The year is 1296...
Queen Margaret of Scotland died six years ago leaving sixteen claimants to the throne, Edward I king of England agreed to mitigate the factionalism preventing legal succession. The rabble was whittled down to two claimants Sir John Balliol and Robert Bruce 5th Lord of Annendale.
Lord John Balliol was named King of the Scots by a majority vote at Scone Abbey, but Edward made it clear that he viewed Scotland as a vassal state.
King John was crowned at Newcastle upon Tyne in December 1293, and swore homage to Edward.
When Edward demanded Scottish troops to fight in France, John was undermined by the Bruce faction who were resentful of English demands.
Edward had betrayed the Scottish nobility by demanding to be recognized as Lord Paramount of Scotland. Edward gave King John until September 1st to provide soldiers and funds.
King John returned to Scotland determined to defy Edward and quiet the Bruce faction. King John's war council consisted of four earls, four bishops and four barons...
King John made a defense alliance with Phillip of France in secret, they also agreed that Edward Balliol (John's son) would marry Jeanne de Valois (Philip's niece) solidifying the pact.
It was not until 1295 that Edward I became aware of the secret Franco-Scottish negotiations. In early October, he began to strengthen his northern defences against a possible invasion. It was at this point that Robert Bruce, 6th Lord of Annandale (father of the future King Robert the Bruce) was appointed by Edward as the governor of Carlisle Castle. Edward also ordered John Balliol to relinquish control of the castles and burghs of Berwick, Jedburgh and Roxburgh. In December, more than 200 of Edward's tenants in Newcastle were summoned to form a militia by March 1296 and in February, a fleet sailed north to meet with his land forces in Newcastle.
Thus begins belligerency between England and Scotland...
