Treaty of Durham (1139) facts for kids

The second Treaty of Durham was a special agreement made between two kings: King Stephen of England and King David I of Scotland. They signed this peace treaty on April 9, 1139. It helped to stop fighting between their kingdoms.

Why the Treaty Was Needed

Before this treaty, there had been a big battle. On August 22, 1138, the Scottish army, led by King David I, was defeated. This battle is known as the Battle of the Standard.

But in the spring of 1139, King Stephen of England faced a new challenge. Empress Matilda, who believed she should be the Queen of England, arrived in the country. She wanted to take back the crown that Stephen had claimed after her father, King Henry I, died.

The Anarchy Begins

Empress Matilda's arrival started a long and difficult civil war in England. This period is often called The Anarchy. King Stephen did not want to fight against many different enemies at the same time. He was already busy dealing with Empress Matilda. Because of this, he decided to make peace with the Scottish king, David I. He had to give in to some of David's demands.

What the Treaty Decided

The Treaty of Durham had important results for both sides.

Land for Henry of Scotland

King David's son, Prince Henry, was given a large area of land in England. This land was called the earldom of Northumberland. It included several important places:

• Carlisle
• Cumberland
• Westmorland
• Most of Lancashire, north of the River Ribble

However, two castles were not included in this gift: Bamburgh and Newcastle. These castles remained under English control.

Scotland's Independence

Another very important part of the treaty was that King Stephen officially recognized that Scotland was an independent country. This meant Scotland was free to govern itself and was not under England's rule.

Thanks to this treaty, King David I, through his son Henry, now controlled a large part of northern England. This territory stretched all the way down to the River Tees. The treaty helped bring a temporary peace during a very chaotic time in England.

See also

• England and King David I
• Treaty of Durham (1136)