William the Lion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William I
Seal of William the Lion
King of Scotland
Reign	9 December 1165 – 4 December 1214
Coronation	24 December 1165
Predecessor	Malcolm IV
Successor	Alexander II
Born	c. 1142
Died	(1214-12-04)4 December 1214 (aged 72) Stirling, Scotland
Burial	Arbroath Abbey
Spouse	Ermengarde de Beaumont ​ (m. 1186)​
Issue	Margaret, Countess of Kent Isabella, Countess of Norfolk Alexander II of Scotland Marjorie, Countess of Pembroke
House	House of Dunkeld
Father	Henry of Scotland
Mother	Ada de Warenne

William the Lion, also known as William I, was King of Scots from 1165 to 1214. He was sometimes called "Garbh," meaning "the Rough." Born around 1142, he ruled for 48 years, which was the second longest reign in Scottish history.

Becoming King

William became king after his brother, Malcolm IV, passed away on December 9, 1165. He was crowned king on December 24, 1165.

William was a strong and determined leader with red hair. He was very different from his brother, Malcolm, who was often sick. William worked hard as king, but he faced challenges trying to get back control of Northumbria from the Normans.

William is also known for starting Arbroath Abbey. This abbey later became famous for the Declaration of Arbroath.

Why He Was Called "The Lion"

William was not called "The Lion" because of his bravery or fighting skills during his lifetime. This nickname came from his royal flag, which showed a red lion standing on its back legs with a forked tail on a yellow background. This symbol later became the Royal Banner of Scotland. The name "Lion of Justice" was given to him by a writer named John of Fordun.

William was the grandson of David I of Scotland. He also inherited the title of Earl of Northumbria in 1152 from his father, Henry of Scotland. However, he had to give this title to King Henry II of England in 1157. This caused problems later because William spent a lot of time trying to get Northumbria back.

Conflict with England

William played a big part in the Revolt of 1173–1174 against King Henry II of England. In 1174, during a battle at Alnwick, William bravely charged the English soldiers. He was knocked off his horse and captured by Henry's troops.

William was taken as a prisoner to places like Newcastle and Falaise in Normandy. To get his kingdom back, William had to agree that Henry was his boss. He also had to pay for the English army to stay in Scotland by taxing his people. The Scottish church also had to follow the English church. He signed a document called the Treaty of Falaise to agree to these terms. After this, he was allowed to return to Scotland. In 1175, he promised his loyalty to Henry II at York Castle.

Challenges and Achievements

The Treaty of Falaise caused a rebellion in Galloway that lasted until 1186. This led to the building of a castle at Dumfries. In 1179, William and his brother David led an army north into Easter Ross. They built two more castles to stop the Norse Earls of Orkney from expanding their territory.

Another uprising happened in 1181 with Donald Meic Uilleim. Donald took over Ross for a short time. William was only able to get back Donald's stronghold of Inverness after Donald died in 1187. More royal trips were needed in 1197 and 1202 to fully stop the threat from Orkney.

The Treaty of Falaise lasted for 15 years. Then, King Richard the Lionheart of England needed money for the Third Crusade. So, he agreed to end the treaty in exchange for 10,000 silver marks on December 5, 1189.

William tried to buy Northumbria from Richard in 1194 because he believed it was his. He offered 15,000 marks, but Richard refused because William also wanted the castles in those lands.

Even though Scotland became more independent, relations with England were still difficult in the early 1200s. In 1209, King John of England marched a large army to Norham to show his power. William, who was getting older and weaker, agreed to let his older daughters marry English nobles. In 1212, John also arranged for William's only son and heir, Alexander, to marry his eldest daughter, Joan.

Despite these challenges, William's reign had many successes. He worked hard to govern Scotland, following the plans of his grandfather, David I. He helped expand English and French settlements and the feudal system. New towns were started, criminal laws were made clearer, and the jobs of judges and sheriffs were expanded. Trade also grew. He founded Arbroath Abbey in 1178. The bishopric of Argyll was also created around 1192, the same year the Pope confirmed the Scottish church.

William passed away in Stirling in 1214 and was buried in Arbroath Abbey. His son, Alexander II, became the next king.

Family Life

Because of the Treaty of Falaise, King Henry II of England had the right to choose William's wife. So, William married Ermengarde de Beaumont in 1186 at Woodstock Palace. She was a great-granddaughter of King Henry I of England. Edinburgh Castle was given to her as part of the marriage agreement.

Their marriage was not very successful, and it took many years for them to have a child who could become king. William and Ermengarde's children were:

• Margaret (1193–1259), who married Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent.
• Isabel (1195–1253), who married Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk.
• Alexander II of Scotland (1198–1249).
• Marjorie (1200 – 17 November 1244), who married Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke.

William also had several children outside of his marriage. Their descendants later tried to claim the Scottish crown.

William in Fiction

William I has appeared in a historical fantasy novel:

• An Earthly Knight (2003) by Janet McNaughton. This book is set in 1162. It tells the story of William, who is the younger brother of Malcolm IV of Scotland. He is set to marry Lady Jeanette "Jenny" Avenel. She is the daughter of a Norman nobleman, and this marriage helps her family's standing. However, she is also interested in Tam Lin, a man who is under a spell from the Fairy Queen.

See also

In Spanish: Guillermo I de Escocia para niños