|History of Scotland |
|Scotland in the Early Middle Ages|
|Scotland in the High Middle Ages|
|Wars of Scottish Independence|
|Scotland in the Late Middle Ages|
|Scotland in the Early Modern Era|
|Scotland in the Modern Era|
|Dynasties and Regimes|
|House of Alpin (843–878) & (889–1040)|
|House of Moray (1040–1058)|
|House of Dunkeld (1058–1286)|
|House of Balliol (1292–1296)|
|House of Bruce (1306–1371)|
|House of Stuart (1371–1707)|
|Act of Union (1707)|
|Timeline of Scottish history|
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The history of Scotland begins around 10000 years ago when Humans first began to inhabit Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Archaeology and Geology continue to reveal the secrets of prehistoric Scotland, uncovering a complex and dramatic past before the Romans brought Scotland The Early Middle Ages, a period which corresponds in part with Early Historic Scotland and the Later Iron Age, is that era of Scottish pre-history and The history of Scotland in the High Middle Ages covers Scotland in the era between the death of Domnall II in 900 AD and the death of king Alexander III The history of Scotland in the Late Middle Ages might be said to be dominated by the twin themes of crisis and transition The Scottish Reformation was Scotland 's formal break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1560 and the events surrounding this The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments The House of Alpin is the name given to the kin-group which ruled in Pictland and then the Kingdom The so-called House of Moray is a historiographical and genealogical construct to illustrate the succession of rulers whose base was at the region of Moray and who ruled sometimes The so-called House of Dunkeld, in Scottish Gaelic Dùn Chailleann (meaning Fort of the Caledonii or of the Caledonians) is a historiographical and genealogical The House of Balliol was a Picard and Anglo-Norman family who began to rule some estates in England in the reign of William Rufus. The House of Stuart or Stewart was a Royal house of the Kingdom of Scotland, later also of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into The history of Scottish visual art which we can take to mean the visual art produced within the modern political boundary of Scotland since the earliest times forms a distinctive Scottish colonization of the Americas consisted of a number of failed or abandoned Scottish settlements in North America, a colony at Darien, The culture of Scotland refers to the peculiar cultural norms of Scotland and the Scottish people, particularly in relation to the more general British Scottish historiography refers to the sources and critical methods used by scholars to come to an understanding of the history of Scotland. Scottish literature is Literature written in Scotland or by Scottish writers. Historically Scotland has a long military tradition that predates the Act of Union with England. Current situation The largest party is the Scottish National Party, which campaigns for Scottish independence. This Timeline outlines the main events in Scottish history. 1st century - 7th century c The Kingdom of Scotland ( Gaelic: Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Scots: Kinrick o Scotland) was a State in northwest Europe The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally
The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of Scotland in 1296, and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328. The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the outbreak of the war with the invasion by England in 1296 until the De jure restoration of Scottish independence England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton was a Peace treaty, signed in 1328 between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. The Second War (1332–1357) began with the English-supported invasion of Edward Balliol and the "Disinherited" in 1332, and ended in 1357 with the signing of the Treaty of Berwick. The Second War of Scottish Independence began properly in 1333 when Edward III of England overturned the 1328 Treaty of Northampton, under which England recognised Edward de Balliol (c 1282&ndash1364 was the short-lived King of Scotland during the simultaneous reign of King David II. The Treaty of Berwick, signed at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scotland, in 1357 officially ended the Second War of Scottish Independence. The wars were part of a great national crisis for Scotland and the period became one of the most defining moments in the nation's history. At the end of both wars, Scotland retained its status as an independent nation. The wars were important for other reasons, such as the emergence of the longbow as a key weapon in medieval warfare. To see other senses of this word see Longbow (disambiguation. Medieval Warfare is the warfare of the Middle Ages. In Europe technological cultural and social developments had forced a dramatic transformation in the character
King Alexander III of Scotland died in 1286, leaving his three-year old granddaughter Margaret (called "the Maid of Norway") as his heir. The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the outbreak of the war with the invasion by England in 1296 until the De jure restoration of Scottish independence Alexander III ( Medieval Gaelic: Alaxandair mac Alaxandair; Modern Gaelic Alasdair mac Alasdair) (4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286 King of Scots Margaret ( Gaelic: Mairead or Maighread) (early 1283&ndashSeptember/October 1290 usually known as the Maid of Norway (Jomfruen av Norge literally In 1290, the Guardians of Scotland signed the Treaty of Birgham agreeing to the marriage of the Maid of Norway and Edward of Caernarvon, the son of Edward I, who was Margaret's great-uncle. The Guardians of Scotland were the De facto Heads of state of Scotland during the First Interregnum of 1286 – 1292 The Treaty of Birgham comprised two treaties intended to secure the independence of Scotland after Alexander III died without issue in 1286. For the play see Edward II (play. For the film see Edward II (film. Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost This marriage would create a union between Scotland and England. The Scots insisted that the Treaty declare that Scotland was separate and divided from England and that its rights, laws, liberties and customs were wholly and inviolably preserved for all time.
