Treaty of Canterbury

The Treaty of Canterbury, concluded in 1189, marked the end of the conditions imposed on Scotland by the earlier Treaty of Falaise. Following the accession of Richard the Lionheart to the English throne, the Scottish King William the Lion seized the opportunity to regain full sovereignty. Eager to raise funds for the Third Crusade, Richard agreed to annul the Treaty of Falaise in exchange for a payment of 10,000 marks from Scotland. The Treaty of Canterbury, formalizing this agreement, restored Scottish independence and saw the return of the Scottish castles that had been held by English garrisons. This accord reinstated the status quo between the two kingdoms, emphasizing the pragmatism of medieval monarchs when faced with financial and military necessities.