Relations with Scotland: The Great Cause

Edward I's involvement in Scotland began with a diplomatic and legal intervention but escalated into a full-scale war of conquest that would consume the last decade of his reign. This lesson examines the origins of the Scottish crisis, the Great Cause, and Edward's claim to overlordship.

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Scotland Before the Crisis

In the late 13th century, Scotland was an independent kingdom with its own king, laws, and institutions. Relations between England and Scotland had been generally peaceful for much of the century.

Feature	Detail
King	Alexander III (reigned 1249–1286)
Government	Independent monarchy with its own parliament, laws, and Church
Economy	Based on agriculture, fishing, and trade; wool exports were significant
Relations with England	Generally peaceful; Alexander III was married to Edward I's sister, Margaret
Border	The border between England and Scotland was broadly established along its modern line