Robert II (1371–1390): The First Stewart King and the Fragile Rise of a Dynasty
The reign of Robert II (Roibert II Stiùbhart), from 1371 to 1390, marked the beginning of the House of Stewart (later spelled Stuart), which would go on to rule Scotland for over three centuries. Robert II was the first king of the Stewart dynasty—a family whose rise to the throne reflected both the political transformation of medieval Scotland and the fragile nature of Scottish kingship during a period of ongoing conflict with England and internal unrest among the nobility. His reign was characterized by the challenge of maintaining royal authority in the face of growing aristocratic power, the threat of English aggression, and the complex political landscape of late medieval Europe.
Robert II’s ascension to the throne followed the death of David II in 1371, the last direct descendant of Robert the Bruce. His rule was not one of military glory or administrative reform, but rather of political survival and the consolidation of the royal dynasty. The Stewart claim to the throne was rooted in Robert II’s maternal line—his mother, Marjorie Bruce, was the daughter of Robert the Bruce—making Robert II the first king of a new dynastic era in Scotland. His rule saw the rise of powerful regional magnates, the expansion of the Stewart family’s influence, and Scotland’s continuing involvement in the conflict with England, including the ongoing effects of the Hundred Years’ War.
Though Robert II’s reign was marred by periods of political instability and military setbacks, his ability to secure the throne and pass it to his son ensured the survival of the Stewart dynasty. As historian Michael Lynch notes, “Robert II’s reign was the foundation stone upon which the House of Stewart built its long and often turbulent dominance over Scotland and later the British Isles” (Lynch, 1991).
The Rise of Robert II and the Political Context of His Reign
Robert II was born on 2 March 1316 at Paisley Abbey, the son of Walter Stewart, the 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of Robert the Bruce. His birth united two of Scotland’s most powerful political lineages—the royal line of the Bruces and the hereditary line of the High Stewards, who had held a position of immense influence in Scotland since the 12th century.
Robert’s early life was shaped by the political and military aftermath of the First War of Scottish Independence. His grandfather, Robert the Bruce, had secured Scotland’s independence with his victory at Bannockburn in 1314, but the peace was fragile. After the death of Bruce’s son, David II, in 1371 without a direct heir, the throne passed to Robert Stewart as the closest male heir through the female line.
David II’s reign had been defined by his long captivity in England and his eventual return to a politically fractured Scotland. Though David attempted to strengthen the Scottish monarchy, his failure to produce a legitimate heir and his political dependence on the English crown created a power vacuum that Robert II inherited. Robert was crowned at Scone on 26 March 1371—an event that formally established the House of Stewart as Scotland’s new ruling dynasty.
The transition was not without opposition. Robert’s claim was contested by some segments of the Scottish nobility, particularly the supporters of the House of Douglas, who had gained significant political and military power during David II’s reign. Alex Woolf notes that “Robert II’s accession marked the beginning of a new political order in Scotland—one in which the king’s authority would be constantly tested by the ambitions of the great noble houses” (Woolf, 2007).
Political and Military Challenges
1. Anglo-Scottish Conflict and the Continuing Wars of Independence
The long shadow of the Wars of Scottish Independence continued to loom over Robert II’s reign. England, under Edward III, sought to reassert its dominance over Scotland and exploit the fragile political foundations of Robert’s new monarchy.
In 1373, Robert II strengthened Scotland’s diplomatic position by renewing the Auld Alliance with France, which had been a cornerstone of Scottish foreign policy since 1295. The alliance provided Scotland with crucial military and financial support in the event of an English invasion.
However, English raids into southern Scotland continued throughout the 1370s and 1380s. The most devastating incursion occurred in 1385, when Edward III’s son, John of Gaunt, led an English army into Scotland, burning the town of Edinburgh and sacking several border towns. Robert’s response was slow and ineffective, largely because he relied on his powerful nobles—particularly the Douglases and the Stewarts of Atholl—to lead the military effort.
Michael Brown notes that “Robert II’s reliance on his nobles to prosecute the war with England reflected the underlying weakness of the crown’s military infrastructure—Scotland remained a kingdom dependent on the private armies of its magnates” (Brown, 2004).
2. The Rise of the Douglas Family and the Decline of Royal Authority
One of the most dangerous political challenges of Robert II’s reign came from the growing power of the Douglas family. Under James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, the Douglases expanded their influence in the Scottish borders and emerged as a dominant military and political force.
Douglas’s growing influence culminated in his victory at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, where a Scottish force led by Douglas defeated an English army under Henry Percy (Hotspur). Though the battle was a military success for Scotland, Douglas himself was killed, creating a power vacuum that weakened the cohesion of the Scottish aristocracy.
Robert II’s inability to control the power of the Douglases reflected the broader weakness of the Scottish crown. Richard Oram explains that “Robert II’s failure to assert direct authority over the border lords allowed the Douglas family to establish a semi-independent power base—one that would haunt the Stewart monarchy for generations” (Oram, 2011).
3. Dynastic Challenges and Succession Issues
Robert II’s later years were plagued by internal conflict over the succession. He had produced numerous legitimate and illegitimate sons, including his heirs John, Earl of Carrick (later Robert III) and Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. The rivalry between Carrick and Albany created political instability and weakened Robert’s authority in the final years of his reign.
In 1384, Robert’s declining health forced him to hand over day-to-day governance to John, Earl of Carrick. However, Carrick’s military failures and political mismanagement allowed Robert Stewart of Albany to consolidate power, creating a dangerous rivalry that would erupt into open conflict after Robert II’s death.
Accomplishments and Legacy
Robert II’s greatest accomplishment was the successful establishment of the House of Stewart as Scotland’s ruling dynasty. Despite political and military challenges, his ability to pass the throne to his son ensured the survival of the Stewart line, which would dominate Scottish and later British politics for over three centuries.
Robert II also expanded Scotland’s diplomatic influence through the renewal of the Auld Alliance with France and the strategic use of marriage alliances with the European nobility. His patronage of the Scottish Church and the expansion of the royal court reinforced the cultural and political legitimacy of the Stewart monarchy.
Setbacks and Challenges
Robert II’s reign was marred by his failure to assert military and political authority over his powerful nobles. His reliance on the Douglas family and his sons to lead military campaigns weakened the crown’s ability to assert centralized control. The raids by John of Gaunt and the burning of Edinburgh in 1385 exposed the vulnerability of Scotland’s southern borders.
Conclusion
Robert II’s reign was the foundation upon which the Stewart dynasty was built. Though his military and political authority remained fragile, his ability to secure the throne and establish the legitimacy of the Stewart line ensured the survival of the Scottish monarchy during one of the most volatile periods in the kingdom’s history. As Michael Lynch concludes, “Robert II’s legacy lay not in his conquests or reforms, but in the survival of the Stewart dynasty—an achievement that would shape the future of Scotland and Britain for centuries to come” (Lynch, 1991).
References
- Barrow, G.W.S. (1981). Kingship and Unity: Scotland, 1000–1306. Edinburgh University Press.
- Lynch, Michael. (1991). Scotland: A New History. Pimlico.
- Oram, Richard. (2011). The Kings and Queens of Scotland. Tempus Publishing.