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Robert II of Scotland

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Robert II
Great Seal of Robert II
King of Scots
Reign22 February 1371 –
19 April 1390[1]
Coronation26 March 1371
PredecessorDavid II
SuccessorRobert III
Regents
See list
Born2 March 1316
Paisley Abbey,Renfrewshire,Scotland
Died19 April 1390 (aged 74)
Dundonald Castle,Ayrshire,Scotland
Burial
Scone Abbey
Spouses
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​
(m.1336; died 1355)​
​
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(m.1355; died 1386)​
Issue
more...
HouseStewart
FatherWalter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland
MotherMarjorie Bruce

Robert II(2 March 1316 – 19 April 1390) wasKing of Scotsfrom 1371 to his death in 1390. The son ofWalter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland,andMarjorie,daughter of KingRobert the Bruce,he was the first monarch of theHouse of Stewart.Upon the death of his uncleDavid II,Robert succeeded to the throne.

Edward Bruce,younger brother of Robert the Bruce, was namedheir presumptivebut Edward had no children when he was killed in theBattle of Faugharton 14 October 1318. Marjorie Bruce had died probably in 1317 in a riding accident andParliamentdecreed her infant son, Robert Stewart, as heir presumptive, but this lapsed on 5 March 1324 on the birth of a son, David, to King Robert and his second wife,Elizabeth de Burgh.Robert Stewart becameHigh Steward of Scotlandon his father's death on 9 April 1327, and in the same year Parliament confirmed the young Steward as heir should David die childless. In 1329 King Robert I died and his five-year-old son succeeded to the throne as David II under the guardianship ofThomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray.

Edward Balliol,son of KingJohn Balliol— assisted by the English and those Scottish nobles who Robert I had disinherited — invaded Scotland inflicting heavy defeats on the Bruce party on 11 August 1332 atDupplin MoorandHalidon Hillon 19 July 1333. Robert, who had fought at Halidon, joined his uncle David in refuge inDumbarton Castle.David escaped to France in 1334 and Parliament, still functioning, appointed Robert andJohn Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray,as jointguardians of the kingdom.The English captured Randolph in July 1335 and in the same year, Robert submitted to Balliol bringing about the removal of his guardianship. His former position was reinstated in 1338 until David returned from France in June 1341. Hostilities continued and Robert was with David at theNeville's Crosson 17 October 1346 and either escaped or fled the field. David, however, was captured and remained a prisoner until he was ransomed in October 1357.

Robert marriedElizabeth Murearound 1348, legitimising their four sons and five daughters. His subsequent marriage toEuphemia de Rossin 1355 produced two sons and two surviving daughters. Robert rebelled against King David in 1363 but submitted to him following a threat to his right of succession. David died in 1371 and Robert succeeded him at the age of fifty-five. The border magnates continued to attack English-held zones in southern Scotland and by 1384, the Scots had re-taken most of the occupied lands. Robert ensured that Scotland was included in the Anglo-French truce of 1384 and that was a factor in the coup in November when he lost control of the country first to his eldest son,John,and then from 1388 to John's younger brother,Robert.Robert II died inDundonald Castlein 1390 and was buried atScone Abbey.

Heir presumptive[edit]

Robert Stewart, born in 1316, was the only child of KingRobert I's daughterMarjorie Bruce,who died either in childbirth or shortly afterwards, andWalter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland.[2]Robert had the upbringing of aGaelicnoble on the Stewart lands inBute,Clydeside,and inRenfrew.[2]In 1315, parliament revoked Marjorie Bruce's right as heir to her father in favour of her uncle, Edward Bruce.[3]Edward was killed at theBattle of Faughart,nearDundalkon 14 October 1318,[4]resulting in a hastily arranged Parliament in December to enact a newtailzienaming Marjorie's son, Robert, as heir should the king die without a successor.[5]The birth of a son, afterwardsDavid II,to King Robert on 5 March 1324 cancelled Robert Stewart's position as heir presumptive, but a Parliament atCambuskennethin July 1326 restored him in the line of succession should David die without an heir.[3]This reinstatement of his status was accompanied by the gift of lands inArgyll,Roxburghshire,and theLothians.[6]

High Steward of Scotland[edit]

Renewed war for independence[edit]

Main article:Second War of Scottish Independence
Dumbarton Castleon Dumbarton Rock where Robert Stewart and King David took refuge in 1333

