obert II (1316-90), king of Scotland from
1371 to his death. He became the founder of the Stewart dynasty.
The most notable imcidents of Robert’s reign were the
invasion of Scotland by an English military and naval force under
the command of the Duke of Lancaster in 1384, and again by King
Richard II in 1385, which wasted the land as far as Edinburgh and
Fife, and the grand retaliatory expedition of the Scotch in 1388.
[The Home University Encyclopedia, 1946]
Notes on Robert II, King of Scotland
Appointed the 6th High Steward of Scotland on 9 Apr
1326 and created Earl of Atholl 16 Feb 1341. Throughout the
disastrous reign of his uncle, David II, he was one of the most
prominent nobles of Scotland. He twice acted as Regent (1335-1341
and 1346-1357). Upon David’s death he obtained the crown,
becoming the founder of the powerful Stewart dynasty. His
powerful and intractable barons shaped the policy of the country
very much according to their own pleasure. The misery inflicted
by their raids into and across the border marches was frightful.
The reprisals by the English wardens were equally painful. The
great events of his reign were invasions of Scotland by an
English force under the Duke of Lancaster in 1384 and by Richard
II in 1385 and the retaliatory expedition of the Scots in 1388
culminating in the defeat at Otterburn. Robert first married his
mistress by (papal?) dispensation, legitimising his nine children
by her; and secondly by papal dispensation after the death of his
first wife. {Burke’s Peerage and Chamber’s Biographical
Dictionary} [GADD.GED]
