Who was John Baliol? And How Did He Become King of Scotland?

John Baliol was a Scottish nobleman and the King of Scotland from 1292 to 1296. He was born in 1249, the son of John de Baliol and Devorgilla of Galloway. The Baliol family had a long history in Scotland, and they were one of the most powerful families in the country. John Baliol was well-educated and was sent to study in France, where he acquired an appreciation for French culture and language.

The death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, who was the last surviving member of the Scottish royal family, in 1290, led to a power vacuum in Scotland. The king of England, Edward I, was asked to mediate between the various claimants to the throne. Edward I was determined to establish English overlordship over Scotland, and he saw this as an opportunity to do so.

After a long process of deliberation, the Scottish nobles chose John Baliol as the king of Scotland. Edward I recognized Baliol as the king and gave him the formal title of “Lord of Scotland.” However, the agreement between the two monarchs was far from equal. In exchange for recognizing Baliol as the king of Scotland, Edward I made Baliol swear allegiance to him and forced him to accept a series of humiliating conditions.

Baliol was essentially a puppet king, and he had to answer to Edward I for all of his actions. This situation did not sit well with the Scottish nobles, who resented the English overlordship. Baliol tried to assert his independence by allying himself with France, but this only led to more conflict with Edward I.

In 1296, Edward I invaded Scotland and defeated Baliol’s army at the Battle of Dunbar. Baliol fled to France, where he spent the rest of his life in exile. He was deposed and stripped of his royal title by Edward I, who took over the government of Scotland.

Baliol’s reign was short and tumultuous, but he played an important role in the history of Scotland. His struggles against Edward I helped to lay the groundwork for the Scottish Wars of Independence, which would be fought by his successor, Robert the Bruce.

In conclusion, John Baliol was a Scottish nobleman who became the king of Scotland in 1292. His reign was marked by English overlordship and conflict with Edward I, which eventually led to his downfall. Baliol’s legacy is complex, and he is often overlooked by Scottish historians. However, his brief reign helped to shape the history of Scotland and set the stage for the country’s fight for independence.