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Edward Balliol line engraving mid 18th century (C) National Portrait Gallery
The death of King Robert I weakened Scotland considerably, since his son and successor David II was still a child and the two most able lieutenants, the Black Douglas and Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, both died shortly afterwards. Taking advantage of this, Edward Balliol, backed by Edward III of England, defeated the Regent, the Earl of Mar, at the Battle of Dupplin Moor in Perthshire. He was crowned at Scone in September 1332, but three months later he was forced to flee following a surprise attack by nobles loyal to David II at the Battle of Annan..
In 1324, Edward II decided to bring him back as a rival to Robert I. In return for the English king´s support, Balliol ceded to him a large part of southern Scotland.
During the minority of David II, Balliol invaded Scotland with English assistance, routed the Scots at the Battle of Dupplin in Perthshire on 12 August 1332, and was made King of Scots at Scone on 24 September. He was crowned at Scone in September 1332, but three months later he was forced to flee back to England, following a surprise attack by nobles loyal to David II at the Battle of Annan.He was restored by the English in 1333, following the Battle of Halidon Hill. Balliol then ceded the whole of the district formerly known as Lothian to Edward and paid homage to him as liege lord. He was deposed in 1336 by those loyal to David II. All realistic hopes of Edward´s restoration were lost when David II returned from France in June 1341.
He returned to Scotland after the defeat of David II at Battle of Neville´s Cross in 1346, raising an insurrection in Galloway. However, he gained no permanent footing.
He finally resigned his claim to the Scottish throne on 20 January 1356, Balliol surrendered his claim to the Scottish throne to Edward III in exchange for an English pension. He spent the rest of his life living in relative obscurity. He died in 1367, at Wheatley, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.
Webster, B., Scotland without a King, 1329–1341, in Medieval Scotland, Crown, Lordship and Community, ed A. Grant and K. J. Stringer, 1993.,
Skene, William F. (ed.) (1872). John of Fordun´s Chronicle of the Scottish Nation. trans. Felix J. H. Skene. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas.