Baldred Bisset facts for kids

Baldred Bisset (born around 1260 – died possibly 1311) was an important Scottish lawyer who lived a long time ago. He played a big part in helping Scotland stay independent during a difficult time.

Who Was Baldred Bisset?

Baldred Bisset was a clever lawyer from Scotland. He lived during a period known as the Scottish Wars of Independence. This was a time when Scotland was fighting to remain a free country, separate from England. Baldred Bisset used his legal skills to defend Scotland's right to be independent.

Arguing for Scotland's Freedom

In 1301, Baldred Bisset had a very important job. He was in charge of presenting Scotland's case to the Pope's court. This court was called the papal curia. Think of it like a very powerful international court back then. The Pope had a lot of influence across Europe.

What Was the Papal Curia?

The papal curia was the official court and administration of the Pope. In the Middle Ages, the Pope was not just a religious leader. He was also a very powerful political figure. Countries often turned to the Pope to settle big disagreements. Scotland hoped the Pope would support their claim to be an independent nation.

Baldred Bisset, along with two other people named William Frere and William of Eaglesham, worked hard. They prepared Scotland's arguments. They wanted to show that Scotland should be a sovereign nation. This means it should have the power to govern itself, without another country telling it what to do. England, led by King Edward I of England, was trying to claim control over Scotland.

Old Stories and Treaties

To make their case, Baldred Bisset and his team looked at old stories. These were called foundation myths. They were tales about how the Scottish people and other groups in Great Britain first came to be. These stories helped show Scotland's long history as a distinct nation.

They also carefully studied old agreements between Scotland and England. These agreements are called treaties. One important treaty they looked at was the Treaty of Falaise. This treaty was signed between 1174 and 1189. England often used it to claim power over Scotland. Baldred Bisset used his legal knowledge to explain why these old treaties no longer applied. He showed why Scotland should still be free.

Standing Up to King Edward I

Because Baldred Bisset was so dedicated to Scotland's independence, King Edward I of England was not happy. Edward I took away Baldred's job as a parson in Kinghorn. A parson was a church official who managed a local church and its income. This shows how much Edward I disliked Baldred's efforts to help Scotland.