The first war of independence began in the reign of KingJohn Balliol.[7]His short reign was bedevilled byEdward I's insistence on his overlordship of Scotland. The Scottish leadership concluded that only war could release the country from the English king's continued weakening of Balliol's sovereignty and so finalised a treaty of reciprocal assistance with France in October 1295.[8]The Scots forayed into England in March 1296 — this incursion together with the French treaty angered the English king and provoked an invasion of Scotland takingBerwickon 30 March before defeating the Scots army atDunbaron 27 April.[9]John Balliol submitted to Edward and resigned the throne to him before being sent to London as a prisoner. Despite this, resistance to the English led byWilliam WallaceandAndrew Morayhad emerged in the name of King John Balliol.[9]On their deaths,Robert the Brucecontinued to resist the English and eventually succeeded in defeating the forces ofEdward II of Englandand gained the Scottish throne for himself.[8]

David Bruce, aged five, became king on 7 June 1329 after the death of his father Robert. Walter the Steward had died earlier on 9 April 1327,[10]and the orphaned eleven-year-old Robert was placed under the guardianship of his uncle, Sir James Stewart of Durrisdeer,[3]who along withThomas Randolph,Earl of Moray, and William Lindsey,Archdeacon of St Andrewswere appointed as joint guardians of the kingdom.[11]David's accession kindled the second independence war which threatened Robert's position as heir.[12]In 1332Edward Balliol,son of the deposed John Balliol, spearheaded an attack on the Bruce sovereignty with the tacit support of KingEdward III of Englandand the explicit endorsement of "the disinherited".[13]Edward Balliol's forces delivered heavy defeats on the Bruce supporters atDupplin Mooron 11 August 1332 and again atHalidon Hillon 19 July 1333, at which the 17-year-old Robert participated.[11]Robert's estates were overrun by Balliol, who granted them toDavid Strathbogie, titular earl of Atholl,but Robert evaded capture and gained protection atDumbarton Castlewhere King David was also taking refuge.[12]Very few other strongholds remained in Scottish hands in the winter of 1333 — only the castles ofKildrummy(held byChristina Bruce,elder sister of Robert I and wife ofAndrew Murray of Bothwell),Loch Leven,Loch Doon,andUrquhartheld out against Balliol forces.[14]

Dairsie Castlewhere the 1335 Parliament was held

In May 1334, the situation looked dire for the house of Bruce and David II gained safety in France.[12]Robert set about winning back his lands in the west of Scotland.[11]Strathbogie came over to the Bruce interest after disagreements with his fellow "disinherited" but his fierce opposition to Randolph came to a head at a Parliament held atDairsie Castlein early 1335 when Strathbogie received the support of Robert.[15]Strathbogie once again changed sides submitting to the English king in August and was made Warden of Scotland. Robert likely submitted to Edward in September 1335 relinquishing the guardianship by early December.[16]

The Bruce resistance to Balliol may have been verging on collapse in 1335 but a turn-round in its fortunes began with the appearance of Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell as a potent war leader at theBattle of Culblean.[17]Moray had been captured in 1332, ransomed himself in 1334, and immediately sped north to lay siege toDundarg Castlein Buchan held by SirHenry de Beaumont,with the castle falling on 23 December 1334.[18]Moray was appointed guardian atDunfermlineduring the winter of 1335–1336 while besiegingCupar Castlein Fife. He died at his castle inAvochin 1338 and Robert resumed the guardianship.[19]Murray's campaign put an end to any chance of Edward III having full lasting control over the south of Scotland and Edward's failure in the six-month siege ofDunbar Castleconfirmed this.[20]Balliol lost many of his major supporters to the Bruce side and the main English garrisons began to fall to the Scots — Cupar in the spring or summer of 1339,Perthtaken by the combined armies of SirWilliam Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale,Robert Stewart and Maurice Murray of Drumsargard in June 1339.[21]Edinburghwas taken by stratagem by William Douglas of Liddesdale in April 1341.[22]

John Randolph was released from English custody in a prisoner exchange in 1341 and visited David II inNormandybefore returning to Scotland. Just as Randolph was a favourite of the king, David II mistrusted Robert Stewart with his powerful positions of heir presumptive and guardian of Scotland.[23]At the beginning of June 1341, the kingdom appeared sufficiently stable to allow the king to return to a land where his nobles while fighting for the Bruce cause, had considerably increased their own power bases.[24]On 17 October 1346, Robert accompanied David into battle atNeville's Cross,where many Scottish nobles including Randolph, died — David II was wounded and captured while Robert and Patrick,earl of Marchhad apparently fled the field.[11]

