The National Archives | Exhibitions | Uniting the Kingdoms?

Exhibition homepage

England

Ireland

Scotland

Introduction

Scotland Conquered, 1174-1296

Scotland Regained, 1297-1328

The Anglo-Scottish Frontier, 1329-1603

Scots in England

Marriage Across the Border

Berwick, 'Capital of the Borders'

Religion, Marriage and Power in Scotland, 1503-1603

Scotland Conquered, 1174-1296

In 1174, King William I 'the Lion' of Scotland acknowledged King Henry II of England as his feudal lord. English claims to Scotland went back much further than this formal act of submission, but English dominance over Scotland was won and then lost in the century and a half of conflict that followed it.

For most of the thirteenth century Scotland retained much of its independence. By the time of the Treaty of York (1237) the border between the two countries was agreed. Scotland was ruled by a strong, independent monarchy until 1286, when Alexander III died. His heir was his granddaughter, Margaret, daughter of the Norwegian king and queen. She did not set out for Scotland for several years, and the country was ruled in her absence in Norway by six Guardians appointed by the Scottish Parliament.




Guardians' seal		Treaty of Northampton

Margaret died on her way to Scotland in 1290 and Edward I of England was asked to decide the succession in order to prevent civil war. In 1292 John Balliol, Lord of Galloway, was crowned King of Scotland, but Edward nevertheless claimed to be overlord of the country.

Edward I hoped to dominate Balliol as a puppet king, with Scotland a land subject to English rule. But in 1294 Balliol and other Scottish lords refused Edward's demands to serve in his army against the French (with whom the Scots now formed an alliance). Edward deposed Balliol, and invaded Scotland.

The English captured Berwick and marched as far as Elgin before removing the most important symbols of Scottish national identity - royal regalia, documents and the Stone of Destiny. On 10 July 1296 Edward forced Balliol to surrender Scotland and the homage of all its people.

The Full Story

Read more about this topic... English overlordship English claims to overlordship of Scotland may date back to the Anglo-Saxon period. In 1174 King William I 'the Lion' acknowledged that King Henry II of England was his feudal lord. For most of the thirteenth century, Scotland retained much of its independence. By the Treaty of York of 1237, Scotland renounced rights to Cumberland, Westmorland and Northumberland, and the border between the two countries was agreed. The rule of the Guardians Scotland was ruled by a strong, independent monarchy until 1286, when Alexander III died. His granddaughter, Margaret, 'the maid of Norway' (daughter of the Norwegian king and queen) was recognized as sole heir to the Scottish throne. The Scottish Parliament appointed six Guardians to rule Scotland until Margaret arrived from Norway. Since Scotland was without a monarch, the Guardians' seal had the arms of Scotland on one side, and St Andrew on his saltire cross on the other, both of which were strong symbols of Scottish nationhood. The rule of the Guardians continued peacefully until 1290, and a marriage alliance was proposed between Margaret and Edward I's son, Edward of Caernarfon. A treaty of 1290 agreed the marriage and also bound England to preserve Scottish independence and the border agreed in 1237. John Balliol and Edward I Margaret's death in September 1290, on her way to Scotland, threatened civil war between rival claimants for the vacant crown. Edward I of England was invited to decide the succession. At discussions at Norham in June 1291, he demanded that the Guardians and the thirteen claimants to the crown acknowledge him as superior lord in Scotland. John Balliol, Lord of Galloway, was chosen as king after sixteen months of discussion. Balliol was crowned at Scone on St Andrew's day 1292, but Edward nevertheless claimed overlordship of the country. Edward I hoped to dominate Balliol as a puppet king, with Scotland a land subject to English rule. Balliol, however, was successful in maintaining Scottish independence until 1294, when Edward demanded that he and other Scottish lords serve in his army against the French. They refused, and Balliol was removed from power. Edward I then regarded Scotland as leaderless and, after the Scots signed the first treaty of the 'auld alliance' with France in October 1295, he invaded Scotland to press his claims to overlordship. The English captured Berwick and marched as far as Elgin before removing the most important symbols of Scottish national identity - crown jewels, documents and the Stone of Destiny. On 2 July 1296 Edward forced Balliol to surrender Scotland and the homage of all its people. This was enforced by oaths of allegiance to Edward himself.

Scotland Conquered, 1174-1296

The Full Story