Subjugation Of Scotland, 1296

Question 1

Subjugation of Scotland - Edwards march north

Answer 1

• Roxburgh castle surrendered after a very short siege, and Jedburgh an Edinburgh fell to the powerful siege engines (Warwolf) Edward brought north with him.
• Stirling castle, the gateway to the Northern half of Scotland, was abandoned by the defenders when it was reported that Edward was approaching.
• By the end of July Edward had marched as far north as Elgin, accepting the surrender of all important castles along the way.

Question 2

Subjugation of Scotland - Surrender of King John Balliol

Answer 2

• King John failed to offer any real leadership during the 1296 invasion, he travelled North to the relative safety o the lands of the Comyns in the north east.
• King John officially offered his surrender on 2 July 1296 in a letter sent to the English King.
• the Letter of surrender from King John to Edward I, 2 July 1296 states, ‘our own free will we have surrendered the land of Scotland and all its people with the homage of them all to him.’

Question 3

Subjugation of Scotland - Surrender ceremony

Answer 3

• Edward accepted King Johns surrender in a humiliating ceremony on 10 July 1296.
  -King John was forced to apologise publicly to Edward and surrender his throne and the Kingdom of Scotland.
• the Royal Badge was symbolically ripped from his surcoat by Edward himself, this act made it clear John Balliol was no longer King of Scots.
• The incident gave John a new and one humiliating title, ‘Toom Tabard’ or ‘Empty Coat’, a title he would bear for the rest of his life.
• John and his son were then taken to England as prisoners under house arrest for three years until they were handed over to the pope.

Question 4

Subjugation of Scotland - the Ragman’s Roll

Answer 4

• Edward quickly moved any indication of Scotland being a separate country within the British Isles, all documents relating to the Scottish throne were removed and taken to London by ship, which promptly sunk.
• The Stone of Destiny, on which all kings of Scotland had been inaugurated, was taken from Scone and transported to Westminster.
• The Scottish Crown Jewels and the Black Rood of St Margaret were also sent to Westminster.
• Edward was now the master of the future of Scotland, and that future would include England.