Why did Scotland fall into a succession crisis after 1286, and how did it secure its independence by 1328?
The death of Alexander III and the succession problem, the Great Cause and the reign of John Balliol, Edward I's intervention, the risings of Wallace and Bruce, and the recovery of Scottish independence.
An SQA Higher History answer on the Wars of Independence 1286 to 1328, covering the succession crisis after Alexander III, the Great Cause and John Balliol, Edward I's overlordship, the resistance of William Wallace and Robert Bruce, Bannockburn and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this key area is asking
The SQA wants you to explain why the death of Alexander III in 1286 created a succession crisis, how Edward I of England exploited it, and how William Wallace and then Robert Bruce led the resistance that recovered Scottish independence by 1328. This option is examined mainly through the source-handling questions (origin and purpose, context, and comparison), so you need both narrative knowledge and the ability to judge evidence.
The succession problem and the Great Cause
- The Guardians governed Scotland during the minority and invited Edward I to arbitrate between the rival claimants to avoid civil war.
- The Great Cause (1291 to 1292) was the legal process in which Edward I heard the claims. The strongest came from John Balliol and Robert Bruce (grandfather of the future king).
- Edward's price. Before judging, Edward required the claimants to recognise him as overlord (superior) of Scotland, asserting a feudal claim that would shape the whole conflict.
- John Balliol was chosen in 1292 as the candidate with the best hereditary claim, but he ruled as Edward's vassal.
Edward I's intervention and the fall of Balliol
Edward treated Scotland as a subject kingdom, hearing legal appeals over Balliol's head and demanding Scottish military service against France. In 1295 the Scots resisted by agreeing the Auld Alliance with France. Edward responded by invading in 1296, sacking Berwick, defeating the Scots at Dunbar, and forcing Balliol to abdicate. Edward removed the Stone of Destiny to Westminster and ruled Scotland directly.
Wallace, Bruce and the recovery of independence
- William Wallace led the rising of 1297 and, with Andrew Murray, destroyed an English army at Stirling Bridge (September 1297). He was defeated at Falkirk (1298) by Edward's longbowmen, resigned as Guardian, and was captured and executed in London in 1305.
- Robert Bruce killed his rival John Comyn at Dumfries and seized the throne at Scone in 1306. After early defeats (Methven, Dalrigh) and flight, he rebuilt support, recovered castles by guerrilla tactics and slighting (Edinburgh, Roxburgh), and won the decisive pitched battle of Bannockburn in June 1314 against Edward II.
- The Declaration of Arbroath (1320) was a letter from the Scottish nobles to Pope John XXII asserting Scotland's right to independence and Bruce's kingship ("for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive...").
- The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton (1328) ended the war: England, under the regency of Mortimer and Isabella, recognised Bruce as king of an independent Scotland.
Examples in context
A model "evaluate the usefulness" response to a 1291 English royal record on the Great Cause would tie each feature to the enquiry into Edward I's aims: "As an English royal record of 1291 (origin), the source is contemporary and authoritative on Edward's administration, but it is produced by one party to the dispute, so it shows the English view rather than the Scottish. Its purpose was to record and justify Edward's role as arbiter and his demand to be recognised as overlord (purpose), which makes it strong direct evidence of his intentions but partial. Its insistence that the claimants accept his superiority reveals that Edward aimed to make the Scottish king his vassal (content). It omits the Scots' belief in their own independence and the Guardians' reluctance to grant overlordship (omission). It is therefore very useful for Edward's aims, though one-sided." Each comment is explained in terms of usefulness, which earns the SQA marks.
Try this
Q1. Why did Edward I require the Great Cause claimants to recognise him as overlord? [2 marks]
- Cue. It asserted a feudal claim that let him treat the Scottish king as his vassal and intervene in Scotland's affairs.
Q2. Name the 1328 treaty that recognised Scottish independence. [1 mark]
- Cue. The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher 20196 marksEvaluate the usefulness of Source A (an English royal record of the Great Cause, 1291) as evidence of Edward I's aims in Scotland.Show worked answer →
The "evaluate the usefulness" question is marked out of 6 across developed comments on origin, purpose, content and omission, each linked to usefulness for the enquiry.
Origin: an English royal record of 1291, written for Edward's administration, so contemporary and authoritative but produced by one party to the dispute. Purpose: to record and justify Edward's role as arbiter and his demand to be recognised as overlord, which makes it strong evidence of his aims but partial. Content: select the demand for recognition of superiority and explain what it reveals about his intentions. Omission: it ignores the Scottish view of their independence and the Guardians' reluctance. Conclude that it is useful for Edward's aims but one-sided.
SQA Higher 20219 marksHow fully does Source B explain the reasons for the eventual success of Robert Bruce by 1328?Show worked answer →
The "how fully" question is marked out of 9, from points selected from the source and accurate recalled knowledge it omits, plus a judgement.
From the source, select the reasons it gives (for example Bruce's leadership, guerrilla tactics, or Bannockburn). Then add omitted knowledge: the killing of Comyn and seizure of the throne in 1306, the slighting of castles, the victory at Bannockburn (1314), the Declaration of Arbroath (1320), the weakness of Edward II, and the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton (1328). Judge how fully the source explains Bruce's success: it usually covers some reasons and omits others, so it is partial.
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Sources & how we know this
- SQA Higher History Course Specification — SQA (2018)