Coronation Chair, Westminster Cathedral
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Although described as 'the Hammer of the Scots', initially Edward played the role of arbiter between feuding claimants to the Scottish throne. Edward, who claimed to be 'Lord Superior of Scotland', supported John Balliol over Robert the Bruce, awarding him the crown. Scottish nobles united against Edward and there followed sixty years of protracted conflict, known as the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296-1357).

Edward secured victory in 1296 against the nobles, and took the highly symbolic 'stone of destiny' from Scone to Westminster abbey, where it became an integral part of the Coronation Chair pictured above. The Scone Stone can now be found in Edinburgh Castle.

The peace was short-lived, and Edward was soon fighting what has been described as a 'medieval Vietnam' in Scotland.

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