However, Margaret, travelling to her new kingdom, died shortly after landing on the Orkney Islands around September 26, 1290. Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a With her death, there were 14 rivals for succession. The two leading competitors for the Scottish crown were Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale (grandfather of the future King Robert the Bruce) and John Balliol, Lord of Galloway. With the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 without a male heir the throne of Scotland had become the possession of the three-year old Margaret Maid Robert Bruce 5th Lord of Annandale (Robert de Brus (c1215 &ndash 31 March 1295) 5th Lord of Annandale, was a feudal lord Justice and Constable Robert I King of Scots ( 11 July, 1274 &ndash 7 June, 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce ( Fearing civil war between the Bruce and Balliol families and supporters, the Guardians of Scotland wrote to Edward I of England, asking him to come north and arbitrate between the claimants in order to avoid civil war. The Guardians of Scotland were the De facto Heads of state of Scotland during the First Interregnum of 1286 – 1292
Edward agreed to meet the guardians at Norham in 1291. Norham is a Village in Northumberland, England, just south of the River Tweed and the border with Scotland. Before the process got underway Edward insisted that he be recognized as Lord Paramount of Scotland, the feudal superior of the realm, and after some initial resistance, this precondition was finally accepted. This put the Scots in a vulnerable position. During the meeting, Edward had his army standing by, in case of trouble. He gave the claimants three weeks to agree to his terms. With no King and with no army ready, the Scots had little choice. The claimants to the crown acknowledged Edward as their Lord Paramount and accepted his arbitration. Their decision was influenced in part by the fact that most of the claimants had large estates in England and, therefore, would have lost them if they had defied the English king.
On June 11, acting as the Lord Paramount of Scotland, Edward I ordered that every Royal Scottish Castle be placed temporarily under his control and every Scottish official resign his office and be re-appointed by him. Two days later, in Upsettlington, the Guardians of the Realm and the leading Scottish nobles gathered to swear allegiance to King Edward I as Lord Paramount. All Scots were also required to pay homage to Edward I, either in person or at one of the designated centres by July 27, 1291. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England.
There were thirteen meetings from May to August 1291 at Berwick, where the claimants to the crown pleaded their cases before Edward, in what came to be known as the 'Great Cause. Berwick-upon-Tweed ( ˈbɛrɪk- ( Scots: Berwick or historically South Berwick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost With the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 without a male heir the throne of Scotland had become the possession of the three-year old Margaret Maid ' The claims of most of the competitors were rejected, leaving Balliol, Bruce, Floris V, Count of Holland and John de Hastings of Abergavenny, 2nd Baron Hastings, as the only men who could prove direct descent from David I. Count Floris V of Holland and Zeeland ( June 24, 1254 &ndash June 27, 1296) "der Keerlen God" (God of the Peasants is one of David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( Modern: Daibhidh I mac Chaluim; b
On August 3, Edward asked Balliol and Bruce to choose forty arbiters each, while he chose twenty-four, to decide the case. Balliol was named king by a majority on November 17, 1292 and on November 30. Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers He was crowned King of Scots at Scone Abbey. The monarch of Scotland was the Head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. Scone Abbey (originally Scone Priory) was a house of Augustinian canons based at Scone, Perthshire ( Gowrie) On December 26, at Newcastle upon Tyne, King John swore homage to Edward I for the Kingdom of Scotland. Newcastle upon Tyne ( (often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England Edward soon made it clear that he regarded the country as a vassal state. Balliol, undermined by members of the Bruce faction, struggled to resist, and the Scots resented Edward's demands. In 1294, Edward summoned John Balliol to appear before him, and then ordered that he had until September 1, 1294 to provide Scottish troops and funds for his invasion of France. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.
