On the 17th of November, 1292, John Balliol became King of Scotland. John Balliol was born circa 1249, the son of John Balliol, Lord of Barnard Castle in England, and Dervorguilla of Galloway, a Scottish noblewoman and descendant of King David I. Through his mother, Balliol inherited a credible claim to the Scottish throne, which became central after the death of the young Queen Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway, in 1290. Her death left Scotland without a clear heir, prompting a succession crisis known as the Great Cause, in which thirteen competitors put forward claims to the crown.
Among the claimants, the two strongest were John Balliol and Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, the grandfather of the future King Robert the Bruce. To resolve the dispute and avoid civil war, the Guardians of Scotland invited Edward I of England to arbitrate. Edward, eager to assert his influence, demanded that any judgment recognise his position as overlord of Scotland. Though controversial, the Scottish leadership agreed, prioritising the avoidance of bloodshed.
Edward’s judgement in 1292 favoured John Balliol, whose claim was legally stronger under the principle of primogeniture. On the 30th of November, 1292, Balliol was inaugurated at Scone as King of Scots. However, the crown he received was already encumbered. Edward I immediately treated Scotland as a vassal state, summoning Balliol to English courts and demanding military and legal obedience. Edward’s repeated public humiliations of the new king earned Balliol the derisive nickname “Toom Tabard” – meaning “empty coat” – suggesting he was king in name only.
Despite the constraints, Balliol attempted to assert his authority as an independent monarch. He appointed his own councillors and tried to govern in line with Scottish law. However, Edward’s interference deepened, especially when Balliol was required to contribute troops for Edward’s wars in France. This imposition angered the Scottish nobility, who saw it as an affront to their kingdom’s sovereignty.
In 1295, a decisive turn came with the formation of the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France, a treaty promising mutual support against England. This marked an open rejection of English overlordship. Edward responded swiftly and forcefully. In 1296, he invaded Scotland, sacking Berwick-upon-Tweed in a brutal assault that left thousands dead. He defeated the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar, captured key fortresses, and effectively dismantled King John’s authority.
Faced with overwhelming military pressure, Balliol was forced to abdicate in July 1296. He publicly renounced the crown in a humiliating ceremony, during which, according to chroniclers, his royal insignia were literally stripped from his robes. This act cemented his reputation as a weak and ineffectual king, though it also reflected the crushing dominance of Edward rather than purely personal failure.
After his abdication, John Balliol was imprisoned in the Tower of London before being allowed to retire to his family estates in France. He lived in relative obscurity and exile until his death in 1314, the same year that Robert the Bruce secured a decisive victory over the English at Bannockburn. History thus cast Balliol as a tragic prelude to the heroic struggle for Scottish independence.