Stewart, John

Notes:

Acceded: 14 AUG 1390, Scone Abbey, Perthshire

The troubles with England continued under Robert III. Actually, his real name was John but he changed it because there has been so many Johns who were ill-fated. His re-naming of himself didn't seem to have helped. He was disabled from a horse kicking him when he was a youth. He did not command respect. He was 53 when he was crowned.

The Duke of Albany, his brother, who may have been responsible for the death of Robert III's son, David, was a very forceful person and Robert III was overshadowed by him. To protect his second son, James I, he sent James away from Scotland.

Albany became the Governor of Scotland after Robert III died and James I was a prisoner of the English. Albany ruled Scotland as Governor until his death and was succeeded as Governor by his incompetent son, Murdoch.

Robert III told his wife, Annabella, that his epitaph should be: "Here lies the worst of kings and the most wretched of men in the whole realm." He said he should be buried on a rubbish heap.

(This is a little confusing but possibly an illegimate child of his named Lady Jean married first to Sir John Keith, second to Sr. John Lyon and third to Sir James Sandilands was the ancestor of H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.)

While the power of the crown suffered from the weaknesses of its kings during this time, the baronage was strong. Four successive heads of the Clan Donald, who assumed the title, Lord of the Isles, were almost independent of the king, such was their strength. In the south, the Black Douglases were strong and actually made a bid for the Crown in 1371. Both of these houses were connected to the Crown by marriage.

The most important advantage Scotland had at this time was the continued weakness of England. Edward III was very old, Richard II was very young, the accession of Henry IV, the failure in France after the appearance of Joan of Arc and the War of the Roses all weakened English power.

There were also economic trouble, the Peasants' Revolt and the sharp decline in the yield of wool. Therefore, in these circumstances, the English Kings were unable to exploit their difficulties with Scotland. The claim to suzerainty was left in abeyance although asserted by Henry IV when he wished to proclaim himself in the succession of English Kings.

Robert III's son, James I, was kidnapped by the English and taken to France by Henry V. There are other reports saying that Robert III sent his son to France for safety reasons.

John married Drummond, Annabella on 13 Mar 1365 in Dispensation, Scotland. Annabella (daughter of Drummond, 11TH SENESCHAL OF LENNOX John and Montefex, Mary) was born about 1350 in Of, Stobhall, Cargill, Perthshire, Scotland; died in 1401 in Scone, Perthshire, Scotland; was buried in 1401 in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Stewart, John was born about 1368.
2. Margaret, Princess of Scotland {Countess of was born about 1370 in Of, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland; died before Sep 1456 in Thrieve Castle, Galloway, Galloway, Scotland; was buried in Lincluden Chaple, Kirknewton, Mid-lothian, Scotland.
3. Scotland, DUKE OF ROTHSEY David Prince of was born on 24 Oct 1378 in Of, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland; died on 26 Mar 1402 in Falkland Castle, Falkland, Fifeshire, Scotland; was buried in Lindores Abbey, Scotland.
4. Stewart, Lady Mary was born about 1380 in Of, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland; died in 1458 in Scotland; was buried about 1458 in Strathblanechaple, Strathblane, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
5. Robert, Prince of Scotland was born about 1383 in Of, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland.
6. Scotland, Elizabeth Princess of was born about 1387 in Of, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland; died before 1478.
7. Egidia, Princess of Scotland was born about 1390 in Of, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland.
8. Scotland, James I King of was born in Dec 1394; died on 21 Feb 1437; was buried in 1437 in Charter House, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland.

Notes:

He was King from 1371 to 1390. He Suceeded his uncle, King David II on 22 FEB 1370. Robert II became King at the age of 54. He had been appointed Guardian of Scotland twice during the reign of David II and was an experienced statesman. Apparently, he was experienced in other things too since he produced 21 children (13 legitmate and 8 illegitimate). His first wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan (9 children) and his second wife was Euphemia, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Ross (4 children). As with his uncle, David II, he did not have the fighting spirit of his grandfather and was a passive person who had a hard time controlling his family or his kingdom. Once again, there was war between England and Scotland. Scotland was assisted by France under the terms of the Auld Alliance.

One son of Robert II was Alexander, the Wolf of Badenoch, whose son abducted the widowed Countess of Mar and assumed the Earldom. Other sons included the Earl of Strathearn and the Earl of Atholl.

Regardless of the weakness of the Crown and the strength of the nobles, Robert II was still the 99th King of Scots (counting from the mythical Fergus).

