Tensions between England and Scotland reached great heights in the 1200s and 1300s particularly during the reign of the English King, Edward I. Edward came to be known as the Hammer of the Scots. After his successful subjugation of Wales, this king hoped to add Scotland to his kingdom. In 1291 a crisis had arisen in Scotland when it became clear there was no obvious successor to the Scottish throne. There was a fear of civil war north of the Border and King Edward persuaded the Scots to allow him to act as arbitrator in the selection of the Scottish monarch.

A meeting was held at Berwick and twelve Scottish claimants attended including Robert Bruce and John Baliol. Baliol was descended from a family of Norman origin and was the son of Hugh Baliol of Barnard Castle in Teesdale. King Edward eventually chose John Baliol as the Scottish king under the condition that John swore allegiance to Edward and recognised Edward as his superior.

In a meeting at Newcastle upon Tyne, Baliol swore fealty to Edward but as time passed the Scots came to resent the English interference. Baliol had no choice but to renounce his allegiance to Edward.

Around 1296 Baliol and his army of Scots invaded Northumberland but were seen off. They were pursued into Scotland and eventually defeated at Dunbar. The victorious King Edward carried off the Scottish coronation stone from Scone in Perthshire. Anthony Bek, the Bishop of Durham seized Baliol's estates in Teesdale. Baliol himself was taken prisoner though he was eventually allowed to seek refuge in France.

Though keeping Baliol alive helped to sustain Edward's influence in Scotland, a Scot of noble birth called William Wallace (Braveheart), took up the Scottish cause against English domination. Wallace was never a Scottish king, but acted as guardian of the nation during Baliol's captivity. Wallace launched attacks on Northumberland, burning Hexham, Corbridge and Ryton in the Tyne valley but was driven back from Newcastle.

In response King Edward moved his English government to York as a convenient base for military campaigns in Scotland and defeated Wallace at Falkirk. Anthony Bek, the Prince Bishop of Durham fought alongside Edward's forces during the battle. Wallace himself was not actually captured until 1305 near Glasgow and later that year was taken to London and executed.