John Balliol

Timeline

1. 1249–1280Barnard Castle · County DurhamJohn was born into the Balliol family, whose grandfather had founded Balliol College, Oxford. In the 1280s he held estates in northern England and Galloway in Scotland, received a noble education, and through his maternal line became one of the potential heirs to the Scottish throne.
2. 1280–1292Berwick · BerwickshireAfter Alexander III's death in 1286 Scotland fell into a succession crisis. From the late 1280s to 1290, John Balliol, Robert Bruce and others all claimed the throne. Edward I intervened as arbiter in 1291, and on 17 November 1292 ruled that Balliol should succeed.
3. 1292–1296Scone · Perth and KinrossAfter his coronation in 1292 Balliol was forced to swear fealty to Edward I and repeatedly summoned to English courts. His 1295 alliance with France angered Edward; after defeat at Dunbar in 1296 he was forced to abdicate at Montrose, surrendering the great seal and earning the nickname 'Toom Tabard'.
4. 1296–1314Élincourt · PicardyAfter abdicating Balliol was imprisoned in the Tower of London; released in 1299 he settled on an estate in Picardy, France, no longer actively involved in Scottish affairs. He died in November 1314, by which time the Scottish independence war was led by Robert Bruce.