William the Lion

William I (the Lion) (1143–1214) King of Scotland (1165–1214), succeeding his brother Malcolm IV. He helped to establish the independence of the Church of Scotland (1188), formulated the first major alliance between his country and France (1168), and stimulated Scotland's urban development. Initially loyal to HENRY II of England, he was determined to recover the earldom of Northumberland and supported Henry's three sons in a disastrous civil war. This resulted in William's capture at Alnwick (1175), the acknowledgement of Henry as his feudal superior by the Treaty of Falaise, and, in 1189, the payment of 10,000 marks to RICHARD I to recover his independence.

William the Lion 1143-1214, king of Scotland (1165-1214), brother and successor of Malcolm IV. Determined to recover Northumbria (lost to England in 1157), he supported the rebellion (1173-74) of the sons of Henry II of England. The result was that he was captured by Henry, who forced him to sign the Treaty of Falaise (1174), making Scotland a feudal possession of England. Released in 1175, he immediately asked the pope to declare the Scottish church free of English domination. A quarrel with the pope delayed the decision, but, in 1188, Pope Clement III declared the church in Scotland subject only to Rome. In 1189, William was able to buy annulment of the Treaty of Falaise from Richard I of England for 10,000 marks. After the succession (1199) of King John in England, William once more demanded the restoration of Northumbria but was finally forced (1209) by show of arms to abandon the claim. William put down several revolts within Scotland and furthered somewhat the process of feudalization in the kingdom. His alliance (1168) with Louis VII of France began a long friendship between France and Scotland, later to be known as the Auld Alliance. He was succeeded by his son, Alexander II.