John of Scotland

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(Redirected from John Baliol of Scotland)

Image:SetonArmorialJohnBalliolAndWife.jpg

John, King of Scots is usually known as John Balliol or, correctly, John de Balliol. He was born in 1248, probably at Barnard Castle, the son of Devorguilla of Galloway (d. 1290; daughter of Alan, 5th Lord of Galloway (d. 1234)), and John, 5th Baron de Balliol (d.1269), Lord of Barnard Castle and founder of Balliol College in the University of Oxford, one of the first colleges founded in Oxford.

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Accession as King of Scotland

Following the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway in 1290, John Balliol was a competitor for the Scottish crown, as he was a great-great-great grandson of King David I through his mother (and therefore one generation closer than Robert the Bruce). He submitted his claim to the Scottish auditors in an election overseen by Edward I of England at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 3 August, 1291. The Scottish auditor's decision in favour of Balliol was pronounced in the Great Hall of the castle at Berwick on 17 November 1292 and he was crowned accordingly king of Scotland at Scone, 30th November 1292, St. Andrew's Day.

Edward I demanded that King John become his vassel as the price for involvement in his accession. He then treated Scotland as a feudal vassal state, and allegedly humiliated his appointee. The unfortunate King John became known as Toom Tabard ('empty garment', ie. 'puppet'). John finally stood up for himself and Scotland, and set up an international treaty of alliance between Scotland, Norway and France, known as the Auld Alliance.

Edward I then invaded, commencing the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Scots were defeated at Dunbar on 27 April 1296.

John abdicated by a Deed signed in Brechin castle on 10 July 1296. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London at first, but eventually released on condition that he took up exile in France, where his family had estates, in Picardy.

However, his abdication had been obtained under considerable duress, and his supporters subsequently argued that he was King of Scotland until his death. When the Scots rose in rebellion in 1297 under William Wallace and Andrew de Moray, they claimed that they were acting on behalf of King John. Although rebellions in Scotland continued over the years, this claim looked increasingly tenuous as John apparently made no attempt to extend his personal support to the Scots. Effectively, Scotland was left without a monarch until the accession of Robert the Bruce in 1306.

John died before 1315 at his family's barony at Bailleul, France. He was survived by his son Edward Balliol, who later revived his family's claim to the Scottish throne, received support from the English, and had some temporary successes.

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Marriage and children

John married Isabella de Warenne (d. before 23 October, 1295), daughter of John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey (1231-1304) and Alice de Lusignan. Her maternal grandparents were Hugh X de Lusignan and Isabella of Angouleme, widow of John I of England.

John and Isabella had four children:

(possibly) Agness Maud Balliol.
Anne Balliol.
Edward Balliol, King of Scotland, (d.1367). Unmarried.
Henry Balliol, said to have married a lady whose Christian name was Lena (surname unknown). Henry was killed in the Battle of Annan on 16 December, 1332.

John's putative daughter Agness Maud Balliol was married to Bryan FitzAlan, Baron of Bedale. They were parents to Agness MaudFitzAlan (born 1298), who married Sir Gilbert Stapleton, Knight of Bedale (1291-1324). They had two sons. Gilbert is better known for his participation in the assassination of Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall.

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