William the Lion's attempt to appoint his own candidate to the bishopric of St Andrews -- the senior see in Scotland -- brought him into direct conflict with the papacy. Pope Alexander III insisted on the canonical election of John the Scot, despite William's preference. William's resistance led to papal threats of interdict. The crisis illustrated the recurring tension between royal control of church appointments and papal authority -- a version of the Investiture Contest that had tormented Henry I and Becket's murderer Henry II.
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