Now part of the UK, which country was ruled by King John Balliol?

John Balliol (c. 1249 – late 1314), known derisively as 'Toom Tabard' (meaning "empty coat"), was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland entered an interregnum during which several competitors for the Crown of Scotland put forward claims. Balliol was chosen from among them as the new King of Scotland by a group of selected noblemen headed by King Edward I of England.

From the very start of Balliol’s reign he was forced to swear homage and fealty to Edward I as his superior and overlord. Edward decided that the Scots should fight for him against the French. Balliol was in an impossible position. A group of twelve Scots magnates - four bishops, four earls and four barons - were put in charge of the government of Scotland.

The Scots made a treaty with the French in October 1295. They agreed to support each other if they were attacked by the English. This Franco-Scottish alliance became known as the ‘Auld Alliance’.

In retaliation, Edward invaded Scotland, starting the Wars of Scottish Independence. After a Scottish defeat in 1296, Balliol abdicated and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Eventually, Balliol was sent to his estates in France and retired into obscurity, taking no more part in politics. Scotland was then left without a monarch until the accession of Robert the Bruce in 1306.