Balliol or Baliol, John de, also known as Toom Tabard c.1250-1315
King of Scotland

The son of the founder of Balliol College, Oxford, he succeeded to his mother's estates and her right to the lordship of Galloway, as well as to his father's vast possessions in England and Normandy. On the death of Margaret, the Maid of Norway (1290), he became a claimant to the Crown of Scotland. His claim was pronounced superior to that of Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, by Edward I of England. Balliol swore allegiance to Edward before and after his investiture at Scone (1292) and was forced to repudiate the Treaty of Bingham (1290), which guaranteed Scottish liberties. By 1295 a council of 12 magnates had taken control of government out of Balliol's hands and concluded an alliance with France, then at war with England. Edward invaded Scotland, took Balliol prisoner, stripped him of his royal insignia (hence the name Toom Tabard or Empty Jacket) and forced him to surrender his crown (1296). Imprisoned for three years, first at Hertford and then in the Tower of London, he was eventually allowed to retire to his estates in France (1302), where he died.