1. Why was there a succession crisis?
1.Scotland : Who should be the next king?
Copy key timeline
1286 Choosing Guardians
1290 Getting English support : Treaty of Birgham
Death of Maid of Norway
asking Edward I of England to choose next king : Norham
Great Cause = choosing the next king

2. Why was there a succession crisis?
Alexander III died suddenly
No male heir
Lots of Scottish rivals eg Bruce, Balliol, Comyn
Likely civil war
BUT
Young, granddaughter heir = Margaret ‘maid of Norway’
1284 nobles had promised to have her as Queen

3. Why was there a succession crisis?
Alexander III ...
No ...
Lots of Scottish rivals eg ...
Likely ____ war
BUT
Young, granddaughter heir = ...
1284 nobles had promised to ...

4. Did the Treaty of Birgham give up Scots independence?
YES Scotland weaker
English king’s son to marry Margaret
English king her great grand uncle
So now had x2 ‘claims’ to control Scotland
Scottish nobles much weaker than Edward
NO Treaty very specific:
Scotland ‘separate’
Elections for Church free from York
Nobles paid homage only for land in England
Criminals only tried in Scotland
Scots seal
No Scottish parliaments outside Scotland, no taxes paid to Eng
Task:
Make a Treaty of Birgham scroll
Summarise main parts
Illustrate each one with a symbol

5. Did the Treaty of Birgham give up Scots independence?
YES Scotland weaker
English king’s son to marry ...
English king her great grand uncle
So now had x2 ‘claims’ to control Scotland
Scottish nobles much weaker than Edward
NO Treaty very specific:
Scotland =
Elections for Church =
Nobles paid homage only for =
Criminals only tried in =
Scots had their...
No Scottish ..., no taxes paid to ...
Task:
Make a Treaty of Birgham scroll
Summarise main parts
Illustrate each one with a symbol

6. Richard and Judy game Balliol Bruce Birgham Edward I Wallace Comyn
Margaret
Eric
William the Lion
Archbishop of York

7. Why did the Scots ask Edward to choose the next king?
Treaty of Birgham careful to make Scotland independent. BUT asking Edward I of England to choose Scots king = dangerous (it’s what an overlord would do) So why? Margaret died 1290 Birgham = not usable Civil war in Scotland = Robert Bruce, Earl of Mar, Earl of Athol So... Letter from Bishop of St Andrews asking for help to stop civil war So... Letter from Bruce ‘Appeal of the 7 Earls’ asking to be chosen as king

8. Why did the Scots ask Edward to choose the next king?
Treaty of Birgham careful to make Scotland independent. BUT asking _________of England to choose Scots king = dangerous because... So why? Margaret died ... ______ = not usable Civil war in Scotland = Robert ____, Earl of ___, Earl of Athol So... Letter from Bishop of ________asking for help to stop civil war So... Letter from Bruce ‘Appeal ________’ asking to be chosen as king

9. Questions on Great Cause
Read and complete these sentences using p
Who did Wishart want to be king and why?
Why did Scots meet king Edward?
Why did the Guardians want Edward to come to them?
What astonished the Guardians
What is the evidence about Edward’s intentions towards Scotland? What did he want to do?
What was the ‘Great Cause?
Who were the main claimants?
Explain what their claims were?
Who do you think had the best claim?
What was the award of Norham and why was it important?
Why did everyone agree to Edward’s demands?

10. What happened at Norham?
Edward I came to border at Norham
Demanded to be Scotland’s overlord before decision
Army with him read to invade
Navy on standby
Guardians said that this could only be done by a King of Scotland after he’d been chosen
So Edward forced all claimants to do homage to him
= judge of who was Scottish king
?? Did this mean they’d given up Scotland?
Michael Brown says this meant it would be harder for a new king to challenge English authority

11. What happened at Norham?
Edward I came to _______ at Norham
Demanded to be Scotland’s _________ before he...
______ with him read to invade
______ on standby
_________said that this could only be done by a King of Scotland after he’d been chosen
So Edward forced all claimants to ...
= _________ of who was Scottish king
?? Did this mean they’d given up Scotland?
Michael Brown says this meant it would be harder for a new king to ...

12. When did Edward decide to take over?
Had just conquored Wales
But was friendly with Alexander III
Had signed Treaty of Birgham
So maybe just being opportunistic... Now was his time to take over!

13. When did Edward decide to take over?
Had just ...
But was friendly with ...
Had signed ...
So maybe just being opportunistic... Now was his time to take over!

14. The Great Cause 1291: Game of Thrones?
13 people claimed the throne
Game of Thrones theme
Task: family tree jigsaw: put the family tree together using the instructions on each card
Task: Coat of arms
Design a coat of arms for each claimant
It must show visually how they claim the throne
And something to make them memorable
While you’re doing it... Listen to some contemporary music
Sumer is icumen in

15. The Great Cause 1291: Game of Thrones?
13 people claimed the throne of Scotland

16. What were the possible ways for Edward to make his judgement?
Proximity = how close on the family tree you are to the previous king
Primogeniture = closest descendant of male heir
Did anyone renounce the throne? (Florence’s claim)
Can Scotland be divided? If so many claimants can share it.
Feudalism = English king overlord of everyone in Scotland
Best friend to England
Task: Look at the family tree and decide who would best fit each option.
In fact Edward was an expert lawyer, and had much advice. He did therefore follow the law.
But other options may have also helped make his decision!

18. The Great Cause 1291: Game of Thrones?
Who had the best claim to the throne?
Chosen through primogeniture
= oldest male first
Then oldest female
Balliol = descended through oldest daughter
Bruce = descended from a younger daughter
NB Balliol last to swear homage... Suggests he was a stronger claimant who could stand up to Edward

19. The Great Cause 1291: Game of Thrones?
Who had the best claim to the throne?
Chosen through ________________
= oldest male first
Then oldest female
_____ = descended through oldest daughter
_____ = descended from a younger daughter
So strongest claim is:
NB Balliol last to swear homage... Suggests he was a stronger claimant who could stand up to Edward