2. The Scottish response - Treaty of Birgham
The Scottish church was powerful and wealthy. A civil war would have been a disaster for them and Scotland. The powerful Bishops of Glasgow and St Andrews persuaded the nobles that the Maid of Norway must become Queen. Powerful Guardians were appointed from the nobles and the church to take decisions for her. One of these decisions was that a marriage would be agreed between Margaret and Edward, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Edward I of England. This was agreed when a Treaty was signed at Birgham (near Berwick) in 1290. The treaty also stated that Scotland would be "separate and divided from England according to its rightful boundaries, free in itself and without subjection."
This Treaty made a lot of sense from the Scottish point of view:
• Alexander’s first wife had been the sister of Edward I so there were already strong links and good relations between the two families.
• Edward was a powerful and respected ruler. Scottish nobles like the Bruces and Balliols would be afraid to make trouble if the Maid was to be married to his son.
• The Scots believed that the Treaty protected Scotland from interference by Edward.
Unfortunately, the Treaty had barely been agreed when news came from the north: the Maid of Norway had died on her voyage to Scotland.
Revision Task A3: Make up 10 “flash cards” on the Treaty of Birgham. On one side of the card put the heading “Treaty of Birgham”. On the other side, write at least ONE fact about the treaty. E.g. “Agreed in 1290”. Test yourself by turning the flash cards over until you can remember at least 5 key facts about the Treaty