King David's captivity[edit]

Petitions to the Pope, 1342–1419[25]

The kings of France and Scotland, bishops William of St. Andrews, William of Glasgow, William of Aberdeen, Richard of Dunkeld, Martin of Argyle, Adam of Brechin, and Maurice of Dunblane. Signification that although Elizabeth Mor and Isabella Boutellier, noble damsels of the diocese of Glasgow, are related in the third and fourth degrees of kindred, Robert Steward of Scotland, lord of Stragrifis, in the diocese of Glasgow, the king's nephew, carnally knew first Isabella, and afterwards, in ignorance of their kindred, Elizabeth, who was herself related to Robert in the fourth degree of kindred, living with her for some time and having many children of both sexes by her; the above king and bishops, therefore, pray the pope that for the sake of the said offspring, who are fair to behold (aspectibus gratiose), to grant a dispensation to Robert and Elizabeth to intermarry, and to declare their offspring legitimate.

To be granted by the diocesan, at whose discretion one or more chapelries are to be founded by Robert.

Avignon, 10 Kal. Dec. 1347

With the king now imprisoned in England and Randolph dead, the guardianship once again fell to Robert.[26]In 1347 he took the important step of ensuring thelegitimationof his four sons, John,Earl of Carrick(the future KingRobert III),Walter, Lord of Fife(d. 1362),Robert(the futureDuke of Albany) andAlexander,Lord of Badenoch(and futureEarl of Buchan), and six daughters by petitioningPope Clement VIto allow acanon lawmarriage to Elizabeth Mure.[27]

Even though an English prisoner, David retained influence in Scotland and Robert had his guardianship removed by parliament and given jointly to the earls ofMarandRossand thelord of Douglas— this did not last and Robert was once again appointed guardian by the Parliament of February 1352.[28]The paroled David attended this Parliament to present to Robert and the members of theThree Estatesthe conditions for his release. These contained no ransom demand but required the Scots to name the English princeJohn of Gauntas heir presumptive. The Council rejected these terms, with Robert opposing a proposal that threatened his right of succession.[29]The king had no option but to return to captivity — the English chroniclerHenry Knightonwrote of the event:[30]

... the Scots refused to have their King unless he entirely renounced the influence of the English, and similarly refused to submit themselves to them. And they warned him that they would neither ransom him nor allow him to be ransomed unless he pardoned them for all their acts and injuries that they had done, and all the offences that they had committed during the time of captivity, and he should give them security for that, or otherwise, they threatened to choose another king to rule them.

By 1354 ongoing negotiations for the king's release reached the stage where a proposal of a straight ransom payment of 90,000 marks to be repaid over nine years, guaranteed by the provision of 20 high-ranking hostages, was agreed upon — this understanding was destroyed by Robert when he bound the Scots to a French action against the English in 1355.[31]The capture ofBerwicktogether with the presence of the French on English soil jolted Edward III into moving against the Scots — in January 1356 Edward led his forces into the south-east of Scotland and burnedEdinburghandHaddingtonand much of theLothiansin a campaign that became known as the "Burnt Candlemas".[32]After Edward's victory over France in September, the Scots resumed negotiations for David's release ending in October 1357 with theTreaty of Berwick.Its terms were that in turn for David's freedom, a ransom of 100,000 marks would be paid in annual instalments over ten years — only the first two payments were completed initially and nothing further until 1366.[33]This failure to honour the conditions of the Berwick treaty allowed Edward to continue to press for aPlantagenetsuccessor to David — terms that were rejected by the Scottish Council and probably by Robert himself.[34]This may have been the cause of a brief rebellion in 1363 by Robert and the earls ofDouglasandMarch.[35]Later French inducements could not bring David to their aid and the country remained at peace with England during his reign.[36]

King of Scots[edit]

Consolidation of Stewart power and personal rule[edit]

David died childless on 22 February 1371 and was succeeded by Robert II.[37]David was buried atHolyrood Abbeyalmost immediately but an armed protest by William,Earl of Douglasdelayed Robert II's coronation until 26 March 1371.[38]The reasons for the incident remain unclear but may have involved a dispute regarding Robert's right of succession,[39]or may have been directed againstGeorge Dunbar, Earl of March(also known as Earl of Dunbar) and the southernjusticiar,Robert Erskine.[40]It was resolved by Robert giving his daughter Isabella in marriage to Douglas's son, James and with Douglas replacing Erskine as justiciar south of the Forth.[41]Robert's accession did affect some others who held offices from David II. In particular, George Dunbar's brother John Dunbar, the Lord of Fife who lost his claim on Fife and Sir Robert Erskine's son, Sir Thomas Erskine who lost control ofEdinburgh Castle.[42]