On his return to Scotland, John held a meeting with his council and after a few days of heated debate, plans were made to defy the orders of Edward I. A few weeks later a Scottish parliament was hastily convened and twelve members of a war council (four Earls, Barons, and Bishops, respectively) were selected to advise King John. Earl was the Anglo-Saxon form and jarl the Scandinavian form of a title meaning " Chieftain " and referring especially to chieftains Baron is a specific Title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin (liber A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight
Emissaries were immediately dispatched to inform King Philip IV of France of the intentions of the English. They also negotiated a treaty by which the Scots would invade England if the English invaded France, and in return the French would support the Scots. The treaty would be sealed by the arranged marriage of Edward Balliol (John's son) and Jeanne de Valois (Philip's niece). Edward de Balliol (c 1282&ndash1364 was the short-lived King of Scotland during the simultaneous reign of King David II. Another treaty with King Eric II of Norway was hammered out, in which for the sum of fifty thousand groats he would supply one hundred ships for four months of the year, so long as hostilities between France and England continued. Eirik Magnusson (1268 &ndash 15 July 1299) was the king of Norway from 1280 until 1299 Although Norway never acted, the Franco-Scottish alliance, later known as the Auld Alliance, was renewed frequently until 1560. The Auld Alliance (Vieille Alliance auld-alliansen refers to a series of treaties offensive and defensive in nature between Scotland and France aimed specifically
It was not until 1295 that Edward I became aware of the secret Franco-Scottish negotiations. In early October, he began to strengthen his northern defenses against a possible invasion. It was at this point that Robert Bruce, 6th Lord of Annandale (father of the future King Robert the Bruce) was appointed by Edward as the governor of Carlisle Castle. Robert I King of Scots ( 11 July, 1274 &ndash 7 June, 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce ( Carlisle (pronounced CARLYLE(emphasis on the first syllable is a City in northern England the largest settlement in Cumbria. Edward also ordered John Balliol to relinquish control of the castles and burghs of Berwick, Jedburgh and Roxburgh. Berwick-upon-Tweed ( ˈbɛrɪk- ( Scots: Berwick or historically South Berwick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost Jedburgh (Referred to locally Jeddart or Jethart is a town and former Royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire. The destroyed Royal burgh of Roxburgh (or Rosbroch) was an important trading Burgh in High Medieval to early modern Scotland In December, more than two hundred of Edward's tenants in Newcastle were summoned to form a militia by March 1296 and in February, a fleet sailed north to meet with his land forces in Newcastle.
The movement of English forces along the Anglo-Scottish border did not go unnoticed. In response, King John Balliol summoned all able-bodied Scotsmen to bear arms and gather at Caddonlee by March 11. Caddonlee is a village in The Scottish Borders, Scotland Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Several Scottish nobles chose to ignore the summons, including Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, whose father had his Annandale estate seized by John Balliol and reassigned to John 'The Red' Comyn. Robert I King of Scots ( 11 July, 1274 &ndash 7 June, 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce ( John III Comyn Lord of Badenoch or John "the Red", also known simply as the Red Comyn, (died 10 February 1306) was a Scottish nobleman
The First War of Scottish Independence can be loosely divided into four phases: the initial English invasion and success in 1296; the campaigns led by William Wallace, Andrew de Moray and various Scottish Guardians from 1297 until John Comyn negotiated for the general Scottish submission in February 1304; the renewed campaigns led by Robert the Bruce between his coronation in 1306 and the Scottish victory at Bannockburn in 1314; and a final phase of Scottish diplomatic initiatives and military campaigns in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England from 1314 until the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328. Sir William Wallace ( Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Uallas; c 1272 – 23 August 1305 was a Scottish Knight, Landowner, and Patriot Andrew Moray ( La: Andreas de Moravia) (died c September 1297 also known as Andrew de Moray, Andrew of Moray, or Andrew Murray John III Comyn Lord of Badenoch or John "the Red", also known simply as the Red Comyn, (died 10 February 1306) was a Scottish nobleman Robert I King of Scots ( 11 July, 1274 &ndash 7 June, 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce ( The Battle of Bannockburn ( Blàr Allt a' Bhonnaich in Gaelic (24 June 1314 was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton was a Peace treaty, signed in 1328 between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.
