House of Balliol facts for kids
The House of Balliol was a powerful family of nobles. They came from a village called Bailleul in a region of France called Picardy. This family owned large areas of land in England. They received these lands during the time of King William Rufus.
Later, through marriage, the Balliol family gained a special claim to the throne of Scotland. One famous member, John Balliol, became King of Scotland. This happened after a big argument over who should rule, as the old royal family, the House of Dunkeld, had no direct heirs left. But John was removed from power, which started the First War of Scottish Independence. His son, Edward Balliol, also tried to become King of Scotland for a short time during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Edward had no children, so the main Balliol family line ended with him.
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The Balliol Family: From France to Scotland
The Balliol family started in France. They became important in England after the Norman Conquest. Over time, they built up their wealth and power.
Early Balliol Leaders
Here are some of the important leaders of the Balliol family's lands:
- Guy I de Balliol (died before 1133): He set up the family's power in northern England around the 1090s.
- Bernard I de Balliol (died between 1154 and 1162): He was Guy's nephew.
- Guy II de Balliol (died between 1160 and 1167): He was Bernard's son.
- Bernard II de Balliol (died around 1190): He was Guy II's brother.
- Eustace de Balliol (died around 1209): He was a cousin to Bernard II.
- Hugh de Balliol (died 1229): He was Eustace's son.
- John I de Balliol (died 1268): He was Hugh's son. He is famous for starting Balliol College at Oxford University.
John Balliol: King of Scotland
John II de Balliol (died 1314) was the son of John I. He became King of Scotland in 1292. He had a claim to the throne because he was a descendant of an earlier Scottish king, David I of Scotland. However, his time as king was short. He ruled from 1292 to 1296. He was removed from power, which led to a long war between Scotland and England.
Edward Balliol: Another Try for the Throne
Edward de Balliol (died 1364) was John II's oldest son. From 1332 to 1356, he tried to become King of Scotland. He had the support of England. He fought against David II of Scotland, who was the true king at the time. Edward was also removed from power, just like his father.
The End of the Direct Balliol Line
Edward Balliol died without any children. This meant the main line of the Balliol family ended with him. However, the Balliol family's bloodline continued through Edward's cousin, Christine de Lindsay. She was the granddaughter of John I. Her marriage led to the family line continuing through the lords of Coucy in France. Eventually, this line connected to the House of Bourbon, which ruled as kings of France and Spain.
See also
- List of British monarchs
- Scottish monarchs family tree
- Château de Bailleul, the family's old home in France
- Scott (surname)
