John Balliol

John Balliol , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the presumptive heir to Alexander III died, Balliol was chosen as the new King of Scotland by a group of auditors. Edward I of England constantly tried to undermine his reign and demanded that Balliol treat Scotland as a vassal state. As a result, the Scottish grew tired of him and appointed a council of twelve to rule instead. This council signed a treaty with France known as the Auld Alliance.

Little of Balliols early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham. He was the son of John, 5th Baron Balliol, Lord of Barnard Castle, and his wife Dervorguilla of Galloway, daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway and granddaughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon. From his mother he inherited significant lands in Galloway and claim to Lordship over the Gallovidians, as well as various English and Scottish estates of the Huntingdon inheritance from his father he inherited large estates in England and France, such as Hitchin, in Hertfordshire.

Source: Wikipedia