Robert III of Scotland

Robert III redirects here. Robert Curthose of Normandy is also sometimes known as Robert III or Robert II.
Robert III
King of Scots
King Robert III
King Robert III
Reign 1390 - 4 April 1406
Born c. 1337
Died 4 April 1406(1406-04-04)
Place of death Rothesay Castle
Buried Paisley Abbey
Predecessor Robert II
Successor James I
Consort Anabella Drummond
Offspring David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay
James I
Royal House House of Stewart
Father Robert II
Mother Elizabeth Mure

Robert III (c. 1337–April 1406), King of Scots, given name John, was the eldest son of Robert II and Elizabeth Mure and was legitimated with the marriage of his parents in 1347.

John joined his father and other magnates in a rebellion against his grand-uncle, David II early in 1363 but submitted to him soon afterwards. He married Anabella Drummond, daughter of Sir John Drummond of Stobhall before 31 May 1367 when the Steward ceded to him the earldom of Atholl. In 1368 David created him Earl of Carrick. His father became king in 1371 after the unexpected death of the childless King David. In the succeeding years Carrick was influential in the government of the kingdom but became progressively more impatient at his father's longevity. In 1384 Carrick was appointed the king's lieutenant after having influenced the general council to remove Robert II from direct rule. Carrick's administration saw a renewal of the conflict with England. In 1388 the Scots defeated the English at the Battle of Otterburn where the Scots' commander, James, Earl of Douglas, was killed. By this time Carrick had been badly injured by a horse-kick but the loss of his powerful ally, Douglas, saw a turnaround in magnate support in favour of his younger brother Robert, Earl of Fife and in December 1388 the council transferred the lieutenancy to Fife.

In 1390, Robert II died and Carrick ascended the throne as Robert III but without authority to rule directly. Fife continued as lieutenant until February 1393 when power was returned to the king in conjunction with his son David. At a council in 1399 owing to the king's 'sickness of his person', David, now Duke of Rothesay, became lieutenant of the kingdom in his own right but supervised by a special parliamentary group dominated by Fife, now styled Duke of Albany. After this, Robert III withdrew to his lands in the west and for a time played little or no part in affairs of state. He was powerless to interfere when a dispute between Albany and Rothesay arose in 1401 which led to Rothesay's arrest and imprisonment at Albany's Falkland Castle where Rothesay died in March 1402. The general council absolved Albany from blame and reappointed him as lieutenant. The only impediment now remaining to an Albany Stewart monarchy was the king's only surviving son, James, Earl of Carrick. In February 1406 the 11 year-old James and a powerful group of followers clashed with Albany's Douglas allies resulting in the death of the king's counsellor Sir David Fleming of Cumbernauld. James escaped to the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth accompanied by Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and remained there for a month before boarding a ship bound for France. The vessel was intercepted near Flamborough Head and James became the prisoner of Henry IV of England and would remain captive for the next 18 years. Robert III died in Rothesay Castle on 4 April 1406 shortly after learning of his son's imprisonment and was buried at Paisley Abbey.

Contents

Heir apparent

John, then styled Lord of Kyle, first appeared in the 1350s as the commander of a campaign in the lordship of Annandale to re-establish Scottish control over English occupied territory.[1] In 1363, John joined his father Robert the Steward along with the earls of Douglas and March in a failed insurrection against King David II. The reasons for the rebellion were varied. In 1362, David II supported several of his royal favourites in their titles to lands in the Stewart earldom of Monteith and thwarted Stewart claims to the earldom of Fife. The king's involvement with Margaret Logie (née Drummond) and soon to be his queen may also have represented a threat in the Steward's own earldom of Strathearn where the Drummonds also had interests, while Douglas and March mistrusted David's intentions towards them.[2]

Blason of John, Earl of Carrick

These nobles were also unhappy at the king's squandering of funds provided to him for his ransom[3] and with the prospect that they could be sent to England as guarantors for the ransom payments. The dissension between the king and the Stewarts looked to have been settled before the end of spring 1367. On 31 May the Steward gave the earldom of Atholl to John, who by this time was already married to Annabella Drummond, the daughter of the queen's deceased brother, Sir John Drummond and (probably) Mary, heir of William Montefichet, lord of Auchterarder.[4] David II reinforced the position of John and Annabella by providing them with the earldom of Carrick on 22 June 1368 and the tacit approval of John as the king's probable heir.[5] A Stewart succession was suddenly endangered when David II had his marriage to Margaret annulled in March 1369 leaving the king free to re-marry and with the prospect of a Bruce heir.[6]

On 22 February 1371 David II who was preparing to marry the earl of March's sister, Agnes Dunbar unexpectedly died presumably to the relief of both John and his father.[7] Robert was crowned at Scone Abbey on 27 March 1371 and before this date had given John—now styled Steward of Scotland—the ancestral lands surrounding the Firth of Clyde.[8] The manner in which the succession was to take place was first entailed by Robert I when female heirs were excluded and David II attempted unsuccessfully on several occasions to have the council change the succession procedure.[9] Robert II quickly moved to ensure the succession of John when the general council attending his coronation officially named Carrick as heir—in 1373 the Stewart succession was further strengthened when parliament passed entails defining the manner in which each of the king's sons could inherit the crown.[10] After the coronation John Dunbar who had received the lordship of Fife from David II now resigned the title so that the king's second son, Robert, earl of Monteith could receive the earldom of Fife—Dunbar was compensated with the provision of the earldom of Moray.[11]

A son, David, the future Duke of Rothesay, was born to Carrick and Annabella on 24 October 1378. In 1381, Carrick was calling himself 'lieutenant for the marches' sustained by his connections to border magnates such as his brother-in-law, James Douglas son of William, Earl of Douglas who he succeeded in 1384.[12]

Lieutenant of the kingdom

Battle of Otterburn

Robert II's policy of building up Stewart domination in Scotland through the advancement of his sons saw Carrick as the pre-eminent Stewart magnate south of the Forth-Clyde line just as his younger brother Alexander, earl of Buchan, lord of Badenoch and Ross was in the north.[13] Buchan's use of cateran supporters drew criticism from Northern nobles and prelates and demonstrated Robert II's inability or reluctance to control his son and resulted in him losing council support.[14] The king's failure to take a leading role in prosecuting the war with England and Buchan's abuse of royal power in the north was the backdrop to the general council meeting at Holyrood Abbey in November 1384 where the decision was taken to sideline the king and provide the ruling powers to Carrick.[15][16] In July 1385, under Carrick's lieutenancy, a Scottish army that included a French force commanded by Admiral Jean de Vienne penetrated into the north of England without any serious gains but provoked a damaging retaliatory attack by Richard II.[17] In 1385, the general council sharply condemned Buchan's behaviour[18] and sat with the intention of maneuvering Carrick into firmly intervening in the north.[19] Despite this, Carrick did not bring Buchan under control and many of the lieutenant's supporters although pleased at the resumption of hostilities with England were unhappy at the continued northern lawlessness.[20] Carrick had been made the king's lieutenant partly on the need to curb Buchan's excesses yet despite this by February 1387 Buchan had become even more powerful and influential when he was appointed Justiciar north of the Forth.[19]

... considering that there are, and have been now for a considerable time, great and numerous defects in the governing of the kingdom by reason of the king's disposition, both by reason of age and for other reasons, and the infirmity of the lord his firstborn son ... have amicably chosen Sir [Robert Stewart], earl of Fife, second-born son of the king, and brother german of the same lord the firstborn son, [as] guardian of the kingdom under the king, ... for putting into effect justice and keeping the law internally, and for the defence of the kingdom with the king's force, as set out before, against those attempting to rise up as enemies.

—Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, 1 December 1388, Edinburgh. http://www.rps.ac.uk/

A series of truces halted any further significant fighting but on 19 April 1388, English envoys sent to Scotland to again extend the ceasefire returned to Richard's court empty-handed—by 29 April Robert II was conducting a council in Edinburgh to authorise renewed conflict with England.[21] Although the Scots army defeated the English at the Battle of Otterburn in Northumberland in August 1388, its leader James, earl of Douglas was killed. Douglas died childless triggering a series of claims on his estate—Carrick backed his brother-in-law Malcolm Drummond, the husband of Douglas's sister while Carrick's brother Fife took the side of Sir Archibald Douglas, lord of Galloway who held an entail on his kinsman's estates and who ultimately succeeded to the earldom.[22] Fife, with his powerful Douglas ally together with those loyal to the king ensured at the December 1388 council meeting that the lieutenancy of Scotland would pass from Carrick (who had recently been badly injured from a horse-kick) to Fife.[20][23]

There was general approval of Fife's intention to properly resolve the situation of lawlessness in the north and in particular the activities of Buchan his younger brother.[20] Buchan was stripped of his position of justiciar which would soon be given to Fife's son, Murdoch Stewart. In January 1390 Robert II was in the north-east perhaps to strengthen the now changed political outlook in the north of the kingdom.[24] He returned to Dundonald Castle in Ayrshire in March where he died on the 19 April and was buried at Scone on 25 April.[25]

Kingship

In diebus illis non erat lex in Scocia fed quilibet potencior minorem oppressit et totum regnum fuit unum latrocinium. Homicidia depredaciones et incendia et cetera maleficia remanserunt inpunita et justicia utlegata extra regni terminos exulavit.

In those days there was no law in Scotland, but the strong oppressed the weak, and the whole kingdom was one den of thieves. Homicides, robberies, fire-raisings, and other misdeeds remained unpunished, and justice seemed banished beyond the kingdom's bounds.

—The Chartularium Episcopatus Moraviensis written at Elgin Cathedral for the year 1398[26][27]

In May 1390 parliament granted John permission to change his regnal name to Robert, probably in part to maintain the link back to Robert I but also to disassociate himself from King John Balliol.[28] The four month delay in the crowning of Robert III can be seen as a period when Fife and his affinity sought to ensure their future positions and which also saw Buchan's opportunistic attack on Elgin Cathedral, settling an old score with the bishop of Moray and possibly also a protest at Fife's reappointment as the king's lieutenant.[29]

In 1392, Robert III strengthened the position of his son David, now earl of Carrick, when he endowed him with a large annuity that allowed the young prince to build up his household and affinity and then in 1393 regained his right to direct rule when the general council decided that Fife's lieutenancy should end and that Carrick now of age should assist his father.[30] This independence of action was demonstrated in 1395–6 when he responded to Carrick's unauthorised marriage to Elizabeth Dunbar, daughter of George earl of March by ensuring its annulment.[12] The king appears to have also taken over the conduct of foreign affairs, preserving the peace with Richard II and managing to increase the power of the Red Douglas Earl of Angus in the southeast of the country as a counter-balance to Fife's Black Douglas ally. He further showed his authority when in an attempt to reduce inter-clan feuding and lawlessness, he arranged and oversaw a gladiatorial limited combat between the clans of Kay and Quhele (Clan Chattan) in Perth on 28 April 1396.[31] David of Carrick progressively acted independently of his father taking control of the Stewart lands in the south-west while maintaining his links with the Drummonds of his mother and all at a time when Fife's influence in central Scotland remained strong.[32]

Falkland Castle

The king was increasingly blamed for the failure to pacify the Gaelic areas in west and north. The general council held in Perth in April 1398 criticised the king's governance and enpowered his brother Robert and his son David—now respectively the Dukes of Albany and Rothesay—to lead an army against Donald, Lord of the Isles and his brothers.[12] In November 1398, an influential group of magnates and prelates met at Falkland Castle that included Albany, Rothesay, Archibald, earl of Douglas, Albany's son Murdoch, justiciar North of the Forth along with the bishops Walter of St Andrews and Gilbert of Aberdeen—the outcome of this meeting manifested itself at the council meeting held in January 1399 when the king was forced to surrender power to Rothesay for a period of three years.[33]

The kin of the border earls took advantage of the confusion in England after the deposition of Richard II by Henry duke of Lancaster and harried and forayed into England causing much damage and taking Wark Castle around 13 October 1399.[34] A far reaching dispute between Rothesay and George Dunbar, earl of March occurred when Rothesay, rather than remarrying Elizabeth Dunbar as previously agreed, decided to marry Mary Douglas, daughter of the earl of Douglas—March, enraged by this wrote to Henry IV on 18 February 1400 and by July had entered Henry's service.[35] In 1401, Rothesay took on a more assertive and autonomous attitude, circumventing proper procedures, unjustifiably appropriating sums from the customs of the burghs on the east coast before provoking further animosity when he confiscated the revenues of the temporalities of the vacant bishopric of St Andrews.[36] Rothesay had also in conjunction with his uncle, Alexander Stewart, earl of Buchan, confronted Albany's influence in central Scotland—as soon his lieutenancy expired in 1402 Rothesay was arrested and imprisoned in Albany's Falkland Castle where he died in March 1402.[37] Rothesay's death probably lay with Albany and Douglas who would have looked upon the possibility of the young prince acceding to the throne with great apprehension—they certainly fell under suspicion but were cleared of all blame by a general council, 'where, by divine providence and not otherwise, it is discerned that he departed from this life.' [38][39]

His body wes had than to Paslay,
And wes entyrit in that Abbay,
The quhilk his elderis devotely,
Fondyt, and dowyt rechely.

