Upon the death of Margret Maid of Norway. 6 guardians were elected to run the country as she was only 4 at the time and not to mention a woman.

The treaty of Shewsbury made between Edward the 1st and a group of Scottish nobles including Robert de Brus Lord of Annandale (grandfather of Robert the 1st also know as "the competitor")

This was a prequel to the treaty of Brigham which finalised the Marriage contract between Edward (son of Edward the 1st) but was very specific that Scotland would be a separate kingdom from England, clauses included that;

"elections of Scottish churchmen were to remain free from English interference, especially from the archdiocese of York." (look up "Romes special daughter status for more info)

and

"there would be no taxation of Scots unless it was for the needs of Scotland" - this was to avoid paying for England's expensive wars in France

Tragedy struck

Margret the maid of Norway was died enroute to Scotland

Without her the treaty was void, civil war in Scotland became likely

The bishop of st Andrews (a guardian) wrote to edward asked for him to arbitrate the scottish sucession as no one in Scotland could be trusted

Edward then made all the claimaints swear fealty to him. He picked John Balliol, who had the closest blood claim to the throne, Robert de Brus the competitor also made a claim stating that he was one generation closer to King David than balliol but his legal case was thrown out.

Edward was balliols overlord and make things difficult for him by humiliating him in the English court. When edward summoned balliol to campaign with him in frace it was the last straw.

The scotish nobles signed an alliance with France and invaded northern England

Edward quickly lead a force north, sacking berwick in a bloody 3day ordeal before defeating a poorly lead scottish army at Dunbar.

Balliol was stripped of his titles and taken to the tower of London as a prisoner.

"The bishop of Glasgow, whose name was Robert Wishart, ever foremost in treason conspired with the steward of the realm named James, for a new piece of insolence... Not daring to break there pledge of faith to the king [Edward], they caused a bloody man named William Wallace, who had formally been a chief of brigands in Scotland to revolt against the king and assemble the people in his support"

His rebellion was in the name of King John and after the battle of stirling bridge he ran a government acting for King John in his absence.

In short he fought for Scotland to be free from English rule and especially for the Scottish church whitch had Scotland been suppressed like wales woudl of become a mere extention of the archdiocese of York and lost all power.

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