| John Balliol | |
|---|---|
.png) Seal of King John | |
| 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 orJohn de Balliol[1] (c. 1249 – late 1314), known derisively asToom Tabard (meaning 'empty coat'), wasKing of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the death ofMargaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland entered aninterregnum during which severalcompetitors for the Crown of Scotland put forward claims. Balliol was chosen from among them as the new King of Scotland by a group of selected noblemen headed by KingEdward I of England.
Edward used his influence over the process to subjugate Scotland and undermined Balliol's personal reign by treating Scotland as avassal 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 theWars of Scottish Independence. After a Scottish defeat in 1296, Balliol abdicated and was imprisoned in theTower 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 ofRobert the Bruce in 1306. John Balliol's sonEdward Balliol would later exert a claim to the Scottish throne against the Bruce claim during the minority of Robert's sonDavid.
InNorman French his name was Johan de Bailliol;[2] inMiddle Scots it wasJhon Ballioun, and in Scottish Gaelic,Iain Bailiol. InScots 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 wordcoat may refer to acoat of arms; either to the Balliol arms which are a plain shield with an orle, also known as aninescutcheon voided[3] or because his arms were stripped from histabard in public.[4]
Little of Balliol's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location; possibilities includeGalloway,Picardy, andBarnard Castle,County Durham.[5] He was the son ofJohn, 5th Baron Balliol, Lord of Barnard Castle (and founder ofBalliol College, Oxford), and his wifeDervorguilla of Galloway, daughter ofAlan, Lord of Galloway and granddaughter ofDavid, Earl of Huntingdon — the brother ofWilliam the Lion.[6][7] From his mother he inherited significant lands in Galloway and claim to lordship over the Gallovidians, as well as various English and Scottish estates of the Huntingdon inheritance; from his father he inherited large estates in England and France, such asHitchin, inHertfordshire.[8][9]
In 1284 Balliol had attended aparliament atScone, which had recognisedMargaret, Maid of Norway, as heir presumptive to her grandfather,King Alexander III.[10] Following the deaths of Alexander III in 1286 and Margaret in 1290, John Balliol was acompetitor for theScottish crown in theGreat Cause,[6] as he was a great-great-great-grandson ofDavid I through his mother (and therefore one generation further than his main rivalRobert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale, grandfather ofRobert the Bruce, who later became king), being senior in genealogicalprimogeniture but not inproximity of blood. He submitted his claim to the Scottish auditors with KingEdward I of England as the administrator of the court, atBerwick-upon-Tweed, on 6 June 1291.[11] The Scottish auditors' decision in favour of Balliol was pronounced in the Great Hall ofBerwick Castle on 17 November 1292,[11] and he was inaugurated accordinglyKing of Scotland at Scone, 30 November 1292,St. Andrew's Day.[6]
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 — atStirling in July 1295. They went on to conclude a treaty of mutual assistance with France — known in later years as the "Auld Alliance".[12]
In retaliation for Scotland's treaty with France, Edward I invaded, commenced theWars of Scottish Independence. The Scots were defeated atDunbar and the English tookDunbar Castle on 27 April 1296.[11] John abdicated atStracathro, nearMontrose, on 10 July 1296.[11]
Balliol was imprisoned in theTower of London until allowed to go to France in July 1299. When his baggage was examined atDover, the Royal Golden Crown and Seal of the Kingdom of Scotland, with many vessels of gold and silver, and a considerable sum of money, were found in his chests. Edward I ordered that the crown be offered to the shrine ofSt Thomas Becket atCanterbury and that the money be returned to Balliol for the expenses of his journey. But he kept the seal himself.[13] Balliol was released into the custody ofPope Boniface VIII on condition that he remain at a papal residence. He was released around the summer of 1301 and lived the rest of his life on his family's ancestral estates atHélicourt,Picardy.[14]
Over the next few years, there were several Scottish rebellions against Edward (for example, in 1297 underWilliam Wallace andAndrew 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]
Balliol died in late 1314 at his family'schâteau at Hélicourt in France.[12] On 4 January 1315, King Edward II of England, writing to KingLouis X of France, said that he had heard of the death of "Sir John de Balliol"[16] and requested the fealty and homage ofEdward Balliol to be given by proxy.[5]
A John de Bailleul is interred in the church of St. Waast atBailleul-Neuville inNormandy.[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.[17]
Balliol married around 9 February 1281 toIsabella de Warenne, daughter ofJohn 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 theBattle of Annan on 16 December 1332,[18] Agnes (or Maud or Anne) Balliol (who might actually have been his sister), who marriedBryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlan, and Margaret Balliol who married Sir John St Clere, knight, ofEast Grinsted,Sussex.[19]
Media related toJohn Balliol at Wikimedia Commons
John Balliol Born: ? c. 1249 Died: November 1314 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Vacant Title last held by Margaret | King of Scots 1292–1296 | Vacant Title next held by Robert I |
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