The Stewarts greatly increased their holdings in the west, in Atholl, and in the far north: the earldoms ofFifeandMenteithwent to Robert's second surviving son, Robert; the earldoms ofBuchanandRoss(along with the lordship of Badenoch) to his fourth son, Alexander; and the earldoms ofStrathearnandCaithnessto the eldest son of his second marriage, David.[43]King Robert's sons-in-law wereJohn MacDonald, Lord of the Isles,John Dunbar, Earl of Moray andJameswho would become the 2nd Earl of Douglas.[43]Robert's sons John, Earl of Carrick, the king's heir, and Robert, Earl of Fife, were made keepers of the castles of Edinburgh andStirlingrespectively, whileAlexander,Lord of Badenoch and Ross, and afterwards Earl of Buchan, became the king's justiciar and lieutenant in the north of the kingdom.[11]This build-up of the Stewart family power did not appear to cause resentment among the senior magnates — the king generally did not threaten their territories or local rule and where titles were transferred to his sons the individuals affected were usually very well rewarded.[11]This style of kingship was very different from his predecessor's — David tried to dominate his nobles whereas Robert's strategy was to delegate authority to his powerful sons and earls and this generally worked for the first decade of his reign.[43]Robert was to have influence over eight of the fifteen earldoms either through his sons directly or by strategic marriages of his daughters to powerful lords.[43]

Robert the warrior and knight: the reverse side of Robert II's Great Seal, enhanced as a 19th-century steel engraving

In 1373, Robert ensured the future security of the Stewart dynasty by having Parliament pass entailments regarding the succession. At this time, none of his sons had heirs so it became necessary for a system to be devised to define precisely the circumstances in which each of his sons could inherit the crown—none of this would take precedence over normal succession byprimogeniture.[44][45]By 1375, the king had commissionedJohn Barbourto write the poem,The Brus,a history intended to bolster the public image of the Stewarts as the genuine heirs of Robert I. It described the patriotic acts of bothSir James, the Black Douglasand Walter the Steward, the king's father, in their support of Bruce.[43]Robert's rule during the 1370s saw the country's finances stabilised and greatly improved due in part to the flourishing wool trade, reduced calls on the public purse and the halting of his predecessor's ransom money on the death of Edward III of England.[11]Robert — unlike David II whose kingship was predominantly Lothian and therefore lowland based — did not restrict his attention to one sector of his kingdom but frequently visited the more remote areas of the north and west among his Gaelic lords.[46]

Robert ruled over a country that continued to have English enclaves within its borders and Scots who gave their allegiance to the king of England — the important castles of Berwick, Jedburgh, Lochmaben and Roxburgh had English garrisons and controlled southern Berwickshire, Teviotdale and large areas in Annandale and Tweeddale.[47]In June 1371, Robert agreed to a defensive treaty with the French, and although there were no outright hostilities during 1372, the English garrisons were reinforced and placed under an increased state of vigilance.[48]Attacks on the English-held zones, with the near-certain backing of Robert, began in 1373 and accelerated in the years 1375–77. This indicated that a central decision had probably been taken for the escalation of conflict rather than the previous small-scale marauding attacks by the border barons.[49]In 1376, theEarl of Marchsuccessfully recovered Annandale, but then found himself constrained by theBrugesAnglo-French truce.[50]

Dunfermline Abbeywhich received Coldingham Priory as daughter house from King Robert

In his dealings with Edward III, Robert blamed his border magnates for the escalating attacks on the English zones; regardless, the Scots retained the recaptured lands, often portioned out among minor lords, to secure their interest in preventing English re-possession.[51]Despite Robert's further condemnations of his border lords, all the signs were that Robert backed the growing successful Scottish militancy following Edward III's death in 1377.[11]In a charter dated 25 July 1378 the king decreed thatColdingham Priorywould no longer be a daughter house of the EnglishDurham Priorybut was to be attached toDunfermline Abbey.[52]In early February the Scots — apparently unaware of the conclusion of an Anglo-French truce on 26 January 1384 that included the Scots in the cease-fire — conducted an all-out attack on the English zones winning back Lochmaben Castle and Teviotdale.[53]John of Gaunt led a reciprocal English attack that took him as far as Edinburgh, where the burgesses bribed him to leave the town unharmed. Haddington, however, was destroyed.[54]Carrick and James, Earl of Douglas (his father William had died in April),[55]wanted a retaliatory strike for the Gaunt raid. Robert may have concluded that as the French had reneged on a previous agreement to send assistance in 1383 and then entered into a truce with England, any military action would have been met with retaliation and exclusion from the forthcoming Boulogne peace talks.[55][56]On 2 June 1384, Robert resolved to sendWalter Wardlaw,Bishop of Glasgowto the Anglo-French peace talks, yet Carrick ignored this and allowed raids into the north of England to take place.[56]Despite this, by 26 July, the Scots were part of the truce that would expire in October. Robert called a Council in September probably to decide how to proceed when the truce concluded.[57]

