After The death of Alexander III, a dispute took place as to the succession to his throne, the matter was referred to Edward I of England.
The latter agreed to arbitrate, and decided in favour of John Baliol, one of the claimants.

But Edward also put forward a claim of supremacy over Scotland,which is based upon acts of homage paid by previous Scottish Kings to Kings of England, which were, however, paid in respect only of English lands owned by the Scottish Kings.

Baliol and the Scottish Norman nobility weakly submitted, but the Scottish people rose under William Wallace, and for eight years fought until Wallace was captured and executed (1305).

Next year, however, Robert Bruce, another claimant, was crowned King in opposition to the claims of Edward, and after a desperate struggle, in which he was aided by Irish from the north, he secured the independence of Scotland at the victory of Bannock Burn (1314).