Outline of the Wars of Scottish Independence Facts for Kids

The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of big fights between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England. These wars lasted from 1296 to 1357. Scotland was fighting to stay an independent country, free from England's rule.

Why the Wars Started

The Wars of Scottish Independence began because of some important events.

In 1286, Alexander III of Scotland, the Scottish King, died.
Four years later, in 1290, his granddaughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway, also died. She was supposed to be the next queen.
This left Scotland without a clear ruler. Many people, called the Competitors for the Crown of Scotland, claimed they should be king.
They asked Edward I of England, the King of England, to help choose the new Scottish king. This gave Edward I a lot of power in Scotland.

Many groups and countries were involved in these wars:

The Wars of Scottish Independence were split into two main parts:

The First War of Scottish Independence happened from 1296 to 1328.
- This started with an English invasion in 1296.
- There was also a Scottish campaign in Ireland from 1315 to 1318.
The Second War of Scottish Independence took place from 1332 to 1357.

Several agreements were made during these wars:

The Ragman Rolls were papers signed in 1291, 1292, and 1296. Scottish nobles promised to be loyal to Edward I of England.
The Auld Alliance was an agreement made in 1295. Scotland and France promised to help each other against England.
The Declaration of Arbroath was a famous letter sent to Pope John XXII in 1320. It strongly stated that Scotland was an independent nation.
The Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328 officially ended the First War of Scottish Independence.
The Treaty of Berwick (1357) in 1357 officially ended the Second War of Scottish Independence.

Some important people from the First Scottish War of Independence.

A Guardian was someone who ruled Scotland when the king was not able to, perhaps because he was too young or absent.

After King Alexander III died and before a new king was chosen, several people served as Guardian of Scotland:

When David II of Scotland was a child, these people were Guardians:

Edward Balliol was a claimant to the Scottish throne. He claimed to rule Scotland from 1332 to 1356.