3. The subjugation of Scotland
Chess was a popular game among nobles in the middle ages. The Scots thought the treaty with France was a good move which would put the English King in an impossible position: “Checkmate!” They were wrong: Edward I had a few winning moves left …
Edward led his army to the border with Scotland and attacked the Scottish trading town of Berwick. The town was captured and the population of 7500 was slaughtered. Men, women and children were put to the sword in three days of mayhem. This was perfectly normal for the Middle Ages when a town had refused to surrender but Edward was also making an example of Berwick and warning the rest of Scotland : resist and you die, surrender and you live.
Edward then led his army to Dunbar where a Scottish army was waiting. Not for long: they were heavily defeated. Many nobles were captured and sent to prison in England or allowed to go free after family members were taken as hostages.
Edward then chased King John Balliol to the north of Scotland. On the way, he grabbed important symbols of Scottish resistance such as the Stone of Scone and the Black Rood of St Margaret (supposed to be part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified).
Edward finally caught up with King John near Brechin and humiliated him in a special ceremony which was reserved for disobedient vassals. King John was paraded before Edward. John was wearing only a coat and breeches (underwear) and carrying a white stick. The badges were ripped off his coat . the white stick broken and King John was forced to beg forgiveness on his knees. He was then sent to London to be imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Edward dealt with the Scottish nobles by forcing them to sign a document accepting him as sole ruler of Scotland. This document became known as the “Ragman’s Roll”
Finally, Edward seized all the major castles in Scotland and appointed loyal followers to control them. He also appointed two of his trusted nobles to rule Scotland while he went to France to continue his war. These nobles were William de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham who was made Treasurer.
Watch this video. It covers the key events up to Edward I's conquest of Scotland.
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Revision Task B3: Subjugation means to bring under complete control. Make up a mind map to show ALL the ways in which Edward had subjugated Scotland by 1296.
