John de Balliol

John Balliol
King John, his crown and sceptre symbolically broken and with an empty coat of arms as depicted in the 1562 Forman Armorial, produced for Mary, Queen of Scots
King of Scots
Reign	17 November 1292 – 10 July 1296
Coronation	30 November 1292
Predecessor	Margaret
Successor	Robert I (as King of Scots) William Wallace (as Guardian of Scotland)
Born	c. 1249
Died	25 November 1314 Château de Hélicourt, Picardy, France
Burial	prob. Hélicourt
Spouse	Isabella de Warenne
Issue	Edward Balliol
House	House of Balliol
Father	John I de Balliol
Mother	Dervorguilla of Galloway

John Balliol (c. 1249 – 25 November 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. Edward used his influence over the process to subjugate Scotland and undermined Balliol's personal reign by treating Scotland as a vassal of England. Edward's influence in Scottish affairs tainted Balliol's reign and the Scottish nobility deposed him and appointed a council of twelve to rule instead. This council signed a treaty with France 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 France, and retired into obscurity, taking no more place in politics. Scotland was then left without a monarch until Robert the Bruce ascended in 1306. John Balliol's son Edward Balliol would later exert a claim to the Scottish throne against the Bruce claim during the minority of Robert's son David.

In Norman French his name was Johan de Bailliol, in Middle Scots it was Jhon Ballioun, and in Scottish Gaelic, Iain Bailiol. In Scots he was known by the nickname Toom Tabard, usually understood to mean "empty coat", with the word coat referring to coat of arms.