John Balliol dies in 1290

As it says on the tin, what would've happened if shortly after Margaret Maid of Norway dies, John Balliol, known to history as Toom Tabard, had died from say a fall from a horse. All this happens in 1290, when John's son Edward is just a bairn at six years old.


What happens? Is there still a great cause, is Balliol's son crowned king?
 
John "the Black" Comyn becomes champion of the Balliol cause and campaigns to have Edward become King.

The Comyn's - the most powerful noble family in Scotland- seem to have been content to have been the true power behind the throne instead of the ones sitting upon it. Even after John Balliol's deposition in OTL they continued to be the strongest supporters of the Balliol line and wanted them restored to the throne.

Likely Scotland gets a child king controlled by the Black Comyn.
 
Okay interesting. You don't think Robert Bruce the noble, would try and get people to his side?

Course he would, he wanted to be King, but his claim to the throne is not stronger than the Balliol's in terms of primogeniture - eldest living descendent of the eldest surviving line - just in proximity of blood, and Scotland's succession was decided by tradition through primogeniture since King Edgar in 1097 - a fact that had been accepted when Margaret Maid of Norway was designated Alexander III's heir - so he cant win the throne through a legal challenge.

His only hope is to take the throne through force of arms, but Scotland didn't want a war of succession which is why its Guardians and Nobles turned to Edward I of England to mediate, thus leading to the legal debate which the Bruce lost perfectly legitimately and justly to the Balliol's in OTL.

You could run with a scenario where war broke out and Edward I was not invited to mediate but any war is going to end up involving England and getting Edward's involvement because Scottish and English nobles intermarried and owned lands in both countries. It's not going to be pretty.
 
Would Edward Balliol be chosen as king straight away then? Or would there still be a great cause type situation?
 
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