William the Lion, King of Scots

William the Lion
Seal of William the Lion
King of the Scots
Reign	9 December 1165 – 4 December 1214
Coronation	24 December 1165
Predecessor	Malcolm IV
Successor	Alexander II
Born	About 1143
Died	4 December 1214(1214-12-04) (aged 71) Stirling
Burial	Arbroath Abbey
Spouse	Ermengarde de Beaumont
Issue	Margaret, Countess of Kent Isabella, Countess of Norfolk Alexander II of Scotland Marjorie
House	House of Dunkeld
Father	Henry of Scotland
Mother	Ada de Warenne

William the Lion (Mediaeval Gaelic: Uilliam mac Eanric (i.e. William, son of Henry); Modern Gaelic: Uilleam mac Eanraig), sometimes styled William I, also known by the nickname Garbh, "the Rough", (c. 1143 – 4 December 1214) reigned as King of the Scots from 1165 to 1214. He had the second-longest reign in Scottish history before the Act of Union with England in 1707. James VI (reigned 1567–1625) would have the longest.

He became king following his brother Malcolm IV's death on 9 December 1165 and was crowned on 24 December 1165.

In contrast to his deeply religious, frail brother, William was powerfully built, redheaded, and headstrong. He was an effective monarch whose reign was marred by his ill-fated attempts to regain control of Northumbria from the Normans.

Traditionally, William is credited with founding Arbroath Abbey, the site of the later Declaration of Arbroath.

He was not known as "The Lion" during his own lifetime, and the title did not relate to his tenacious character or his military prowess. It was attached to him because of his flag or standard, a red lion rampant with a forked tail (queue fourchée) on a yellow background. This (with the substitution of a 'double tressure fleury counter-fleury' border instead of an orle) went on to become the Royal Banner of Scotland, still used today but quartered with those of England and of Ireland. It became attached to him because the chronicler John of Fordun called him the "Lion of Justice".