John I de Balliol facts for kids
John de Balliol was an important English nobleman who lived a long time ago, from before 1208 until 1268. He was part of the Balliol family. You might know his name because Balliol College, a famous part of Oxford, is named after him!
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John de Balliol's Early Life
John de Balliol was born before the year 1208. His parents were Hugh de Balliol and Cecily de Fontaines. It's thought that he went to school at Durham School in Durham.
In 1223, John de Balliol married Dervorguilla of Galloway. She was the daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway and Margaret of Huntingdon. By the middle of the 1200s, Dervorguilla became very rich because of money she inherited from her family.
John de Balliol's Public Role
Because of his wife's wealth, John de Balliol became a very important public figure. King Henry III asked him to help look after the young Scottish king, Alexander III. John de Balliol was also one of King Henry III's main advisors between 1258 and 1265. He even served as the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire from 1261 to 1262.
During a big battle called the Battle of Lewes in 1264, John de Balliol was captured. But he managed to escape and rejoined King Henry.
Founding Balliol College
John de Balliol had a disagreement with the Bishop of Durham. To make things right, he agreed to give money to help students who were studying at Oxford University. He started supporting a group of students around 1263. After John de Balliol passed away, his wife Dervorguilla continued to give money. Her gifts led to the official creation of Balliol College.
John de Balliol's Family
John de Balliol and Dervorguilla had several children:
- Sir Hugh de Balliol, who passed away without children before 1271.
- Alan de Balliol, who also passed away without children before 1271.
- Sir Alexander de Balliol, who passed away without children before 1278.
- King John I of Scotland, who became the King of Scotland in 1292.
- Ada de Balliol, who married William Lindsay. Her daughter, Christian de Lindsay, is an ancestor of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- William de Balliol le Scot.
- Margaret de Balliol.
- Cecily de Balliol, who had three daughters: Devorguille, Hawise, and Margery.
- Mary (or Eleanor) de Balliol, who married John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch. They had a son named John 'The Red' Comyn.
- Maud (or Matilda) de Balliol, who married Bryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlan. Their daughter, Agnes FitzAlan, married Sir Gilbert Stapleton.
