|
Margaret, known as 'The Maid of Norway' was heir to the Scottish throne. On her premature death aged four in 1290, the Scottish
lords and nobles asked Edward I to help find a new king. He agreed on the condition that he was accepted as Overlord of Scotland. Reluctantly the nobles agreed and Edward chose John Balliol to be the Scottish King.
Under Scottish law however, Robert Bruce another contender, was thought to have a stronger claim to the throne. Balliol suited Edward however, as he could be easily manipulated.In 1295 Edward ordered Balliol to
assist him in a war against the French. Angry at his attitude and arrogance, the Scottish King refused and joined with France against Edward I. In 1296 English armies invaded Scotland, defeated the Scottish forces and
deposed John Balliol. Edward captured the mystical Coronation Stone of Scone and placed it in Westminster Abbey where it remains to this day. In 1297 events took a turn in favour of those who were fighting for Scottish
independence. William Wallace an intelligent, powerful-bodied leader led a small army of patriots against the English, defeating them at the battle of Stirling Bridge. Edward, ever the warrior, assembled a huge army at
York and marched north in search of Wallace. The two armies met at the battle of Falkirk in 1298. The Scottish forces were defeated by the English who used their archers to full effect, before a final charge by knights
extinguished any resistance. William Wallace escaped but suffered betrayal and a most gruesome death at the hands of the English in 1305. Less than a year after the death of William Wallace, Scottish resistance
gathered pace with the murder of John Comyn 'The Red' and the crowning of Robert Bruce as Robert I, King of Scots on the 25th March 1306. Edward I also known as 'Longshanks' because of his height and 'Hammer of the
Scots' because of his persistence in trying to subdue the independent Scottish spirit, died on 6th July 1307 whilst pushing north with his armies to fight Robert Bruce. He is buried at Westminster Abbey. |
