1. The funeral of Alexander III, 22 March 1286.

2. Scottish Parliament, April 1286
- Oath to ‘nearest by blood by right who will inherit’
- Election of 6 Guardians of the ‘community of the realm’:-
Alexander Comyn, earl of Buchan (d. 1290)
Duncan, earl of Fife (d. 1289)
Andrew Fraser, bishop of St Andrews
Robert Wishart, bishop of Glasgow
James Steward
John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch.

3. April 1286 Parliament See G.W.S. Barrow.
‘Bitter Pleading’ between
Robert Bruce of Annandale
Born c. 1220; son = Carrick heiress 1272;
further lands in northern England
and Garioch, Mar. V.
John Balliol of Barnard Castle
Born c. 1249; son of Devorguila Countess
of Galloway; lands in northern England and Picardy

4. Dark period of Interregnum, 1286-90
Winter : Bruces attack Balliol and Comyn castles in south-west
Sept Turnberry Band = Bruce and south-west allies?
1287-9: the south-west laid waste…
: Duncan earl of Fife murdered; earl of Buchan dies.

5. Edward I the Statesman:-
France v. Castile
Habsburg v. Savoy 1280s
Aragon 1286…
Treaty of Amiens &
Treaty of Paris
defined his lands in France
Edward I the Warrior:-
Henry III’s civil wars
> Wales 1277/1282
[Statute of Wales - v. old
Welsh feud laws]
His planned crusade?

6. Treaty of Salisbury - Scotland, Norway, England; 6 Nov 1289
- Maid to arrive in Scotland or England unbetrothed
[n.b. in May 1289 Edward I had sought papal dispensation for
Maid to wed his son and heir].
- Scots not to negotiate marriage without consulting Edward or Eric
- Marriage only to proceed when Scotland peaceful
- Maid’s advisors could ‘reform’ Scottish government
- Conditions in Scotland to be reported to Edward I and Eric II.
Nicholson p. 31.

7. Treaty of Birgham - March-July 1290

8. Treaty of Birgham, 18 July 1290 - Barrow p. 27-8
(ratified by Edward I at Northampton, August 1290)
- Maid to wed Prince Edward
- “Kingdom of Scotland shall remain separate and divided from
the kingdom of England…it shall be free and without subjection.”
- Scottish Church and Law to be separate
- Scottish subjects not to homage for lands to King
of England, nor to be summonsed to English parliaments or Army.
- Scottish subjects not to be subjected to English taxes (‘tallages’)

9. Maid dies en route to Scotland, Sept. 1290
7 Oct bishop of St Andrews writes to Edward I:-
- Bruce brought troops to parliament to seek support
- asks Edward to intervene to avert ‘general slaughter of men’
- recommends Balliol as best choice

10. Balliol and Bruce make their pitch:-
16 Nov John Balliol Lord of Galloway, ‘heir to the
kingdom of Scotland’ to Bishop Bek
c. Sept 1290-April Appeal of the Seven Earls:-
accused Bishop Fraser and Comyns of acting in
private interests to make Balliol king; appeal
to Edward I to uphold ancient right of
seven earls of Scotland to choose king.

11. Norham castle

12. Process of Norham, June 1291; A.A.M. Duncan’s timetable
- late May Edward I asks Scots to recognise his overlordship during
joint Scottish-English parliament
- 2 June, Scots reply that only king can answer
- 2-5 June, Edward asks various competitors for recognition
- 5 June - Robert Bruce, John de Hastings and Florence Count of
Holland recognise Edward as overlord of Scotland.
June lesser competitors recognise Edward I
- 11 June, John Balliol and Comyn of Badenoch last to submit
- 12 June - secured Scottish castles and Guardians’ seal
- 13 June, thus far all 4 Guardians, 1 other bishop and 8 earls,
15 barons recognised Edward as overlord. Watson p

13. Edward I fealty tour of Scotland, July 1291.

14. Berwick-on-Tweed

15. The Great
Cause,
July 1291 to
November 1292

16. The Great Cause, July 1291-November 1292.
David I,
____________________|_________________________
| | |
(Malcolm IV, ) (William I, ) Earl David of Huntingdon |
_________________________________________________|
| | |
Margaret Isabel Ada
Dervorguilla Robert Bruce of Henry Hastings
= John Balliol Annandale, the |
| Competitor |
| | |
John Balliol of Robert Bruce, earl John Hastings
Galloway of Carrick
= Isabella de Warenne |
| |
Edward Balliol Robert Bruce (King )

17. The Great Cause, July 1291-November 1292.
David I,
____________________|_________________________
| | |
(Malcolm IV, ) (William I, ) Earl David of Huntingdon |
_________________________________________________|
| | |
Margaret Isabel Ada
Dervorguilla Robert Bruce of Henry Hastings
= John Balliol Annandale, the
Competitor

19. John Balliol
declared winner,
17 Nov 1292.
Made king at Scone,
29 Nov 1292