Medieval Scotland

The medieval period in Scotland is connected with the Middle Ages, the period between

about 1100 and 1500 AD.

Picture of Malcolm III

Socio historically, the reign of Malcolm III of Scotland, which happens to coincide with the

start of the centuries-long period of strong influence from the Kingdom of England, has been

seen the most important period, because Scotland was liberated from Norse influence and

Malcolm has been referred to as the founding father of modern Scotland.

Malcolm III

He ruled from 1034 to 1093, also known as Malcolm Canmore, was the son of Duncan I, who

died at the hands of Macbeth when Malcolm was young. For this reason he had to seek

safety at the court of Siward of Northumberland to whom his mother was related.

After, Malcolm made friends with the Viking warlords who had conquered Anglian lands, and

married a woman from a royal family. When he claim the Scottish throne, his Viking allies

helped him fight against Macbeth, at the Battle of Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, in 1057.

Malcolm defeated and killed Macbeth.

Lulach, Macbeth's son, succeeded to the throne briefly before he too died at Malcolm's hands

in 1058. With the death of Lulach, Malcolm became King of Scots.

Malcolm became involved in English politics by sheltering the English prince, Edgar, who had

led English nobles to rebel against William the Conqueror. Because of this king William

invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced Malcolm to accept a truce.

Malcolm´s Viking wife had died so he decided to marry Edgar´s sister, Margaret.

Queen Margaret

She was wife of Malcolm III Canmore, was one of the most remarkable women of her time.

She brought many changes to Scottish life and was made a saint after her death.

Margaret was a deeply religious woman. Like earlier Scottish rulers, she gave money to the

Celtic religious communities and to churches founded by Gaelic and Pictish kings. She also

set up a ferry to cross the river near Edinburgh to help pilgrims travelling to the holy city of St

Andrews.

Margaret also brought new religious ideas to Scotland. She paid for new church buildings.

She persuaded Scottish bishops to reform the way church services were held and to get rid of

ancient Celtic religious customs. Margaret´s generosity to the Church brought great prestige

to Scotland.

When Malcolm III and Margaret died en 1093, they left four sons – Edmund, Edgar,

Alexander and David. Malcolm also had a son, Duncan, from his first marriage. Malcolm´s

brother, Donald Ban, was still alive as well. They continued the dynasty of Malcolm Canmore,

by heritage and for the next 250 years.

Vikings retreats from mainland Scotland

From around 900 to 1469, Scottish kings did not rule all Scotland. The far north of the

Scottish mainland, The Orkney and Shetland isles and the Hebrides were ruled by Viking

earls and warriors, and by kings of Norway who were their overlords.

But in 1098, king Edgar of Scotland forced Norwegian king Magnus Barelegs to retreat to a

new frontier. This left Magnus as overlord of the Scottish islands but Scottish kings ruled the

mainland.

English Feudal ideas to Scotland

In 1124, David I was named as heir of the Scottish throne by Alexander, before his dead.

He reign until 1153

Picture David I

David I introduce English Feudal Ideas to Scotland, a system of landholding, where everyone,

from lords to peasants, had to work in return for occupying land.

For first time Scottish coins were minted.

He built royal forts close to the land of the nobility in exchange for loyalty. He founded new

towns where royal officials could collect taxes, and new churches, monasteries and obbeys

like Kelso and Dunfermline.

The ruins of Kelso Abbey

David I encouraged religious reform, like allowing Servants of God to be married. He realized

that a strong Church would bring glory to Scotland and help the royal family stay in power.

Other kings of the Scots

From 1153 to 1165, ruled Scotland Malcolm IV: During this period Henry II of England helped

Malcolm to put down a rebellion in Galloway, and took control of northern England from the

Scots.

From 1165 to 1214, ruled William I, Malcolm´s brother. In 1174, he was captured by English

troops. But, when Henry II died, Richard I became king of England and William was set free

in return for a huge fine.

From 1214 to 1249 ruled Alexander II, the William I´s grandson:

Alexander III: the son of Alexander II, reigned successfully, for almost 40 years. He

defeated the Norwegians, controlled quarrelsome Scottish lords, made peace with England

and encouraged trade.

The end of Norway´s power

In the 1240s, Alexander III of Scotland ordered king Hakon of Norway to give up all the

Scottish islands, but he refused, and in 1263, the Scots defeated the Norwegian fleet of ships

in a sea battle at Largs,

In 1266, the Norwegian king, Magnus the Lawgiver, gave all the western islands (The

Hebrides) to Scotland in return for a large sum of money.