The war began in earnest with Edward I's sacking of Berwick in March 1296, followed by the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Dunbar and the abdication of John Balliol in July. The Battle of Dunbar (also known as the Battle of Spottsmuir) was the first major battle in the First War of Scottish Independence. The English invasion campaign had subdued most of the country by August and, after removing the Stone of Destiny from Scone Abbey and transporting it to Westminster Abbey, Edward convened a parliament at Berwick, where the Scottish nobles paid homage to him as King of England. The Stone of Scone (ˈskuːn also commonly known as the Stone of Destiny or the Coronation Stone is an oblong block of red Sandstone, about by by in The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church Scotland had been all but conquered.
The revolts which broke out in early 1297, led by William Wallace, Andrew de Moray and other Scottish nobles, forced Edward to send more forces to deal with the Scots, and although they managed to force the nobles to capitulate at Irvine, Wallace and de Moray's continuing campaigns eventually led to the first key Scottish victory, at Stirling Bridge. Sir William Wallace ( Scottish Gaelic: Uilleam Uallas; c 1272 – 23 August 1305 was a Scottish Knight, Landowner, and Patriot Andrew Moray ( La: Andreas de Moravia) (died c September 1297 also known as Andrew de Moray, Andrew of Moray, or Andrew Murray Irvine ( Gaelic: Irbhinn) is a coastal New town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence. This was followed by Scottish raids into northern England and the appointment of Wallace as Guardian of Scotland in March 1298. The Guardians of Scotland were the De facto Heads of state of Scotland during the First Interregnum of 1286 – 1292 But in July, Edward invaded again, intending to crush Wallace and his followers, and defeated the Scots at Falkirk. The Battle of Falkirk, ( Blàr na h-Eaglaise Brice in Gaelic which took place on 22 July 1298 was a major engagement in the First War of Scottish Independence. Edward failed to subdue Scotland completely before returning to England.
There have been, however, several stories regarding Wallace and what he did after the Battle of Falkirk. It is said, by some sources, that Wallace travelled to France and fought for the French King against the English during their own ongoing war while Bishop Lamberton of St Andrews, who gave much support to the Scottish cause, went and spoke to the Pope.
Wallace was succeeded by Robert Bruce and John Comyn as joint guardians, with William de Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews being appointed in 1299 as a third, neutral Guardian to try and maintain order between them. William de Lamberton, sometimes modernized as William Lamberton, (died 20 May 1328) was Bishop of St Andrews from 1297 (consecrated 1298 During that year, diplomatic pressure from France and Rome persuaded Edward to release the imprisoned King John into the custody of the Pope, and Wallace was sent to France to seek the aid of Philip IV; he possibly also travelled to Rome.
Further campaigns by Edward in 1300 and 1301 led to a truce between the Scots and the English in 1302. After another campaign in 1303/1304, Stirling Castle, the last major Scottish held stronghold, fell to the English, and in February 1304, negotiations led to most of the remaining nobles paying homage to Edward and to the Scots all but surrendering. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest At this point, Robert Bruce and William Lamberton may have made a secret bond of alliance, aiming to place Bruce on the Scottish throne and continue the struggle. However, Lamberton came from a family associated with the Balliol-Comyn faction and his ultimate allegiances are unknown.
After the capture and execution of Wallace in 1305, Scotland seemed to have been finally conquered and the revolt calmed for a period. But in 1306, during a meeting between Bruce and Comyn, the two surviving claimants for the Scottish throne, Bruce quarrelled with and killed John Comyn. Comyn, it seems, had broken an agreement between the two, and informed King Edward of Bruce's plans to be king. The agreement was that one of the two claimants would renounce his claim on the throne of Scotland, but receive lands from the other and support his claim. Comyn appears to have thought to get both the lands and the throne by betraying Bruce to the English. A messenger carrying documents from Comyn to Edward was captured by Bruce and his party, plainly implicating Comyn. Bruce then rallied the Scottish prelates and nobles behind him and had himself crowned King of Scots at Scone. A prelate is a high-ranking member of the Clergy who either is an Ordinary or ranks in precedence with ordinaries He then began a new campaign to free his kingdom. After being defeated in battle he was driven from the Scottish mainland as an outlaw. Bruce later came out of hiding in 1307. The Scots thronged to him, and he defeated the English in a number of battles. His forces continued to grow in strength, encouraged in part by the death of Edward I in July 1307. The Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 was an especially important Scottish victory. The Battle of Bannockburn ( Blàr Allt a' Bhonnaich in Gaelic (24 June 1314 was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence
