William the Lion
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2020) |
William I | |
---|---|
Malcolm IV | |
Successor | Alexander II |
Born | c. 1142[1] |
Died | Stirling, Scotland | 4 December 1214 (aged 72)
Burial | |
Spouse | |
Issue | Margaret, Countess of Kent Isabella, Countess of Norfolk Alexander II of Scotland Marjorie, Countess of Pembroke Isabella Mac William (illegitimate) |
House | House of Dunkeld |
Father | Henry of Scotland |
Mother | Ada de Warenne |
William the Lion (
Early life
William was born around 1142, during the reign of his grandfather King
Reign
After his accession to the throne William spent some time at the court of Henry II; then, quarrelling with Henry, he arranged in 1168 the first definite treaty of alliance between France and Scotland.[3] William was then a key player in the
The humiliation of the Treaty of Falaise triggered a revolt in
A further rising in 1181 involved Donald
William also quarrelled with
The Treaty of Falaise remained in force for the next fifteen years. Then the English king
William attempted to purchase Northumbria from Richard in 1194, as he had a strong claim over it. However, his offer of 15,000 marks (£9,750) was rejected due to wanting the castles within the lands, which Richard was not willing to give.[7] In 1200, William did homage for Northumbria, not for Scotland, to Richard's successor, John, apparently to save face.[3]
Despite the Scots regaining their independence, Anglo-Scottish relations remained tense during the first decade of the 13th century. In August 1209 King John decided to flex the English muscles by marching a large army to Norham (near Berwick), in order to exploit the flagging leadership of the ageing Scottish monarch. As well as promising a large sum of money, the ailing William agreed to his elder daughters marrying English nobles and, when the treaty was renewed in 1212, John apparently gained the hand of William's only surviving legitimate son, and heir, Alexander, for his eldest daughter, Joan.
Despite continued dependence on English goodwill, William's reign showed much achievement. He threw himself into government with energy and diligently followed the lines laid down by his grandfather, David I. Anglo-French settlements and feudalization were extended, new burghs founded, criminal law clarified, the responsibilities of justices and sheriffs widened, and trade grew. Traditionally, William is credited with founding Arbroath Abbey, the site of the later Declaration of Arbroath. The Bishopric of Argyll was established (c. 1192) in the same year as papal confirmation of the Scottish church by Pope Celestine III.
William died of natural causes in Stirling in 1214 and lies buried in Arbroath Abbey. His son, Alexander II, succeeded him as king, reigning from 1214 to 1249.
William was not known as "the Lion" during his own lifetime, and the title did not relate to his tenacious character or his military prowess. It was attached to him because of his flag or standard, a red lion rampant with a forked tail (
Marriage and issue
Due to the terms of the Treaty of Falaise, Henry II had the right to choose William's bride. As a result, William married Ermengarde de Beaumont, a great-granddaughter of King Henry I of England, at Woodstock Palace in 1186. Edinburgh Castle was her dowry. The marriage was not very successful, and it was many years before they had an heir. William and Ermengarde's children were:
- Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent
- Isabella of Scotland, Countess of Norfolk (1195–1263), married Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk
- Alexander II of Scotland (1198–1249)
- Marjorie (1200 – 17 November 1244),[8] married Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Out of wedlock, William I had numerous illegitimate children, their descendants being among those who would lay claim to the Scottish crown.
By an unnamed daughter of Adam de Hythus:
- Margaret, married Eustace de Vesci, Lord of Alnwick[9]
By Isabel d'Avenel:
- Robert de London[10]
- Henry de Galightly, father of Patrick Galithly one of the competitors to the crown in 1291[11]
- Ada Fitzwilliam (c. 1164–1200), married Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar (c. 1152 – 1232)[11]
- Aufrica, married William de Say, and whose great-great-grandson Roger de Mandeville was one of the competitors to the crown in 1291[11]
Notes
- ^ A dictionary of British history: "William I (c. 1142 – 1214), king of Scots (1165–1214), later known as 'the Lion'. Younger brother and successor to Malcolm IV, he was granted the earldom of Northumberland by his grandfather David I in 1152".
- ^ Uilleam Garbh; e.g. Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1214.6; Annals of Loch Cé, s.a. 1213.10.
- ^ a b c d e public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "William". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 665. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ Cardonnel, Adam de. Numismata scotiæ, or A series of the Scottish coinage, from the reign of William The lion to the union. By Adam De Cardonnel, member of the antiquarian society of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, M,DCC,LXXXVI. [1786].
- ISBN 978-1-78306-442-7.
- ISBN 978-0865531581.
- ISBN 0-300-09404-3.
- ^ Scotland: The Making of the Kingdom, A.A.M. Duncan, p. 527
- ^ Saul, Nigel (13 May 2013). "Eustace de Vesci". Magna Carta Trust. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Scotland: The Making of the Kingdom, A.A.M. Duncan, p. 175
- ^ a b c "The Scots Peerage" (1904), Balfour Paul, Vol. I, p. 5
- ^ Saul, Nigel (24 June 2013). "Robert de Ros". Magna Carta Trust. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
Sources
- Ashley, Mike. Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens. 1998.
- Magnusson, Magnus. Scotland: Story of a Nation. 2001.
External links
- William I at the official website of the British monarchy