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You are here: UK History > Royal History > Scottish Monarchy > Robert II
The first King of the House of Stewart, Robert II became king after the death of his uncle King David II.
Born: 2nd March 1316
Died: 19th April 1390
Reign: 1371-1390
Parents: Walter Stewart, High Steward of Scotland and Marjorie Bruce
Predecessor: David II
Successor: Robert III
Spouse: Elizabeth Mure, then Euphemia de Ross
Children: Robert III, King of Scots; Walter, Lord of Fife; Robert Duke of Albany; Alexander Earl of Buchanan; David Earl of Caithness; Walter Earl of Atholl; Thomas Bishop of St Andrews
Royal House: House of Stewart
Robert Stewart was the only child of Walter Stewart and King Robert I’s daughter Marjorie Bruce, who died shortly after his birth. At the time of her pregnancy, parliament decided to revoke her right to be heir to her father in favour of his brother, Edward. However, Edward was killed in battle two years after Marjorie’s death and with Robert I not having any other viable heirs, a new Act was passed to allow the succession to pass to Marjorie’s son. The birth of Robert I’s son David cancelled Robert Stewart’s position as heir presumptive.
Robert Stewart would spend the first few years of his life being raised as a Gaelic noble on his father’s lands rather than as an heir to the throne. His father died in 1327 when he was just eleven, leaving him in the guardianship of his uncle James Stewart, who was one of the Guardians of the kingdom. Robert I’s death and the accession of David II, who was five years old, kick started the second war of independence, especially with the re-emergence of John Balliol’s son Edward.
Robert Stewart was 17 when the first battles of Second War of Independence began and was deemed old enough to participate. The lands left to him by his father were captured by the Balliols and he fled to Dumbarton Castle where King David was also taking refuge. David would eventually flee to France, but Robert remained in Scotland where he intended to reclaim his lands. The pair would reconnect when King David returned to Scotland and would fight together at the Battle of Neville’s Cross where King David was wounded and captured. Robert escaped.
With King David imprisoned in England and many of the Scottish lords killed or wounded in battle, Robert was made one of the Guardians of the kingdom. With this new power, he took the step of ensuring that his four sons were legitimate and petitioned the pope to allow a marriage to Elizabeth Mure.
Despite being imprisoned, David did retain some influence over Scotland and had a poor relationship with Robert. David took the guardianship from his nephew, but this was overruled by parliament in 1352. Over the next few years, there were ongoing negotiations for David’s release, with Robert rejecting any proposals that threatened his place in the line of succession. Eventually an agreement was reached, though David continued to attempt to negotiate with the English to exclude his nephew.
David died childless and was succeeded by Robert who ruled as Robert II. King David was buried at Holyrood Abbey almost immediately, but an armed protest by William Earl of Douglas delayed Robert II’s coronation for a month. The issue was resolved by Robert promising his daughter in marriage to Douglas’ son.
Following his succession, the Stewarts greatly increased their holdings in the west and his sons were given titles. This grab for power did not appear to upset the other nobles, possibly because Robert did not threaten their territories or local rule and where titles were transferred, the individuals affected were well compensated. Robert’s style of kingship was very different to his uncles, and his strategy of surrounding himself by loyal earls and nobles worked well for him for the first decade of his reign. He would later have influence over 8 of the 15 Scottish earldoms either through his sons directly or by strategic marriages of his daughters to powerful lords. Though this was a good strategy in the beginning, it would end up being his downfall. He would end up being sidelined and the country would fall into fighting, with input from the French.
Also, unlike David, Robert was known to frequently visit all areas of the kingdom.
Historians have recently re-evaluated Robert II’s reign, stating that though chroniclers at the time had little to complain about, they found that records showed that he had a poor grasp on foreign and domestic policy. There continues to be debate as to the legality of his marriages, though the parliamentary acts on succession were enough to cement the Stewarts to power for generations.
In 1336, Robert married Elizabeth Mure, the daughter of Sir Adam Mure. The marriage was criticised for being uncanonical, so he remarried her a few years later after petitioning the pope.
The pair had ten children that survived to adulthood: John, who ascended the throne as Robert III, Walter, Robert, Alexander, Margaret, Marjorie, Elizabeth, Isabella, Johanna and Katherine.
Elizabeth would died in 1355 and Robert would go on to remarry Euphemia de Ross, the daughter of the Earl of Ross. They had a further four children: David Stewart, Walter Stewart, Elizabeth and Egida. He also had many illegitimate children with several mistresses, many of which were acknowledged.
His son Walter, by Euphemia de Ross, would later be involved in a plot to assassinate King James I and would be beheaded at Edinburgh Castle for his role.
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