In 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was sent by a group of Scottish nobles to the Pope affirming Scottish independence from England. The Declaration of Arbroath was a declaration of Scottish independence, and set out to confirm Scotland 's status as an independent, sovereign History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and Two similar declarations were also sent by the Clergy and Robert I. In 1327, Edward II of England was deposed and killed. For the play see Edward II (play. For the film see Edward II (film. The invasion of the North of England by Robert the Bruce forced Edward III of England to sign the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton on May 1, 1328, which recognised the independence of Scotland with Bruce as King. Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton was a Peace treaty, signed in 1328 between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. To further seal the peace, Robert's son and heir David married the sister of Edward III. Daibhidh a Briuis ( Modern Gaelic: Dàibhidh Bruis) anglicised as David II ( 5 March 1324 &ndash 22 February
After Robert the Bruce's death, King David II was too young to rule, so the guardianship was assumed by Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray. The Second War of Scottish Independence began properly in 1333 when Edward III of England overturned the 1328 Treaty of Northampton, under which England recognised Daibhidh a Briuis ( Modern Gaelic: Dàibhidh Bruis) anglicised as David II ( 5 March 1324 &ndash 22 February Thomas Randolph 1st Earl of Moray (died 20 July 1332) was Regent of Scotland an important figure in the Scottish Wars of Independence But Edward III, despite having given his name to the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, was determined to avenge the humiliation by the Scots and he could count on the assistance of Edward Balliol, the son of John Balliol and a claimant to the Scottish throne. Edward de Balliol (c 1282&ndash1364 was the short-lived King of Scotland during the simultaneous reign of King David II.
Edward III also had the support of a group of Scottish nobles, led by Balliol and Henry Beaumont, known as the 'Disinherited. ' This group of nobles had supported the English in the First War and, after Bannockburn, Robert the Bruce had deprived them of their titles and lands, granting them to his allies. When peace was concluded, they received no war reparations. War reparations refer to the monetary compensation intended to cover damage or injury during a war These disinherited were hungry for their old lands and would prove to be the undoing of the peace.
The Earl of Moray died on July 20, 1332. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold The Scots nobility gathered at Perth where they elected Domhnall II, Earl of Mar as the new Guardian. Domhnall II of Mar (or Donald II of Mar (c 1302 in Saline, Fife &ndash August 11 1332) was Regent of Scotland for just Meanwhile a small band led by Balliol had set sail from the River Humber. The Humber is a large tidal Estuary on the east coast of northern England Consisting of the disinherited noblemen and mercenaries, they were probably no more than a few hundred men strong.
Edward III was still formally at peace with David II and his dealings with Balliol were therefore deliberately obscured. He of course knew what was happening and Balliol probably did homage in secret before leaving, but Balliol's desperate scheme must have seemed doomed to failure. Edward therefore refused to allow Balliol to invade Scotland from across the River Tweed. There are other rivers with this name see Tweed River The River Tweed ( Uisge Thuaidh in Gaelic (156 kilometres or long flows primarily through the This would have been too open a breach of the treaty. He agreed to turn a blind eye to an invasion by sea, but made it clear that he would disavow them and confiscate all their English lands should Balliol and his friends fail. The Idiom turning a blind eye is used to describe the process of ignoring unpopular orders or inconvenient facts or activities
The "disinherited" landed at Kinghorn in Fife on August 6. Kinghorn ( Gaelic: Ceann Gronna) is a Burgh in Fife, Scotland. Fife ( Gaelic: Fìobha) is a Council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland The news of their advance had preceded them, and, as they marched towards Perth, they found their route barred by a large Scottish army, mostly of infantry, under the new Guardian. Perth (Peairt is a town and former Royal burgh in central Scotland.
At the Battle of Dupplin Moor, Balliol's army, commanded by Henry Beaumont, defeated the larger Scottish force. Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in Beaumont made use of the same tactics that the English would make famous under the Hundred Years' War, with dismounted knights in the centre and archers on the flanks. The Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans was a prolonged conflict lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne vacant with the extinction of the senior Caught in the murderous rain of arrows, most of the Scots didn't reach the enemy's line. When the slaughter was finally over, the Earl of Mar, Sir Robert Bruce (an illegitimate son of Robert the Bruce), many nobles and around 2,000 Scots had been slain. Edward Balliol then had himself crowned as King of Scots, first at Perth, and then again in September at Scone Abbey. Balliol's success surprised Edward III, and fearing that Balliol's invasion would eventually fail leading to a Scots invasion of England, he moved north with his army.
