The Treaties of Salisbury and Birgham 20818 The

The Treaties of Salisbury and Birgham

20/8/18 The Treaties of Salisbury and Birgham AIM – Learn how the factions competing for influence over the Maid and Scotland’s future negotiated to achieve their aims. SUCCESS CRITERIA – • Be able to describe the key points of the Treaties of Salisbury and Birgham. • Be able to explain how the political manoeuvrings of Eric, Edward and the Guardians effected Scotland’s future security and independence. • Be able to make an assessment of Edward’s true aims at this stage in events. TASKS 1. Copy today’s aim and heading into your jotter. 2. Recap the ‘problem of the Maid’ and Scotland’s political difficulties in the years 1286 -89. 3. Go through today’s PPt (following this slide), taking notes and inserting handouts where directed. 4. Complete an answer to today’s ‘big question’. HOMEWORK due TODAY: • Complete the question sheet on ‘The Succession Crisis’ + catch-up work on the ‘How Fully? ’ question on Alexander III’s Golden Age.

The Decrees of the Guardians • The nobility of the realm would swear fealty to Margaret, the Maid of Norway. • The Guardians would rule Scotland in the name of the throne until she was old enough to take over. • The Guardians would be responsible for finding a suitable husband for the Maid. • The Guardians would have control over Scotland’s finances and could summon its army if required. • A new seal would be created to be used on royal documents. Unlike previous seals it would have no likeness of the king, but would bear an image of St Andrew on the cross.

Problems facing the Guardians From 1286 -89, the Guardians ruled in the name of the Maid, acting as her regents. But without the authority of a king, the kingdom of Scotland faced serious problems: 1. The threat of civil war – the Bruces had formed ‘The Turnberry Band’ to launch a coup to seize throne. It was unsuccessful, but the outbreak of further civil war remained a serious threat. 2. Without royal power and authority, the Isle of Man rebelled against Scottish control. Bruce: still hoping…

What was the answer to all their woes. . . ? Why? • A marriage alliance with a powerful noble or royal house would solve the potential threat of civil war in Scotland. • Powerful and ambitious Scottish families such as the Bruces would stop causing trouble if a husband was chosen for the Maid from a suitably strong family or kingdom. • Doubt over the future of the Maid and the future rule of the kingdom would be removed, ending the period of uncertainty and unrest. A royal wedding!

• It was the Maid’s father – King Eric II of Norway - who set events in motion. • In May 1289, he sent ambassadors to Edward I, proposing to marry Margaret to Edward’s young son, also called Edward. • Born in 1284, the young Prince Edward was King Edward’s only surviving son. His three other sons had all died in childhood, the last of which – Alphonso – had died only months after the young Prince Edward was born. • The Guardians now found themselves in a weak position, excluded as Edward and Eric negotiated Scotland’s future between them… King Eric II: impatient…

The Treaty of Salisbury 1289 • Returned from his wars in France, King Edward met the Guardians (and the Bruces!) in Salisbury in October 1289. • The treaty called for no further marriage negotiations to be made regarding the Maid until she was in Scotland. • Margaret was to be in Scotland no later than 1 st November 1290. • The Guardians’ position was weak, as it became clear that Eric could basically decide himself who Margaret would marry. • Accepting that they would now be unable to choose Scotland’s next king themselves, the Guardians signed the treaty.

The dilemma of the Guardians The cons: The pros: • Edward was the strong ruler of a powerful kingdom. A marriage alliance with his son would stabilise the monarchy of Scotland end the threat of civil war. • Marriage alliance to England would deter enemies from attacking Scotland for years to come. • The Guardians felt they needed to be involved in the marriage treaty, rather than side-lined and ignored as they had been in Eric and Edward’s negotiations before the Treaty of Salisbury. • The Guardians were anxious about Edward making a power-grab and seizing Scottish sovereignty. • They wanted safeguards included in the next treaty to legally ensure the long term rights and customs of Scotland.

The Treaty of Birgham In July 1290, the Scottish Guardians and Edward I’s ambassadors agreed the marriage contract between Margaret, Maid of Norway, and Prince Edward. • • • Margaret would marry Edward’s son, Edward of Caernarfon. Scottish independence would be safeguarded, and its borders would be respected. Scottish laws, liberties and customs were to be preserved. No Parliament governing Scotland would be held in England. Scotland’s Church would be free of outside interference. Important positions were to be held by Scots and taxes raised in Scotland were just for Scottish needs. • The meetings were held in Birgham, in Berwickshire (NE England). • The document is very detailed and includes a number of meticulous safeguards to preserve Scotland’s independence. • Paste your copy of the Treaty of Birgham into your jotter.

Historical debate Historians disagree over Edward’s intentions towards Scotland in 1289 -90. Take note of the main arguments: Edward is not to be trusted: Edward is our friend!: • Edward agreed to the demands of the Guardians as negotiated at Birgham. • In Birgham, Edward agreed to continuing Scottish independence. • Edward did not try at this point to have the Scots acknowledge him as the Overlord of Scotland. • At the same time as agreeing to the treaty, Edward’s forces seized the Isle of Man. • Edward also insisted that one of his lords – Anthony Bek, the Bishop Prince of Durham – should replace the Guardians and run Scotland in the name of Margaret until she was old enough to rule. • In 1290, Edward demanded that the Scottish Church should pay taxes to England. • At Salisbury, Edward had demanded that the Maid should be handed over to him and raised in the English court until Scotland was ‘safe’.

Today’s ‘Big Question’ • Take note of the question in your jotter and write an answer drawing upon the notes you have taken today: • Were Edward I’s intentions towards Scotland positive or negative during the years 1289 -90?