His body was taken to Paisley,
And was interred in that Abbey,
The which his forefathers devoutly,
Founded, and endowed richly.

—Andrew of Wyntoun, prior of Loch Leven[40]

Following Rothesay's death—with the restoration of the lieutenancy to Albany and the Scottish defeat at the battle of Humbleton—Robert III experienced almost total exclusion from political authority and was limited to his lands in the west.[41] By late 1404 Robert, with the aid of his close councillors Henry Sinclair, earl of Orkney, Sir David Fleming and Henry Wardlaw, had succeeded in re-establishing himself and intervened in favour of Alexander Stewart, the earl of Buchan's illegitimate son, who was in dispute with Albany over the earldom of Mar.[42] Robert III again exhibited his new resolve when in December 1404 he created a new regality in the Stewartry[43] for his sole remaining son and heir James now earl of Carrick—an act designed to prevent these lands falling into Albany's hands.[44] By 28 October 1405 Robert III had returned to Dundonald Castle in Ayrshire. With the king's health failing, it was decided in the winter of 1405–6 to send the young prince to France out of the reach of Albany.[45] Despite this, the manner of James's flight from Scotland was unplanned. In February 1406, the 12 year-old James together with Orkney and Fleming at the head of a large group of followers left the safety of Bishop Wardlaw's protection in St Andrews and journeyed through the hostile Douglas territories of east Lothian—an act probably designed to demonstrate James's royal endorsement of his custodians but also a move by his custodians to further their own interests in the traditional Douglas heartlands.[46] Events went seriously wrong for James and he had to escape to the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth along with the earl of Orkney after his escorts were attacked by James Douglas of Balvenie and which resulted in Sir David Fleming's death.[47] Their confinement on the rock was to last for over a month before a ship from Danzig, en route for France picked them up.[48] On 22 March 1406 the ship was taken by English pirates off Flamborough Head who delivered James to King Henry IV of England. Robert III had moved to Rothesay castle where, after hearing of his son's captivity, died 4 April 1406 and was buried in the Stewart foundation abbey of Paisley.[49]

