John Balliol
John Balliol | |
---|---|
King of Scots | |
Reign | 17 November 1292 – 10 July 1296 |
Coronation | 30 November 1292 |
Predecessor | Margaret (1290) |
Successor | Robert I (1306) |
Born | c. 1249 |
Died | late 1314 (aged around 65) Château de Hélicourt, Picardy, France |
Burial | prob. Hélicourt |
Spouse | Isabella de Warenne |
Issue | Edward Balliol |
House | Balliol |
Father | John I de Balliol |
Mother | Dervorguilla of Galloway |
John Balliol or John de Balliol
Edward used his influence over the process to subjugate Scotland and undermined Balliol's personal reign by treating Scotland as a vassal of England. Edward's influence in Scottish affairs tainted Balliol's reign, and the Scottish nobility deposed him and appointed a council of twelve to rule instead. This council signed a treaty with France known as the "Auld Alliance".
In retaliation, Edward invaded Scotland, starting the Wars of Scottish Independence. After a Scottish defeat in 1296, Balliol abdicated and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Eventually, Balliol was sent to his estates in France and retired into obscurity, taking no more part in politics. Scotland was then left without a monarch until the accession of Robert the Bruce in 1306. John Balliol's son Edward Balliol would later exert a claim to the Scottish throne against the Bruce claim during the minority of Robert's son David.
Name
In Norman French his name was Johan de Bailliol;[2] in Middle Scots it was Jhon Ballioun, and in Scottish Gaelic, Iain Bailiol. In Scots he was known by the nickname Toom Tabard, usually understood to mean 'empty coat' in the sense that he was an ineffective king. Alternatively the word coat may refer to a coat of arms; either to the Balliol arms which are a plain shield with an orle, also known as an inescutcheon voided[3] or because his arms were stripped from his tabard in public.[4]
Early life
Little of Balliol's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location; possibilities include
Accession as King of Scots
In 1284 Balliol had attended a
Edward I, who had coerced recognition as Lord Paramount of Scotland, the feudal superior of the realm, steadily undermined John's authority. He demanded homage to be paid towards himself, legal authority over the Scottish king in any disputes brought against him by his own subjects, contribution towards the costs for the defence of England, and military support was expected in his war against France. He treated Scotland as a feudal vassal state and repeatedly humiliated the new king. The Scots soon tired of their deeply compromised king; the direction of affairs was allegedly taken out of his hands by the leading men of the kingdom, who appointed a council of twelve—in practice, a new panel of guardians—at Stirling in July 1295. They went on to conclude a treaty of mutual assistance with France—known in later years as the "Auld Alliance".[12]
Abdication
In retaliation for Scotland's treaty with France, Edward I invaded, commenced the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Scots were defeated at Dunbar and the English took Dunbar Castle on 27 April 1296.[11] John abdicated at Stracathro, near Montrose, on 10 July 1296.[11]
Balliol was imprisoned in the
Over the next few years, there were several Scottish rebellions against Edward (for example, in 1297 under William Wallace and Andrew Moray). When Wallace was chosen as commander, he claimed to act in the name of his king, John Balliol.[15] This claim came to look increasingly tenuous, as Balliol's position under nominal house-arrest meant that he could not return to Scotland nor campaign for his release, despite the Scots' diplomatic attempts in Paris and Rome. After 1302, he made no further attempts to extend his personal support to the Scots.[8]
Death
Balliol died in late 1314 at his family's château at Hélicourt in France.[12] On 4 January 1315, King Edward II of England, writing to King Louis X of France, said that he had heard of the death of "Sir John de Balliol"[16] and requested the fealty and homage of Edward Balliol to be given by proxy.[5]
A John de Bailleul is interred in the church of St. Waast at Bailleul-Neuville in Normandy.[16]
Balliol 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.[citation needed]
Marriage and children
Balliol married around 9 February 1281 to Isabella de Warenne, daughter of John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey.[6]
It has been established that Balliol and de Warenne had at least one child, Edward Balliol, Scottish pretender.[6] Other children linked to the couple include Henry Balliol, killed in the Battle of Annan on 16 December 1332,[17] Agnes (or Maud or Anne) Balliol (who might actually have been his sister), who married Bryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlan, and Margaret Balliol who married Sir John St Clere, knight, of East Grinsted, Sussex.[18]
Fictional portrayals
- John Balliol, An Historical Drama. In Five Acts (1825), play based on his life by William Tennant.[19]
See also
- Scottish monarchs' family tree
References
- See also: Beam, Amanda (2008). The Balliol Dynasty, 1210–1364. Edinburgh: John Donald.
- ^ Hary, Blind. The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace.
- ^ Stevenson, Joseph (1870). Documents illustrative of the history of Scotland, Volume 2.
- ^ Hodgson, John; Hodgson-Hinde, John (1832). A history of Northumberland, in three parts. Printed by E. Walker. p. 124. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ISBN 9780750951432. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ a b G. P. Stell, "John [John de Balliol] (c.1248x50–1314)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2005 accessed 25 July 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Dunbar, Sir Archibald H., Bt., Scottish Kings – A Revised Chronology of Scottish History 1005–1625, Edinburgh, 1899: p. 115
- ISBN 9780191044816.
- ^ a b Mackay, Aeneas James George (1885). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 03. pp. 66–70.
- ^ Huyshe, Wentworth (1906). The Royal Manor of Hitchins and Its Lords Harold and the Balliols. London: Macmillan. p. 136. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ Foedera, p 228
- ^ a b c d Dunbar, Sir Archibald H., Bt., Scottish Kings – A Revised Chronology of Scottish History 1005–1625, Edinburgh, 1899: p. 116
- ^ ISBN 9780802139320.
- Foedera, vol.1, part 2, p.909
- ISBN 9780802139320.
- ^ Mackay, Aeneas James George (1899). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 59. pp. 106–115.
- ^ a b Dunbar, Sir Archibald H., Bt., Scottish Kings – A Revised Chronology of Scottish History 1005–1625, Edinburgh, 1899: p. 117
- ^ Dunbar, Sir Archibald H., Bt., Scottish Kings – A Revised Chronology of Scottish History 1005–1625, Edinburgh, 1899: p. 118
- ^ "Visitation of Sussex, 1570".
- ^ William Tennant in "Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen" by William Chambers
Sources
- Bold, Valentina (2007), James Hogg: a bard of nature's making, Peter Lang, ISBN 9783039108978
- Rymer, Thomas, Foedera Conventions, Literae et cuiuscunque generis Acta Publica inter Reges Angliae. London. 1745. (Latin) [1]
- Chambers, Robert; Thomson, Thomas Napier (1857). . A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie and Son. pp. 116–21 – via Wikisource.
- Mackay, Aeneas James George (1885). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 03. pp. 66–70.
External links
- Media related to John Balliol at Wikimedia Commons
- John Balliol at the official website of the British monarchy
- Portraits of John de Balliol, King of Scots at the National Portrait Gallery, London