Loss of authority and death[edit]

A medieval miniature depicting theBattle of Otterburnwhere Carrick's close ally, James, Earl of Douglas was killed

Robert's son, John,Earl of Carrick,had become the foremost Stewart magnate south of the Forth just as Alexander, Earl of Buchan was in the north.[58]Alexander's activities and methods of royal administration, enforced byGaelicmercenaries, drew criticism from northern earls and bishops and his younger half-brotherDavid, Earl of Strathearn.These complaints damaged the king's standing within the Council leading to criticism of his ability to curb Buchan's activities.[59]Robert's differences with the Carrick affinity regarding the conduct of the war and his continued failure or unwillingness to deal with Buchan in the north led to the political convulsion of November 1384 when the Council removed the king's authority to govern and appointed Carrick as lieutenant of the kingdom — acoup d'étathad taken place.[43][60]With Robert sidelined, there was now no impediment in the way of war. In June 1385, a force of 1200 French soldiers joined the Scots in a campaign that involved the Earl of Douglas and two of Robert's sons, John, Earl of Carrick and Robert, Earl of Fife.[61]The skirmishes saw small gains but a quarrel between the French and Scottish commanders saw the abandonment of an attack on the important castle of Roxburgh.[62]

Dundonald Castle,where Robert II died in 1390

The victory of the Scots over the English at theBattle of OtterburninNorthumberlandin August 1388 set in motion Carrick's fall from power. One of the Scottish casualties was Carrick's close ally James, Earl of Douglas. Douglas died without an heir, which led to various claims upon the title and estate — Carrick backed Malcolm Drummond, the husband of Douglas's sister, while Fife sided with the successful appellant,Sir Archibald Douglas,Earl of Wigtown and Lord of Galloway who possessed an entail on the Douglas estates.[63]Fife, now with his powerful Douglas ally, and those who supported the king ensured a countercoup at the December Council meeting when the guardianship of Scotland passed from Carrick (who had recently been badly injured from a horse-kick) to Fife.[63][64]Many had also approved of Fife's intention to properly resolve the situation of lawlessness in the north and in particular the activities of his younger brother, Buchan.[64]Fife relieved Buchan of his offices of lieutenant of the north and justiciar north of the Forth. The latter role was given to Fife's son,Murdoch Stewart.Robert II toured the northeast in late January 1390, perhaps to reinforce the changing political scene in the north following Buchan's removal from authority.[65]In March, Robert returned toDundonald Castlein Ayrshire where he died on 19 April and was buried at Scone on 25 April.[66]

Historiography[edit]

The reign of Robert II has undergone a re-appraisal since the works of historiansGordon Donaldson(1967) and Ranald Nicholson (1974). Donaldson admitted to a lack of knowledge (at the time he was writing) regarding Robert's reign and accepts that the early chroniclers writing near his reign found little to criticise.[67]Robert's career before and after he succeeded to the throne is described by Donaldson as "to say the least, undistinguished, and his reign did nothing to add lustre to it."[68]Donaldson goes further and debates the legality of the canon law marriage of Robert and Elizabeth Mure following the papal dispensation, but acknowledges that the Acts of Succession in 1371 and 1372, although sealing the matter in the eyes of Parliament, did not end the generational feud of the descendants of Elizabeth Mure and Euphemia Ross.[69]Robert's earlier participation in combat at the battles of Halidon and Neville's Cross, according to Donaldson, had made him wary of sanctioning military expeditions against the English and that any such actions by his barons were concealed from him.[70]Similarly, Nicholson described Robert's reign as deficient and that his lack of the skills of governance led to internal strife. Nicholson asserts that the Earl of Douglas was bought off following his armed demonstration just before Robert's coronation, and associates this with the doubt surrounding the legitimacy of Robert's sons with Elizabeth Mure.[71]

