Unit 2 - Guardianship and great cause 1286-1292 - collectively or independently (pre Mag death)

Question 1

Collective action - good selection/description

Answer 1

• elected a council of 6 or 7 to run government, reflected different elements of Scottish political society
• strong and united coalition able to work together to run country and deal with day to day issues
• 1286 formation prudent attempt to prevent factionalism from undermining stability of coalition
• representatives of the church, Earls, senior nobility and represented both Bruce and Comyn factions , whilst excluding main characters of Robert Bruce and John Balliol themselves, in case Margaret died

Question 2

Collective - success part 1 (Bruce, Birgham)

Answer 2

• neutralised Bruce 1286-7 (seized castles of Dumfries, Wigtown and Buittle)
• Birgham 1290 - comprehensive attempt safeguard the independence of kingdom accepted stabilising effect of marriage into English family
• Birgham - negotiated good safeguards e.g. provision of justice remain in Scotland under representative appointed by Monarch
• Birgham - attempts to defend Scottish institutions experience came from dealing with English aid during minority of Alexander III

Question 3

Collective action - success part 2 (justice, Yolanda, everyday, parliament)

Answer 3

• arrested sheriff of Northumberland for interfering in Scot affairs 1290, maintaining independence from external influence
• allowed Bishops of Glasgow (Wishart) and St Andrews (Fraser) to lead government during uncertain months when not sure Yolande pregnant
• maintained good royal admin, raising rents and paying fees
• parliament of 1286, upheld promise to Alexander III of showing ability to maintain peaceful positions established under their late king

Question 4

Individual action - bad selection and failures

Answer 4

• attempt to further factional interest as most of the Guardians were Comyns or related to Comyns - not an attempt to find a stable way to govern kingdom
• September 1286 meeting between Bruces and James Steward at Turnberry Band (to discuss Bruce claim to throne) proof of Guardians not able to prevent factionalism
• Treaty of Salisbury 1289 agreeing not to marry maid without Ed advice practically gave Ed right to chose husband to Margaret
• murder of guardian Earl of Fife 1289 shows chronic factionalism rife among nobility and country was facing breakdown of law and order

Question 5

Individual action - lack of agreeance

Answer 5

• political community could not agree on how to replace guardians who died across the interregnum
• following death of Margaret, leading claimants Bruce and Balliol both independently made pleas to Edward, bypassing guardians
• Bishop Fraser wrote to Edward I asking for his aid on the rumoured death of Maid of Norway and recommend Balliol as future king, he did so without knowledge or support of remaining guardians

Question 6

Historiography - positive

Answer 6

• Traquair - takes the view that on everyday matters of government the political community worked together for the benefit of the country
• Barrow - careful and astute decisions were taken to prevent the Kingdom descending into anarchy
• Barrell - guardians realised a marriage between Margaret and the English prince would persuade the English king to support the Scottish rulers and help ensure strong government.

Question 7

Historiography - negative

Answer 7

• Oram - takes the view that the political community could not prevent violent clashes between rival claimants to the Scottish throne
• David Sanitiuste - takes the view that while the Guardians maintained a relatively effective administration, they found it increasingly difficult to remain impartial