Scotland over 700 years ago L I To

Scotland over 700 years ago. L. I To have a better understanding of life in Scotland at the time of Alexander III.

The Golden Age • More than 700 years ago Scotland had a King called Alexander III. • He made wise laws and people trusted him. • He had a seal fixed to important letters.

Sheriffs • During his reign as King, sheriffs kept law and order. • Alexander had one sister called Margaret. • She was married to Edward I, the King of England.

Scotland England. • You can see Scotland England in the map to the right. • Scotland is a lot smaller and more mountainous. • Scotland is North of England.

How a King lived 700 years ago • Kings had many castles and lots of land. • They moved around a lot, that way everyone got to know them. • Sometimes Kings lived in castles belonging to Nobles.

Nobles • Whenever the King needed advice or extra money he would contact his nobles and important churchmen. • They would receive letters asking them to meet at different castles. • Laws were often made at Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth.

Where castles got built • Kings built castles where they had a water supply and also where they could defend themselves against attack. • Sometimes on top of a hill or near a river.

King Alexander • In March 1286 King Alexander had a fatal accident. • He had been riding his horse on a dark, stormy night. • He fell from his horse, at Kinghorn in Fife.

Disaster • People were upset they’d lost their King. • Edward I, the King of England decided very quickly that he should become the next Scottish King. • Scotland did not like this idea. • They wanted to stay independent and not have to obey others.

What next? • When a King dies, the next in line to the throne is his eldest son. • Alexander III had no grown-up sons, they had died. • The new ruler was Margaret, his granddaughter. • She was 4 and lived in Norway.

The Maid of Norway • She was far too young to lead a country. • Six important lords met and helped run the country for her. • Edward I decided his son would marry her but on her journey to Scotland she died.

More problems • People fought over who was rightfully the next King. • 13 men were relatives of Alexander III and fought each other. • Edward I chose a man called John Balliol.

John Balliol • He stayed King for 4 years. • Edward made it clear from the start that he was really King. • He treated John like an English Noble. • Many Scots called him ‘Toom Tabard’ this means ‘empty coat’. • They thought he dressed like a King but did not act like one.

Reasons for War • John Balliol became known as the ‘Puppet King’. • However the Auld Alliance with France prevented Scots from fighting with England against France. • Edward was unhappy and invaded Scotland at Berwick on Tweed, killing many Scots. • Scots wanted revenge and to stay independent from England so they decided to fight the English.