In October, Sir Archibald Douglas, now Guardian of Scotland, made a truce with Balliol, supposedly to let the Scottish Parliament assemble and decide who their true king was. This article is about the pre-1707 parliament The article on the devolved legislative body established in 1999 is at Scottish Parliament. Emboldened by the truce, Balliol dismissed most of his English troops and moved to Annan, on the north shore of the Solway Firth. The former Royal burgh of Annan ( Gaelic: Anainn) is a well-built town red Sandstone being the material mainly used The Solway Firth is a Firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and He issued two public letters, saying that with the help of England he had reclaimed his kingdom, and acknowledged that Scotland had always been a fief of England. Under the system of Feudalism, a fiefdom, fief, feud, feoff, or fee, often consisted of inheritable lands or revenue-producing He also promised land for Edward III on the border, including Berwick-on-Tweed, and that he would serve Edward for the rest of his life. Berwick-upon-Tweed ( ˈbɛrɪk- ( Scots: Berwick or historically South Berwick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost But in December, Douglas attacked Balliol at Annan in the early hours of the morning. Most of Balliol's men were killed, though he himself managed to escape through a hole in the wall, and fled, naked and on horse, to Carlisle.
In April 1333, Edward III and Balliol, with a large English army, laid siege to Berwick. Archibald Douglas attempted to relieve the town in July, but was defeated and killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill. Battle of Halidon Hill ( July 19, 1333) was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. David II and his Queen were moved to the safety of Dumbarton Castle, while Berwick surrendered and was annexed by Edward. Dumbarton Castle ( Gaelic Dùn Breatainn d̪̊unˈb̊ɾʲɛhd̪̊ɪɲ ( has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Great Britain. By now, much of Scotland was under English occupation, with eight of the Scottish lowland counties being ceded to England by Edward Balliol. The Scottish Lowlands ( a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region' in Gaelic, and called Lawlands or Lallans in Scots
At the beginning of 1334, Philip VI of France offered to bring David II and his court to France for asylum, and in May they arrived in France, setting up a court-in-exile at Château-Gaillard in Normandy. Philip VI (1293 &ndash 22 August 1350) known as the Fortunate ( French: le Fortuné) and of Valois, was the Château-Gaillard is a ruined medieval Castle, located above the town of Les Andelys, in the Eure département of Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. Philip also decided to derail the Anglo-French peace negotiations then taking place (at the time England and France were engaged in disputes that would lead to the Hundred Years' War), declaring to Edward III that any treaty between France and England must include the exiled King of Scots. The Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans was a prolonged conflict lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne vacant with the extinction of the senior
In David's absence, a series of Guardians kept up the struggle. In November, Edward III invaded again, but he accomplished little and retreated in February 1335 due to bad weather. He and Edward Balliol returned again in July with an army of 13,000, and advanced through Scotland, first to Glasgow and then Perth, where Edward III installed himself as his army looted and destroyed the surrounding countryside. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom At this time, the Scots followed a plan of avoiding pitched battles and evacuated the inhabitants of the lowlands as much as possible, moving them to the safety of the hills. Some Scots leaders, including the Earl of Atholl and the High Steward submitted to Edward at Perth. Marriages and issue His first wife was Elizabeth Mure, by her he had at least ten children King Robert III of Scotland
Following Edward's return to England, the remaining leaders of the Scots resistance chose Sir Andrew Murray as Guardian. He soon negotiated a truce with Edward until April 1336, during which, various French and Papal emissaries attempted to negotiate a peace between the two countries. In January, the Scots drew up a draft treaty agreeing to recognise the elderly and childless Edward Balliol as King, so long as David II would be his heir and David would leave France to live in England. However, David II rejected the peace proposal and any further truces. In May, an English army under Henry of Lancaster invaded, followed in July by another army under King Edward. Henry of Grosmont Duke of Lancaster ( c 1310 &ndash 23 March, 1361) also Earl of Derby and Leicester was a member of the English nobility in the Together, they ravaged much of the north-east and sacked Elgin and Aberdeen, while a third army ravaged the south-west and the Clyde valley. Elgin (Eilginn is a former Cathedral city and a former Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland and is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray Aberdeen ( pronounced; Aiberdeen Obar Dheathain is Scotland 's third most populous city and one of Scotland's 32 local government council The River Clyde ( Gaelic: Abhainn Chluaidh, avɪɲˈxɫ̪uəj is a major River in Scotland. Prompted by this invasion, Philip VI of France announced that he intended to aid the Scots by every means in his power, and that he had a large fleet and army preparing to invade both England and Scotland. Edward soon returned to England, while the Scots, under Murray, captured and destroyed English strongholds and ravaged the countryside, making it uninhabitable for the English.