Notes

  1. ↑ McGladdery, Kings and Queens of Scotland, p. 128
  2. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 16–18
  3. ↑ Penman, Kings and Queens of Scotland, p. 120
  4. ↑ Boardman, Annabella, ODNB
  5. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, p. 22
  6. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 23–4
  7. ↑ Penman, Kings and Queens of Scotland, p. 130
  8. ↑ Boardman, Robert III, ODNB
  9. ↑ Boardman, Robert III, ODNB
  10. ↑ Barrell, Medieval Scotland, pp. 141–2
  11. ↑ Grant in Jones et al., The New Cambridge Medieval History, p. 360
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Boardman, Robert III, ODNB
  13. ↑ Barrell, Medieval Scotland, p. 140–2
  14. ↑ 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, pages 83–9
  15. ↑ Grant in Jones et al., New Cambridge History, pp. 360–1
  16. ↑ Oram, et al., Kings & Queens, p. 126
  17. ↑ Boardman, Robert III, ODNB
  18. ↑ Lynch, Scotland: A New History, p. 139
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Boardman, Early Stewart Kings,p. 135
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Grant in Jones, et al., New Cambridge History p. 361
  21. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 139 & 142
  22. ↑ Grant in Tuck & Goodman, War and Border Societies, p. 51
  23. ↑ Grant in Tuck & Goodman, War and Border Societies, p. 51
  24. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, p. 171
  25. ↑ The date of Robert II's death and the disputed date for Robert II's burial and the reasons for the delay in Robert III's coronation are explained by Dauvit Broun in Brown & Tanner, History of Scottish Parliament pp. 112–6
  26. ↑ Dunbar, A Revised Chronology of Scottish History, p. 174
  27. ↑ Innes, C. Registum Moravienses, p. 382
  28. ↑ Barrell, Medieval Scotland, p. 146
  29. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 173–5
  30. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, pp. 195–6
  31. ↑ McGladdery, Kings & Queens of Scotland, p. 131
  32. ↑ Grant in Jones et al., New Cambridge Medieval History, p. 361
  33. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, pp. 173–5
  34. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, p. 226
  35. ↑ Sadler, Border Fury, p. 296
  36. ↑ Boardman, David Stewart, duke of Rothesay, ODNB
  37. ↑ Grant in Jones et al., The New Cambridge Medieval History, p. 362
  38. ↑ Barrell, Medieval Scotland. p. 149
  39. ↑ Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, 14 may, 1402, Edinburgh. http://www.rps.ac.uk/
  40. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings,p. 297
  41. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, p. 255
  42. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, p. 281
  43. ↑ For an understanding of the designation of baronies and earldoms into regalities and their powers during the reign of Robert III, see Alexander Grant, Franchises North of the Border, pp.193–199 in Michael Prestick (Ed), Liberties and Identities in the Medieval British Isles
  44. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, pp. 281–2
  45. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, p. 291
  46. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, pp. 293–4
  47. ↑ Brown, James I, ODNB
  48. ↑ Boardman,Early Stewart Kings, p. 293
  49. ↑ Penman, Kings and Queens of Scotland, p. 134
  50. ↑ Donaldson, ‘’Scottish Kings’’, p. 38
  51. ↑ Donaldson, ‘’Scottish Kings’’, p. 41
  52. ↑ Barrell, Medieval Scotland’’, p. 137
  53. ↑ Barrell, ‘’Medieval Scotland’’, p. 147
  54. ↑ Barrell, '’Medieval Scotland’’, pp. 150–1
  55. ↑ Grant, Independence and Nationhood, p. 184
  56. ↑ Grant, New Cambridge Medieval History, p. 367
  57. ↑ Lynch, '’Medieval Scotland’’, p. 140
  58. ↑ Lynch, ‘’Medieval Scotland’’, p. 142
  59. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings’’, p. 55
  60. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings’’, p. 304
  61. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings’’, p. 305
  62. ↑ Boardman, Early Stewart Kings’’, p. 308

References

  • Barrell, Andrew D. M., Medieval Scotland, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 052158602X 
  • Boardman, Stephen (2007), The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert III, 1371–1406, The Stewart Dynasty in Scotland Series, Edinburgh: John Donald, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd, ISBN 1-904607-68-3 
  • Boardman, Stephen (2007), "The Gaelic World and the Early Stewart Court", in Broun, Dauvit; MacGregor, Martin, Mìorun Mòr nan Gall, ‘The Great Ill-Will of the Lowlander’? Lowland Perceptions of the Highlands, Medieval and Modern (1st ed.), the Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies, University of Glasgow, ISBN 0-85261-820-X 
  • Brown, Keith M.; Tanner, Roland, The History of the Scottish Parliament: Parliament and Politics In Scotland 1235–1560, Vol. 1, Edinburgh University Press, ISBN 0748614850 
  • Brown, Michael, The Wars of Scotland, 1214-1371, Edinburgh University Press, ISBN 0748612386 
  • Burns, Charles, ed. (1976), Calendar of Papal Letters to Scotland of Clement VII of Avignon, 1378–1394, Scottish History Society, ISBN 9780950026084 
  • Dunbar, Archibald H., Scottish Kings: A Revised Chronology of Scottish History, Edinburgh: David Douglas 
  • Grant, Alexander (1992), "The Otterburn War from the Scottish Point of View", in Goodman, Anthony; Tuck, Anthony, War and Border Societies in the Middle Ages, Routledge, ISBN 0415080215 
  • Grant, Alexander, Independence and Nationhood, Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd, ISBN 0-7131-6309-7 
  • Grant, Alexander, "Forteenth-century Scotland", in Jones, Michael; et al.,, The New Cambridge Medieval History: C. 1300-C1415, Woodbridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 0521362903 
  • Innes, Cosmo, Registrum Episcapus Moraviensis, Edinburgh: Ballantyne Club 
  • Paul, James Balfour, ed. (1904), The Scots Peerage, I, Edinburgh: David Douglas 
  • Grant, Alexander, "Franchises North of the Border", in Prestwich, Michael, Liberties and Identities in the Medieval British Isles, Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-84383-374-1 
  • Penman, Michael (2001), "The House Divided: Bruce vs Balliol, 1290–1371", in Oram, Richard, The Kings & Queens of Scotland, Stroud, Gloustershire: Tempus Publishing Ltd, ISBN 0 7524 1991 9 
  • McGladdery, Christinel (2001), "The House of Stewart, 1371–1625", in Oram, Richard, The Kings & Queens of Scotland, Stroud, Gloustershire: Tempus Publishing Ltd, ISBN 0 7524 1991 9 
  • Rogers, Clifford J., The Wars of Edward III: Sources and Interpretations, Boydell & Brewer, ISBN 0851156460 
  • Sadler, John, Border Fury: England and Scotland at War 1296-1568, Longman, ISBN 1405840226 
  • Webster, Bruce (1998), "Scotland without a King, 1329–1341", in Grant, Alexander; Stringer, Keith, Medieval Scotland: Crown, Lordship and Community, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, ISBN 074861110x 
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See also

