Despite the dominance of England in Scottish affairs, William also sought alliances elsewhere. He married Ermengarde de Beaumont, daughter of a powerful Norman noble family in France, in an effort to strengthen his position.

He also sought to maintain friendly ties with other European powers, including Norway, whose kings held sway over the Hebrides and Orkney Islands off the Scottish coast.

Yet, these alliances were often secondary to the larger struggle with England, and they did little to offset William’s weakened position.

Later Years and Legacy

William the Lion’s reign lasted almost half a century, a remarkable length for any medieval monarch. Despite this, his legacy is one of missed opportunities and weakened sovereignty.

Although he eventually managed to free Scotland from direct English overlordship with the annulment of the Treaty of Falaise, Scotland remained vulnerable to English influence.

William died in 1214 and was succeeded by his son Alexander II, who faced many of the same challenges but gradually worked toward greater Scottish independence.

Historians generally view William as a transitional figure — a king who inherited a kingdom under pressure and struggled to maintain its autonomy but lacked the military prowess and political skill to restore Scotland’s full power shutdown123