Topic summary
First War of Scottish Independence
William Wallace
(Commander-in-chief until 1305)
Robert I
(Commander-in-chief from 1305)
John "Red" ComynX
Andrew Moray (DOW)
William the Hardy#
James Douglas
Thomas Randolph
Edward Bruce†
Simon Fraser
Angus Og MacDonald
Walter Stewart
(1296–1307)
Edward IIX
(1307–1327)
Edward III
(1327–1328)
John de Warenne#
Aymer de Valence#
John of Brittany
Raymond Caillau†
Earl of Louth
Edmund Butler#
Maurice FitzGerald
Antony Bek#
Roger Mortimer
The First War of Scottish Independence was the first of a series of different wars between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. It lasted from the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328. De facto independence was established in 1314 AD following an English defeat at the Battle of Bannockburn. The wars were caused by the attempts of the English kings to seize territory by claiming sovereignty over Scotland, while the Scots fought to keep both English rule and authority out of Scotland.
The First War of Scottish Independence should not be viewed in isolation from the Gascon War and Franco-Flemish War since Philip IV of France and Edward I of England sought allies in Scotland and Flanders as part of their initial conflict. John Balliol of Scotland allied himself with Philip IV of France in 1295 whilst Guy, Count of Flanders allied himself with Edward I of England.