In contrast, the historians Stephen Boardman (2007), Alexander Grant (1984 and 1992) and Michael Lynch (1992) give a more even-handed appraisal of Robert II's life.[71]Modern historians show a kingdom that had become wealthier and more stable, particularly during the first decade of his rule.[11]Boardman explains that Robert II was subjected to negative propaganda while he was High Steward — David II's followers denigrated his conduct during his lieutenancies and described them as "tyranny" — and again later as King when the supporters of his son John, Earl of Carrick said that Robert was a king lacking drive and accomplishments, weighed down by age and unfit to govern.[72][73]Robert II's association with Gaelic Scotland also drew criticism. He grew up in his ancestral lands in the west and was completely at ease with the Gaelic language and culture and possessed a potent relationship with the Gaelic lords in theHebrides,upperPerthshireandArgyll.Throughout his reign, Robert spent long periods in his Gaelic heartlands and complaints at the time inLowland Scotlandseem to have been influenced by the view that the king was too much involved in Gaelic concerns.[74]Boardman also asserts that much of the negative views held of Robert II find their origins in the writings of the French chroniclerJean Froissartwho recorded that '[the king] had red bleared eyes, of the colour of sandalwood, which clearly showed that he was no valiant man, but one who would remain at home than march to the field'.[75]Contrary to Froissart's view, the early Scottish chroniclers —Andrew of WyntounandWalter Bower(who both utilised a source that was nearly contemporary with Robert II) — and later 15th and 16th century Scottish chroniclers and poets showed "Robert II as a Scottish patriotic hero, a defender of the integrity of the Scottish kingdom, and as the direct heir to Robert I".[76]

Grant (1992) acknowledges that Robert II's reign in terms of foreign and domestic policy was "not so unsuccessful".[77]As far as William, Earl of Douglas's reaction was concerned when he staged an armed demonstration before Robert's coronation, Grant does not hold to the view that Douglas was in some way demonstrating against Robert's legitimate right to the throne, but more an assertion that royal patronage should not continue as in the time of David II. Grant also advocates that the demonstration was aimed at father and son Robert and Thomas Erskine, who held the castles of Edinburgh, Stirling and Dumbarton from Robert's predecessor.[77]Grant seriously called into question the dependability of Froissart's writings as an effective source for Robert II's reign.[78]Influential magnate coalitions headed by Carrick, having undermined the king's position, manipulated the Council of November 1384 to remove Robert II from any real power.[79]Grant gives little weight to the asserted senility of Robert and suggests that the deposition of Carrick in 1388, and then the resolution to join the Anglo-French truce of 1389, were both at the instigation of Robert II.[80]Yet authority was not handed back to Robert II but to Carrick's younger brother, Robert, earl of Fife; this once again saw the king at the disposition of one of his sons.[81]Despite this, the now unknown source whom both Wyntoun and Bower relied on made the point that Fife deferred to his father on affairs of state emphasising the difference in styles in the guardianships of his two sons.[82]

Michael Lynch points out that Robert II's reign from 1371 until the lieutenancy of Carrick in 1384 had been one exemplified by continued prosperity and stability — a time which Abbot Bower described as a period of "tranquillity, prosperity and peace".[83]Lynch suggests that the troubles of the 1450s betweenJames IIand the Douglases (which some historians have interpreted as the legacy of Robert II's policy of encouraging powerful lordships), was a continuation of David II's build-up of local lords in the Marches andGalloway— Robert was satisfied with government to leave alone the Douglas and the Stewart earls in their fiefdoms.[84]The weakening of government if anything, Lynch suggests, came not before the 1384 coup but after it, even though the coup had at its root Robert II's favouring of his third son,Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan(known as "the Wolf of Badenoch" ).[85]

Marriages and issue[edit]

In 1336, he first marriedElizabeth Mure(died 1355), daughter of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan. The marriage was criticised for being uncanonical, so he remarried her in 1349 after receiving a papal dispensation in 1347.[86]

From this union, ten children reached adulthood:[87]

In 1355, Robert married his second wifeEuphemia de Ross(died 1387), daughter ofHugh, Earl of Ross.They had four children:[87]

King Robert II also had many illegitimate children with several mistresses, including four sons with his favourite Mariota de Cardeny, daughter of Sir John Cardeny, and widow of Alexander Mac Naugthon:

  • Alexander Stewart, of Inverlunan;
  • Sir John Stewart, of Cardeny;
  • James Stewart, of Abernethy and Kinfauna;
  • Walter Stewart.

