Scottish History

1286 - 1371
Fight for Independence

Following the death of Alexander III in 1286 the crown passed to his 3-year old granddaughter, Margaret, the Maid of Norway. However, she died in 1290 while on her way from Norway to Scotland and left this country without a reigning monarch.

As there was no obvious heir to the throne, 13 competitors put their names forward as having a right to be king. Edwards I of England was asked to help resolve the matter and he in turn placed himself as overlord of Scotland. Eventually, in 1292, John Balliol was crowned king, but his reign only lasted until 1296.

There was then a 10-year interregnum during which Edward pressed his claim as overlord and earned the nickname Hammer of the Scots. This was the time when William Wallace rose to prominence during the Wars of Independence which included the famous battles of Stirling Bridge and Falkirk. While Wallace was victorious at the former in 1297 he was well beaten in the latter the following year after which he resorted to guerrilla warfare. In 1305 Wallace was captured and taken to London to be tried and executed.

Then, in 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland to finally put an end to the tyranny of Edward. From this time he fought a number of battles against the English, initially using the same guerrilla tactics Wallace had used, and culminating in his famous victory at Bannockburn in 1314.

In 1320 a letter written to the Pope, known as the Declaration of Arbroath, asserts Scotland's independence from English. In 1328 the Treaty of Northampton formally recognises Scotland's independence.

In 1329, following the death of Robert the Bruce, his son became king as David II. However, this was another period of turmoil as Edward III of England and Edward Balliol, the son of John, also staked a claim to the throne. This period was dominated by the second Wars of Independence.

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