Children of Robert III of Scotland
Children of Robert III and Annabella Drummond
David, Duke of Rothesay · Robert, died in infancy  · James, Steward of Scotland, Duke of Rothesay and King of Scots · Margaret, married to Archibald, Earl of Douglas and Duke of Touraine · Mary, married to (1) George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus, (2) Sir James Kennedy and (3) William, Lord of Graham  · Elizabeth, married to Sir James Douglas, 1st Baron Dalkeith · Egida, married to William Douglas, Lord of Nithsdale
Illegitimate children of Robert III
James Stewart of Kilbride · Sir John Stewart of Auchingowan and Ardgowan
Information from: Boardman, Early Stewart Kings, pp. 114, 141, 149, 245, 294 and Weir, Britain's Royal Family, pp. 227—229
Pictish and Scottish Monarchs
Monarchs of the Picts
(traditional)
Flag of Scotland.svg
Drest I · Talorc I · Nechtan I · Drest II · Galan Erilich · Drest III · Drest IV · Gartnait I · Cailtram · Talorc II · Drest V · Galam Cennalath · Bridei I · Gartnait II · Nechtan II · Cinioch · Gartnait III · Bridei II · Talorc III · Talorgan I · Gartnait IV · Drest VI · Bridei III · Taran · Bridei IV · Nechtan III · Drest VII · Alpín I · Óengus I · Bridei V · Ciniod I · Alpín II · Talorgan II · Drest VIII · Conall · Constantine (I) · Óengus II · Drest IX · Uuen · Uurad · Bridei VI · Ciniod II · Bridei VII · Drest X
Monarchs of the Scots
(traditional)
Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg
Kenneth I MacAlpin · Donald I · Constantine I (II) · Áed · Giric · Eochaid (doubtful) · Donald II · Constantine II (III) · Malcolm I · Indulf · Dub · Cuilén · Amlaíb · Kenneth II · Constantine III (IV) · Kenneth III · Malcolm II · Duncan I · Macbeth · Lulach · Malcolm III Canmore · Donald III · Duncan II · Donald III · Edgar · Alexander I · David I · Malcolm IV · William I the Lion · Alexander II · Alexander III · Margaret (disputed)  · First Interregnum · John · Second Interregnum · Robert I · David II · Robert II · Robert III · James I · James II · James III · James IV · James V · Mary I · James VI* · Charles I* · Charles II* · James VII* · Mary II* · William II* · Anne*
* also monarch of England and Ireland.
Succession offices of Robert III, King of Scots
Robert III of Scotland
Born: 1316 Died: 1390
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Robert II		 King of Scots
19 April 1390–4 April 1406		 Succeeded by
James I
Scottish royalty
Preceded by
Robert Stewart
Steward of Scotland		 Heir of Scotland
as heir assumptive		 Succeeded by
David Stewart
Duke of Rothesay
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Possession of the crown
last held by William de Cunynghame 1361–1364		 Earl of Carrick
1368–5 March 1390		 Succeeded by
David Stewart
Court offices
Preceded by
Robert Stewart		 High Steward of Scotland
c. 1371–1390		 Succeeded by
Reverted to crown