Although Edward III invaded again, he was becoming more anxious over the possible French invasion, and by late 1336, the Scots had regained control over virtually all of Scotland and by 1338 the tide had turned. While "Black Agnes", Countess-consort Dunbar and March, continued to resist the English laying siege to Dunbar Castle, hurling defiance and abuse from the walls, Scotland received some breathing space when Edward III claimed the French throne and took his army to Flanders, beginning the Hundred Years' War with France. Agnes Randolph 4th Countess of Moray (c 1312 &ndash 1369 was also known as Black Agnes because of her olive skin complexion was the spouse of Patrick 9th Earl The Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans was a prolonged conflict lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne vacant with the extinction of the senior
So, in just nine years, the kingdom so hard won by Robert the Bruce had been shattered. Many of her experienced nobles were dead and the economy which had barely begun to recover from the earlier wars was once again in tatters. It was to an impoverished country in need of peace and good government that David II was finally able to return in June 1341.
When David returned, he was determined to live up to the memory of his illustrious father. He ignored truces with England and was determined to stand by his ally Philip VI during the early years of the Hundred Years' War. In 1341 he led a raid into England, forcing Edward III to lead an army north to reinforce the border. In 1346, after more Scottish raids, Philip VI appealed for a counter invasion of England in order to relieve the English stranglehold on Calais. David gladly accepted and personally led a Scots army of over 12,000 men southwards with intention of capturing Durham. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England In reply, an English army, of 5,000 men, moved northwards from Yorkshire to confront the Scots. Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. On October 14, at the Battle of Neville's Cross, the Scots were defeated. The Battle of Neville's Cross took place near Durham, England on October 17, 1346. They suffered heavy casualties and David was wounded in the face by two arrows before being captured. He was sufficiently strong however to knock out two teeth from the mouth of his captor. After a period of convalescence, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was held prisoner for eleven years, during which time Scotland was ruled by his nephew, Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward. Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower) is a historic monument in central London Marriages and issue His first wife was Elizabeth Mure, by her he had at least ten children King Robert III of Scotland Edward Balliol returned to Scotland soon afterwards with a small force, in a final attempt to recover Scotland. He only succeeded in gaining control of some of Galloway, with his power diminishing there until 1355. Galloway ( Gaelic: Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, əŋ ɡauɫ̪ɣəɫ̪əv or Gallobha, Lowland Scots Gallowa) is an area in southwestern He finally resigned his claim to the Scottish throne in January 1356 and died childless in 1364.
Finally, on October 3, 1357, David was released under the Treaty of Berwick, under which the Scots agreed to pay an enormous ransom of 100,000 merks for him (1 merk was ⅔ of an English pound) payable in ten years. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Heavy taxation was needed to provide funds for the ransom, which was to be paid in installments, and David alienated his subjects by using the money for his own purposes. The country was in a sorry state then; she had been ravaged by war and also the Black Death. The Black Death, or the Black Plague, was one of the deadliest Pandemics in human history widely thought to have been caused by a bacterium named Yersinia The first installment of the ransom was paid punctually. The second was late and after that no more could be paid.
In 1363, David went to London and agreed that should he die childless, the crown would pass to Edward (his brother-in-law) or one of his sons, with the Stone of Destiny being returned for their coronation as King of Scots. The Scots rejected this arrangement, offered to continue paying the ransom (now increased to 100,000 pounds) and threatened to depose David. A twenty five year truce was agreed and in 1369, the treaty of 1365 was canceled and a new one set up to the Scots benefit, due to the influence of the war with France. The new terms saw the 44,000 marks already paid deducted from the original 100,000 with the balance due in installments of 4,000 for the next fourteen years.
When Edward died in 1377, there were still 24,000 marks owed which were never paid. David himself had lost his popularity and lost the respect of his nobles when he married the widow of a minor laird after the death of his English wife. A Laird (Lord is a Hereditary title for the owner of a landed estate in Scotland. He himself died in February 1371.