Zooming into autumn and winter 2021.

Classes will run on a Monday afternoon at 3.00pm (London time) for 1 ½ hours. Please be in the waiting room at least five minutes before the class starts so that you are ready to be admitted into the virtual class room.

If you would like to join the class for the seven week block, the cost is £30.00. Choose the £30.00 option to pay via Paypal. If you prefer to join fewer sessions continue to scroll down to the next PayPal button where you can choose to pay for the sessions that you would like to attend. The button is an automatic link to pay me via my Paypal account.

Scottish Wars of Independence

Monday 4th October until Monday 22nd November (7 weeks plus half term)

On 22 February 1371, Robert II became the first Stuart king of Scotland.  His mother, Marjorie, was the daughter of Robert the Bruce.  His father, Walter, was the hereditary steward of Scotland – hence the name.  The Stuarts (or Stewarts) ruled Scotland until 1603, when James VI also became King James I of England, and (with a gap for the Commonwealth Period 1649-1660) both kingdoms until the death of Queen Anne in 1714.

Week I: Monday 4th October 2021

Identifying a point when the Anglo-Scottish wars first began is difficult and this course will not be taking us back to the Romans or the early medieval period. Our story will start with the eleventh century and the rule of Cnut in England and Malcolm II in Scotland. We will look at the kingdom of Northumbria and the story of raid and counter raid between northern rivals.

Week 2: Monday 11 October 2021

This week we will look at the Norman impact on the relationship between England and Scotland. Only in 1092 did the border between England and Scotland become more recognisable as it might look today – although it didn’t stay that way for long. The Anarchy resulted in the border shifting south.

Week 3: Monday 18th October 2021

The Angevins reabsorbed Cumbria and Northumberland back into their kingdom but conflict arose across the next two centuries because Henry II went back on his word. Meet William the Lion, encounter Richard the Lionheart selling English overlordship to fund his Crusade and conspire against King John. We’ll conclude the session with a couple of royal weddings.

HALF TERM: Monday 25th October

Week 4: Monday 4th November 2021

The First Scottish War of Independence: it’s background, claimants to the Scottish Crown including Balliol and Bruce, Franco-Scottish alliance and the initial phase of Edward I’s campaign as well as the Scottish response from William Wallace to the Red Comyn. (1296-1306)

Week 5: Monday 8th November 2021

Robert the Bruce and Edward II (1306-1328). Scottish civil war, Robert Bruce reclaims Scotland, carrying war into England and the recognition of Scottish independence.

Week 6: Monday 15th November 2021

The Second Scottish War of Independence (1332-1357) King David II was only five years old when he became king. King Edward III supported Edward Balliol and civil war broke out in 1332. It wasn’t long before the English took the opportunity to move in! The wars never formally ended after 1341 there was stalemate.

Week 7: Monday 22 November 2021

Border laws, border raids and jockeying for position in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.