held outside Scotland •
No tax - bar for Scotland
The death of Margaret
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The death of margaret:
•after the treaty of birgham, most Scots were optimistic about the future.
however, by 1290 this had vanished: the maid of norway had died en route to Scotland.
m.
• Without margaret the treaty of bingham was null and void.
• even worse the prospect of civil war was now more likely than ever
Besponse to the death
Response to the death
Response to the death
news of the death was slow to spread through Scotland
Some bishops said the news was only a rumour..
•It was reported to edward I that bruce. and his allies (earls of athall (marr) were already plotting and raising men-war seemed likely.
Bruce appealed to edward in the appeal of the Siren ears” propagenda justifying him attacking his enemys
party
Edward establishes overlordship
C
.
Edward establishes “overlordship:
• with the backdrop of political upheaval,
the Scottish guardians travelled to meet
Edward I near norham.
the key request was for edward to select Scotland’s next king, to avoid civil war. Edward demanded that the Scots accept him as their feudal overlord before he could judge who fould be king
•The guardians were worried and told edward that only the next king could accept those conditions
The great cause
There were multiple claimants to the Scottish throne-yet only three had Strong claims
All were descendents of David (earc
Of Huntington) Son of David I of Scotland
•
Edward demanded that all claiments accept him as overlord before he made his decision which to the dismay of the guardians they all did
This is known as the award at norham
Impact of the award at norham
The claimants had not only accepted edward as overlord, but that Scotland was his legal possession and therefore
it was his to give away.
• Some accepted this quickly (Bruce) forcing others to follow suit (Balliol) •The guardians were furious, they had been outsmarted by edward • Rather than being a neutral observer making a recommendation he was now the legal owner of Scotland who had the right to determine Scotlands future.
Edward was now, in effect, one owner of scotland.
Edward’s decision
Edward announced his decision 17 nov 1292, after 13 months of debate In the end balliol genuinely had the better claim to be king and he was duly chosen to be king of sots. Scots. Propaganda had long syr suggested that bruce had a better claim though was not chosen as he was herder to control. This was not tre
Bruce vs Balliol
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Balliol had been the last claiment to accept english overlordship, Bruce had given in much earlier.
Bruce hated balliol and was
Cleeply unhappy about the decision certainly Congley events evidence suggests bruce was not the tougher man
•The enmity between those families was central to much of the fighting in Scotland as time progressed.
Was balliol the true king
In strict terms balliol did have the better claim
Alexander Ill’s line was dead; Other relations nod to be found • Claiments were connected to
David (Earl on Huntington)
CAR
Balliol was a grand child from the eldest grand daughter (primogeniture) Bruce argued against primogeniture though was unsuccessful.
Edwerd had successfully be picked a knew king for scottend and had been fair and followed Legal convention
