The Succession Crisis Flashcards
Where and what with were Scottish king’s inaugurated?
They were inaugurated in Scone, with the stone of destiny.
When did Alexander III become king?
13th July 1249
What were the factions of the Comyn’s and Alan Durward fighting for control of in the 1250’s?
The King - Alexander was too young to make decisions so would need advisers. These arguments ceased in 1260 when Alexander took control of Scotland properly.
How many children did Alexander III have?
Three - Alexander, David and Margaret. All of them and his wife died between 1275 and 1284.
When and how did Alexander III die?
19th March 1286 - his horse threw him whilst he was on his way to meet his new wife, Yolande of Dreux.
Why did the involvement of King Edward I of England seem natural and inevitable in the succession crisis?
- He was a powerful neighbour
- He was Alexander III’s brother in law
- Alexander’s lord (including many others in Scotland) for his English lands
Name the six (or seven) guardians of Scotland chosen to run the country in the absence of a monarch.
- Bishop Fraser (St Andrew’s)
- Bishop Wishart (Glasgow)
- Alexander Comyn (Earl of Buchan)
- Duncan of Fife (Earl)
- John Comyn (Badenoch)
- James Stewart (Baron)
There is also evidence that a Seventh Guardian existed, the Bishop of Dunkeld, who died in 1286.
What was the Turnberry Bond?
Settled in September of 1286, it was a promise by Robert Bruce and others to aid Richard de Burgh’s (Earl of Ulster) campaign.
What strongholds did Robert Bruce take for the Turnberry Bond?
Castles at Wigtown and Dumfries and the stronghold (held by Balliol) at Buittle.
How did the Guardians respond to Bruce’s takeovers?
They raised a host army, made Bruce swear fealty to Margaret of Norway and hand back the strongholds.
Who was Margaret of Norway?
The child of Eric II of Norway and Alexander III’s granddaughter. Proposed ruler of Scotland, but she was only a small child.
Why was having Margaret as the next ruler causing problems?
-She was a child
-She was in Norway
-She was a girl (no precedent for this except from the disaster in England
in 1135)
What was the treaty of Salisbury?
It allowed Edward’s son and Margaret to get married (but not actually a marriage agreement), conceived in 1289.
What did the Treaty of Birgham (1290) state?
- Margaret and Edward of Caernarvon would marry
- Scotland and England would remain independent of one another
- No parliament governing Scotland would be held in England
- Scottish customs, rights and freedoms would be protected
- The Scottish church would remain independent of the English one
How did Edward attempt to work around the Treaty of Birgham?
He took over the Isle of Man and appointed Bishop Anthony Bek to help run Scotland in Margaret’s absence.
What happened to Margaret of Norway in September 1290?
She fell ill and died on her journey from Norway to Orkney.
Who did Bishop Fraser ask for help against the brewing rivalries for the throne in Scotland?
Edward I.
How did Edward I offer to deal with the succession crisis?
He offered to judge the claims (not arbitrate) as the superior lord of the kingdom.
What did Edward I do to try and solidify his overlordship?
in March of 1291 he ordered English monasteries to search out documents that proved his ownership of Scotland.
What did Edward I do when the Scots asked him not to judge but to arbitrate?
He ordered his army to muster at Norham and prepared a blockade of all Scottish ports.
How did the claimants respond to Edward’s demands?
They didn’t want to lose their chance of becoming king so they recognised Edward as their overlord.
How many claimants were there at the start of the Great Cause?
13
What did Edward I’s powers as judge give him during the Great Cause?
The custody of Scotland, including royal castles and the great seal.
What were Balliol’s main arguments for becoming King?
He was the closest when considering primogeniture as the grandson of the Earl David eldest daughter. He would be able to inherit Scotland without a big chance of partition and his main competitor (Bruce) was very old.
What were Bruce’s main arguments for becoming King?
He was closer in degree to the royal line. He also claimed that he had been designated heir by Alexander III but had no evidence to back this up.
What did the Paris lawyers Edward I consulted consider most important, nearness-in-degree or primogeniture?
Nearness-in-degree (but Edward I ignored them anyway).
What did Bruce try when it was obvious that Balliol had become the favoured candidate?
He turned his support to John Hasting’s claim that since Scotland was now a fief of the English King, it should be treated like all other big fiefs and divided between the co-heirs. Edward rejected this idea.
On whose favour did Edward I give judgement for on 17th November 1292?
John Balliol
When did Balliol swore fealty to Edward I?
26 December 1292 in Newcastle. He also released Edward to all ties to the agreements made between 1286 and 1292, specifically the Treaty of Birgham.
What are the arguments that Edward I was fair in his decision in the Great Cause?
- He asked for as many claimants as possible to come forward.
- Gave time for claimants to seek out evidence for their case
- Looked for advice from the University of Paris
- Removed himself as one of the claimants.
What are the arguments that Edward I was not fair in his decision for the Great Cause?
- He looked for documents proving his ownership of Scotland
- Set himself up as Judge and not arbitrator
- Ignored the advice of the Uni of Paris anyway
- Held the hearings in England
- Had armies positioned and a blockade prepared.
What problems did John Balliol now face as he was king?
- Scotland had been without a king since 1286
- He was a factional king, had to remain in the favour of his supporters while pleasing his enemies
- Had altered the status of the king, was not a king by right and was a vassal
- Was forced to accept Thomas of Hunsingore as chancellor
- Edward began hearing cases outside of Scotland (Berwick Burgess, 1292)
Who did Edward I go to war with in 1294?
France
What did Edward I demand Balliol to do in June 1294 to help against the French?
That Balliol and 10 Scottish earls, 16 barons and their retinues would appear at Portsmouth by September.
What year was the Council of Twelve appointed?
1295
What did the Council of Twelve do to defy Edward I?
They forged and alliance with France against him.