By Moira Leitch (according to tradition):

Other issue born by unknown women:[88]

  • John Stewart, Lord of Burley (killed 1425);
  • Alexander Stewart, canon of Glasgow;
  • Sir Alexander Stewart of Inverlunan;
  • Thomas Stewart,Archdeacon of St Andrews, Dean of Dunkeld;
  • James Stewart of Kinfauns;
  • Walter Stewart;
  • Maria or Mary Stewart, wife of Sir John de Danielstoun and mother of Sir Robert de Danielstoun of that Ilk (ancestor of Cunningham of Kilmaurs, and Maxwell of Calderwood).[90]

Ancestry[edit]

Fictional portrayals[edit]

Robert II has been depicted in historical novels. They include:

  • The Three Perils of Man; or, War, women, and witchcraft(1822) byJames Hogg.The tale takes place in the reign of Robert II whose "country enjoyed happiness and peace, all save a part adjoining to the borders ofEngland."Part of the action takes place atLinlithgow Palace,where Robert promises to marry his daughter Margaret Stewart "to the knight who shall take that castle ofRoxburghout of the hands of the English ". With Margaret adding her own terms, that" in case of his attempting and failing in the undertaking, he shall forfeit all his lands, castles, towns, and towers to me. "In the absence of volunteers, Margaret vows to take the Castle herself, defeating Lord Musgrave and his mistress Jane Howard;[97]

References[edit]