Alexander´s dead

When Alexander III died in 1286, after falling from his horse, his only heir was his

granddaughter, known as “The Maid of Norway” and she was too young to rule. So, there

was no clear heir to the throne. Instead, 13 rival nobles claimed the right to be king. To avoid

fighting among them, a council of six Guardians - formed by Lords and bishops – ask

Eduard I of England to help. Then Edward I saw the opportunity to act as arbitrator, and

named John Bailliol, Lord of Galloway, as king, in 1292.

John Bailliol

John Bailliol was king of Scotland from 1292 to 1296. He restored law and order, appointing

new sheriff and calling meetings of the Scottish Parliament. He also encouraged international

trade especially with France.

At his reign the Guardians encourage Edward I to be Scotland´s overlord. So, Edward asked

Bailliol to appear in English law courts, and demanded that Scottish nobles join the English

army. Bailliol refused and in 1295 he signed a treaty with England´s enemy, France.

Because of the Scottish alliance with France, Edward was furious and in 1296, he sent an

army to attack the Scots and defeated them at the battle of Dunbar. English knights captured

John Bailliol. Then, Edward I deposed and exiled him, and rule Scotland as a military colony.

Because of this resistance arose and reached a peak under William Wallace and Andrew

Murray.

William Wallace  (1270–1305)

 

Wallace was the younger son of a Scottish knight and minor landowner.

He joined with Andrew Murray to fight Edward I. They lead many Scots- priests, bishops, minor gentry and a few great lords - who refused to accept English rule.

Wallace and Murray soon won control of all Scotland north of the river Tay, then marched south. And in 1297, they defeated the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, where the Scots massacred English soldiers as they advanced. The main English army was trapped helplessly behind dead bodies on the bridge.

Scottish Independence: The Battle of Stirling Bridge on September 11, 1297.

After the battle of Stirling, Murray and Wallace assumed the title of Guardians of the Kingdom of Scotland on behalf of King John Bailliol. Murray died of wounds suffered on the battlefield.

Wallace now guided Scottish policy. It was a remarkable achievement for a knight to hold power over the nobles of Scotland. In a medieval world obsessed with hierarchy, Wallace's extraordinary military success catapulted him to the top of the social ladder.

The Battle of Falkirk

The defeat of the English army at Stirling Bridge had enraged Edward and united the English nobility against Scots.

In 1303, England and France made peace. Then, Edward I, named “the hammer of the Scots” because of his determination to crush Scottish opposition, invaded Scotland, captured the most important castles and forced Scottish nobles to pay homage to him, after win the battle of Falkirk. The Scots were vastly outnumbered and lacked the heavy cavalry of the English.

After, in 1305, William Wallace was betrayed, captured near Glasgow and sent to London. King Edward I of England declared him to be a traitor and then he was barbarically executed for treason and crimes against English civilians.

Wallace was seen by the Scots as a martyr and as a symbol of the struggle for Independence and his efforts continued after his death.

The execution of Wallace

Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329)

Robert I, known as Robert the Bruce, was the king of the Scots , between 1306 and 1314,

who secured Scotland's independence from England.

 After Wallace was defeated, Edward I of England, known as “The Hammer of the Scots”, had

occupied Scotland and garrisons of English troops occupied all the major castles.

Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, became a guardian of Scotland, with John Comyn, but

when Comyn died Bruce had a legal right to the Scottish throne .He was crowned King of

Scotland on 27 March 1306 at Scone. The king lost no time in recruiting an army and forced

all Scottish lords to swear loyalty. But the English sent an army to kill him and Bruce was

forced to flee. His wife and daughters were imprisoned and three of his brothers executed.

Eduard I of England died in 1307 and Eduard II, his young son and successor, became the

new English King. Robert returned to Scotland and he started his campaign for the throne

and Scottish´s independence. Bruce gradually chased the English out of Scotland. By 1313

only Stirling Castle remained in English hands.

The Scots and English armies met at Bannockburn near Stirling. Against all odds, the Scots

won a famous victory which preserved their country´s independence for the next 400

years. The Battle of Bannockburn brought to an end 18 years of misery and humiliation for

the people of Scotland.

In 1320, the Scottish earls, barons and the 'community of the realm' sent a letter in Latin to

Pope John XXII intended to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and defending Scotland's right to use military action when unjustly attacked and

declaring that Robert was their rightful monarch. This was the 'Declaration of Arbroath', a

declaration of Scottish independence.

Statue of King Robert the Bruce.

The Battle of Bannockburn