Wars of Scottish Independence

The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of campaigns launched after the English annexation of Scotland in 1296.

The Scottish crown had been in dispute from the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286. The nobles of Scotland chose Edward I of England to arbitrate the succession. He picked the claimant who promised to acknowledge the overlordship of the English King over the Scottish King. The claimant John Balliol agreed to these terms in 1292, but soon chafed under English control. In 1295 John renounced his allegiance to Edward.

This brought about a swift invasion by England whose army defeated the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar (1296). Balliol was deposed and Scotland was annexed by England. After this defeat parts of Scotland rose up in revolt under William Wallace. Despite some notable successes, such as the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, Wallace, fighting in the name of the King, was betrayed and executed by the English.

The revolt calmed for a period, until Robert the Bruce, another claimant to the throne of Scotland facing murder charges, elected to try to lead Scotland in revolt. This time, the Scots were more successful and Robert the Bruce defeated Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

In 1320 the Declaration of Arbroath was sent by a group of Scottish nobles to the Pope affirming Scottish independence from England.

In 1327, Edward II of England was deposed and killed. Robert the Bruce invaded the North of England, which forced Edward III of England to sign the Treaty of Northampton in 1328, which recognized Bruce and the independence of Scotland.

English interference in Scottish affairs continued after this date, however, with active support given to Edward Balliol's claim to the Scottish throne.

Major events of the Scottish Wars of Independence:

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Wars of Independence