  1. ^Fryde, et al.,Handbook of British Chronology,p. 59
  2. ^abOram,et al.,Kings & Queens,p. 123
  3. ^abcBoardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 3
  4. ^Bradbury,Companion to Medieval Warfare,p. 222
  5. ^Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliament,pp. 70-71
  6. ^Oram, et al.,Kings and Queens of Scotland,p. 124
  7. ^Watson,Power of the Past,p. 29
  8. ^abWatson,Independence, Wars of
  9. ^abOram, et al.,Kings & Queens,p. 99
  10. ^Weir, Alison,Britain's Royal Families,p. 214
  11. ^abcdefghiBoardman,Robert II,ODNB
  12. ^abcBoardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 4
  13. ^"The disinherited" — those nobles or their descendants who had fought for the English but had not entered into Robert I's peace and had their property confiscated and distributed to the Bruce supporters.
  14. ^Grant & Stringer,Medieval Scotland,p. 227
  15. ^Grant & Stringer,Medieval Scotlandpp. 225–226
  16. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 6
  17. ^Grant & Stringer,Medieval Scotlandp. 231
  18. ^Duncan,Andrew Murray,ODNB
  19. ^Grant & Stringer,Medieval Scotlandp. 233
  20. ^Brown,The Wars of Scotland, 1214–1371,pp. 241-242
  21. ^Penman, Michael (2004).David II.East Linton, Scotland: Tuckwell Press Ltd. p. 59.
  22. ^Grant & Stringer,Medieval Scotlandp. 234
  23. ^Brown,The Wars of Scotland, 1214–1371,p. 244
  24. ^Brown,The Wars of Scotland, 1214–1371,pp. 241-243
  25. ^"Volume XIII: 6 Clement VI",Petitions to the Pope: 1342–1419(1896), pp. 124–126. Date accessed: 04 April 2009. (10 Kal. Dec. 1347 – 22 November 1347)
  26. ^Sadler,Border Fury,p. 228
  27. ^Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliament,footnote 34, p. 85
  28. ^Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliament,pp. 85–86
  29. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 9–10
  30. ^Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliament,pp. 86–87
  31. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 10
  32. ^Brown,The Wars of Scotland,p. 253
  33. ^Rogers,The Wars of Edward III,pp. 218–219
  34. ^Rogers,The Wars of Edward III,p. 219
  35. ^Barrell,Medieval Scotland,p. 130
  36. ^Rogers,The Wars of Edward III,p. 220
  37. ^Morley, Henry (1890).English Writers: An Attempt Towards a History of English Literature.Cassell, limited.Retrieved20 February2021.
  38. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 40
  39. ^Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliamentpp. 102–105
  40. ^Grant in Jones, et al.,New Cambridge History,p. 360
  41. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 45
  42. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 39, 53
  43. ^abcdefOram, et al.,Kings & Queens,p. 126
  44. ^Barrell,Medieval Scotland,pp. 141-142
  45. ^The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K. M. Brown, et al., eds (St Andrews, 2007–2012), 1373/3.[1]Date accessed: 21 May 2012
  46. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 94-95
  47. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 108
  48. ^Sadler,Border Fury,p. 258
  49. ^Tuck & Goodman,War and Border Societies,pp.38-39
  50. ^Sadler,Border Fury,p. 260
  51. ^Sadler,Border Fury,pp. 259–260
  52. ^Tuck & Goodman,War and Border Societies,p. 40
  53. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 118
  54. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 118–119
  55. ^abTuck & Goodman,War and Border Societies,p. 42
  56. ^abBoardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 120–121
  57. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 123
  58. ^Barrell,Medieval Scotland,pp. 141–142
  59. ^For an account of the background to Buchan's activities in the north of Scotland and the context in which he operated see Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 83–89
  60. ^Grant in Jones, et al.,New Cambridge History,pp. 360–361
  61. ^Oram et al.,Kings and Queens,p. 127
  62. ^Goodman & Tuck,War and Border Societies,p. 45
  63. ^abGoodman & Tuck,War and Border Societies,p. 51
  64. ^abGrant in Jones, et al.,New Cambridge Historyp. 361
  65. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 171
  66. ^The date of Robert II's death and the disputed date of Robert II's burial and the reasons for the delay in Robert III's coronation are explained byDauvit Brounin Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliamentpp. 112-116
  67. ^Donaldson,Scottish Kings,p. 33
  68. ^Donaldson,Scottish Kings,p. 39
  69. ^Donaldson,Scottish Kings,p. 37
  70. ^Donaldson,Scottish Kings,pp. 39-40
  71. ^abPearson,Robert II
  72. ^Grant in Jones, et al.,New Cambridge History,p. 359
  73. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 123-125, 171-172
  74. ^Boardman in Broun & MacGregor,The Great Ill-Will of the Lowlander,p. 84
  75. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 137
  76. ^Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,pp. 108, 125 (footnote 2)
  77. ^abGrant,Independence and Nationhood,p. 178
  78. ^Tuck & Goodman,War and Border Societies,pp. 30–65
  79. ^Oram et al.,Kings and Queens,pp. 126–127
  80. ^Grant,Independence and Nationhood,pp. 180–181
  81. ^Oram et al.,Kings and Queens,p. 128
  82. ^Brown & Tanner,History of Scottish Parliament,pp. 110–112
  83. ^Lynch,Scotland: A new History,p. 138
  84. ^Lynch,Scotland: A new History,pp. 138–139
  85. ^Lynch,Scotland: A new History,p. 139
  86. ^Weir,Britain's Royal Families,p. 216
  87. ^abcd"The Scottish Royal Dynasties 842–1625"(PDF).The official website of the British Monarchy. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 3 December 2010.Retrieved19 February2018.
  88. ^abWeir, Alison (2011).Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy.Random House. p. 228.ISBN9781446449110.
  89. ^Douglas, Robert (1764).The Peerage of Scotland.
  90. ^John P. Ravilious, "Nephew of the Duke": the Danielstons of that Ilk, and a hitherto unknown daughter of Robert II, King of Scots,The Scottish GenealogistVol. LIV No. 3, September 2007, pp. 134–137. cf. also John P. Ravilious, "Maria Stewart, illegitimate daughter of Robert II, King of Scots",The Scottish GenealogistVol. LVI No. 1, March 2009, pp. 29–30.
  91. ^abPaul,The Scots Peerage,pp. 13–14.
  92. ^abPaul,The Scots Peerage,p. 13.
  93. ^abArcher, Thomas Andrew (1886)."Burgh, Walter de".InStephen, Leslie(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 7. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  94. ^abMaxwell,Robert the Bruce,p. ix
  95. ^Paton, Henry (1893)."Mar, Donald (d.1297)".InLee, Sidney(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 36. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  96. ^"Isabella of Mar".The Stewart Society.Retrieved15 February2019.
  97. ^Hogg, pp. 4–10
  98. ^"Lords of Misrule", synopsis from the bookjacket
  99. ^"Tranter first edition books, publication timeline", part IV

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

Robert II of Scotland
Born:1316Died:1390
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Scots
22 February 1371 – 14 April 1390 		Succeeded by
Peerage of Scotland
New title Earl of Atholl
1342 – 31 May 1367 		Succeeded by
New title Earl of Strathearn
1357 – 26/27 March 1371 		Succeeded by
Court offices
Preceded by High Steward of Scotland
1327–1371 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_II_of_Scotland&oldid=1231214391"