Robert married Mure, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND Elizabeth on 22 Nov 1347. Elizabeth (daughter of More, Sir, of Rowallan Adam and Danzielstour, Joanna (Janet)) was born about 1320 in Kilmarnock, Scotland; died in 1356 in Scotland; was buried in 1354 in Paisley Chaple, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Of, Rowallan, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland

Notes:

Biographical Text:
Walter was the 6th High Steward - or Stewart - of Scotland. In 1314, when he was 21, he commanded part of the Scottish army at the Battle of Bannockburn.

Walter married Bruce, Princess of Scotland Marjorie on 2 Mar 1315 in Scotland. Marjorie (daughter of Scotland, "de BRUS" Robert I "The Bruce" King of and Mar, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND Isabell (Matilda) of) was born about 1297 in Dundonald, Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland; died on 2 Mar 1316 in Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Biographical Text:
The Stewarts were monarchs of Scotland, and subsequently of Great Britain from 1371 to 1714. This illustrious line of monarchs was descended from Marjorie, who was the daughter of King Robert 1 - also known as The Bruce - and her husband Walter. Marjorie died giving birth to Robert II, the founder of the Stewart dynasty and the grandson of Robert the Bruce.

Notes:

Birth:
Of Rowallan, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland

Adam married Danzielstour, Joanna (Janet). Joanna was born about 1275 in Of Rowallan, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Burgh, Egidia (Giles) De. Egidia was born in 1263 in Of, Ulster, Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Biographical Text:
Robert the Bruce, 2nd Earl of Carrick and grandson of the old Competitor had supported Edward I against Balliol but, when Wallace renounced the guardianship of Scotland Bruce and Balliol's nephew,John "Red" Comyn replaced him as joint guardians. After a quarrel with Comyn he returned to Edward's camp and obtained a pardon. Bruce, seeking a reconciliation with Comyn, impulsively stabbed him at Dumfries in a church. He was again outlawed by Edward and excommunicated. Bruce claimed the Scottish throne as great-great-grandson of David I and was crowned at Scone in 1306. He went into hiding in a cave on an island off Ireland after he killed Red Comyn. This is where we get the legend of Bruce and the spider. We do not know if this is a true story but it makes a good legend. He watched the spider spinning its web and attempting to fix the web to the ceiling. At last the spider succeeded. According to the legend, this inspired Bruce to overcome his many hardships and persevere until he had won back Scotland. He made plans to take back his original home, Turnberry Castle. As they made their way to the castle, the plan was that if all was well, a light would be showing at the castle wall. They did see the light but upon nearing the castle, discovered that it was an enemy fire. Nonetheless, Bruce attacked and by this surprise attack gained food, armour and horses. He learned that three of his brothers and his wife, daughter and two sisters had been imprisoned by the English. Although he was now King, he was not well supported by the nobles and so Scottish lands and castles remained in the hands of the English. He knew that he would have to fight castle by castle in order to regain Scotland and drive the English out. Through his perseverance, by 1324 all castles in Scotland except Stirling were in Scottish hands. By this time Edward II was on the throne of England and was much more ineffectual than his father.

Bruce's much smaller force spectacularly defeated Edward II's 20,000 strong army at Bannockburn. I will say no more here about the Battle as it has been so well written by Skye.

The Declaration of Arbroath, an affirmation of Scottish independence, was sent to the Pope but the Pope did not recognize Bruce for four years as the rightful king of Scotland. After Edward III ascended to the throne, Bruce's army harassed the English so much that Edward III was forced to acknowledge his sovereignty and Scotland's freedom.

Not long after the peace Bruce died. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey. He had always wanted to go on a crusade. When he died his heart was placed in a silver casket and kept by Sir James Douglas who planned to take it on a crusade to the Holy Lands. Douglas joined the army of the King of Spain and while fighting a battle was killed. But before he died, he threw the casket in the midst of the battle crying, "Now go before, brave heart, as you always did, and I shall follow you or die." The casket was recovered
and returned to Scotland.

At the end of Bruce's life, he had achieved what he had fought for years to accomplish. Scotland was once again an independent kingdom. Scotland remembers him as "Good King Robert" and his triumph at Bannockburn is a rallying cry to Scots everywhere. Scotland would never again be conquered. Bruce's final legacy was to confirm "Scotland as separate and distinct, not just as a kingdom but as a community, a people and ultimately a nation."

Robert married Mar, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND Isabell (Matilda) of about 1295. Isabell (daughter of Mar, Donald Earl of and Llewelyn, COUNTESS OF CHESTER Elen (Helen) Verch) was born about 1278 in Of Kildrummy Castle, Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; died about 1320. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]