David Stewart, Duke Of Rothesay
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David Stewart (24 October 1378 - ) was the eldest son of
Robert III of Scotland Robert III ( – 4 April 1406), born John Stewart, was King of Scots from 1390 to his death in 1406. He was also High Steward of Scotland from 1371 to 1390 and held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1367–1390) and Earl of Carrick (1368–1390 ...
and his wife, Annabella Drummond. The
heir apparent An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
to the Scottish throne from 1390 until his death, David held the titles of Prince of Scotland,
Duke of Rothesay Duke of Rothesay ( ; ; ) is the main dynastic title traditionally given to the male heir apparent to the Scottish and, later, British thrones. The dukedom was created in 1398 by Robert III of Scotland for his eldest son. Duke of Rothesay i ...
, and
Earl of Carrick Earl of Carrick (or Mormaer of Carrick) is the title applied to the ruler of Carrick, Scotland, Carrick (now South Ayrshire), subsequently part of the Peerage of Scotland. The position came to be strongly associated with the Scottish crown when ...
. David was named by a general council to rule
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
as regent, on behalf of his infirm and politically ineffective father, in 1399. He was responsible for the defense of Scotland during the English invasion in 1400. After coming into conflict with his uncle, Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, David was arrested and removed from power in late 1401. He died in mysterious circumstances at Falkland Palace shortly afterwards. David's younger brother, James, eventually succeeded their father as
King of Scots The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British cons ...
.


Life

David was born on 24 October 1378. He was the third child and eldest son of John Stewart,
Earl of Carrick Earl of Carrick (or Mormaer of Carrick) is the title applied to the ruler of Carrick, Scotland, Carrick (now South Ayrshire), subsequently part of the Peerage of Scotland. The position came to be strongly associated with the Scottish crown when ...
, himself the eldest son and
heir apparent An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
of King Robert II, and Annabella Drummond. David was probably named after his great-granduncle, King David II, who had supported his parents' marriage. David's birth in 1378 resolved tensions over the Scottish royal succession that had existed since 1373, when the
Parliament of Scotland In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
restricted the succession rights of his elder sisters,
Margaret Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Iranian languages, Old Iranian. It has been an English language, English name since the 11th century, and remained popular thro ...
and Elizabeth, in favor of David's uncle, Robert, Earl of Fife, and his cousin Murdoch. At the moment of his birth, David became second in line to the Scottish throne. David had been given his own
retinue A retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble, royal personage, or dignitary; a ''suite'' (French "what follows") of retainers. Etymology The word, recorded in English since circa 1375, stems from Old French ''retenue'', ...
by late 1386. David's retainers were drawn from among the political allies of his father, John, Earl of Carrick. David's father, who had been named as
regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
for his grandfather in 1384, was replaced in office by his uncle, Robert, Earl of Fife, in 1388. The Earl of Carrick's removal from power was justified by a declaration that he was physically incapable of governing, probably after he had been severely injured by a horse. The general council which met in
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
in December 1388, with the purpose of removing the Earl of Carrick from the regency, observed that David was too young to exercise authority on his father's behalf. David's grandfather, Robert II, died in 1390, whereupon David's father became
King of Scots The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British cons ...
under the
regnal name A regnal name, regnant name, or reign name is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they accede ...
of Robert III.


Rise to prominence

David was granted the title of
Earl of Carrick Earl of Carrick (or Mormaer of Carrick) is the title applied to the ruler of Carrick, Scotland, Carrick (now South Ayrshire), subsequently part of the Peerage of Scotland. The position came to be strongly associated with the Scottish crown when ...
after his father's accession. As heir apparent, David's household was controlled by his father, Robert III. The king appointed Thomas Mather, his former chaplain, as David's schoolmaster. David attained financial independence from his father in 1392, when he was granted a large annual pension of £640 from royal customs revenue. The influence of the Douglas family, particularly the relatives of James, 2nd Earl of Douglas, in David's household sparked political tension. After James' death at the
Battle of Otterburn The Battle of Otterburn, also known as the Battle of Chevy Chase, took place according to Scottish sources on 5 August 1388, or 19 August according to English sources, as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scots and Eng ...
in 1388, his lands had successfully been claimed by his cousin, Archibald the Grim, a close ally of Robert, Earl of Fife, in opposition to David's maternal uncle, Malcolm Drummond. By 1393, the presence of Drummond and his allies, particularly James Lindsay of Crawford, in David's entourage was viewed as a political threat by Archibald and Robert. David's uncle, the Earl of Fife, who had been reappointed as regent for Robert III in 1390, returned power to the king in February 1393, probably as a result of David's emergence into adulthood. After 1393, David exercised an increasingly important role in
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
, effectively performing many of his father's duties as king. David formally complained to Clement VII, the
Avignon Avignon (, , ; or , ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the Communes of France, commune had a ...
antipope An antipope () is a person who claims to be Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church in opposition to the officially elected pope. Between the 3rd and mid-15th centuries, antipopes were supported by factions within the Church its ...
, against the Abbot of
Newbattle Newbattle (from Old Scots ''Neubothle'', "new building") is a village and civil parish in Midlothian, Scotland. The village lies south of Dalkeith, about seven miles from Edinburgh. It is notable for containing Newbattle Abbey, a stately hom ...
in 1394. In his petition to Avignon, David complained that the abbot, John, had been "exceedingly ungrateful" in his presence. Possibly in 1394, David assumed the title of Lord of
Nithsdale Nithsdale (), also known as Strathnith, Stranith or Stranit, is the strath or dale (landform), dale of the River Nith in southern Scotland. Nithsdale was one of the medieval provinces of Scotland. The provinces gradually lost their administrat ...
. This was probably viewed by Archibald, 3rd Earl of Douglas, as a challenge to his own power in
Galloway Galloway ( ; ; ) is a region in southwestern Scotland comprising the counties of Scotland, historic counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. It is administered as part of the council areas of Scotland, council area of Dumfries and Gallow ...
. David may have supported the Kennedy and Agnew families in their opposition to Archibald's authority within Galloway. In 1396, David led a royal campaign to restore law and order in the
Scottish Highlands The Highlands (; , ) is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands, Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Scots language, Lowland Scots language replaced Scottish Gae ...
, amidst a violent feud between the Clan Chattan and another
clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
, possibly
Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber, and within their lands lies Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isl ...
. The
Battle of the North Inch The Battle of the North Inch (also known as the Battle of the Clans) was a staged battle between the Clan Chattan and the "Clan Quhele" in September 1396. Thirty men were selected to represent each side in front of spectators, including King Ro ...
, a staged battle between the two clans held at
Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
in September 1396, was likely the outcome of David's campaign in the north. David enjoyed considerable authority within Scotland by the end of 1397. During the summer of that year, he openly challenged Archibald, Earl of Douglas, by supporting the marriage of his younger sister, Mary, to George Douglas, Lord of Angus, a member of the rival Red Douglas line of the Douglas family. David's political power was reflected in a complaint made by officials of the Scottish exchequer in
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
in May 1397, around the time of his sister's betrothal to George, Lord of Angus. The officials accused David of taking royal funds without written permission, remarking that they did not dare to contrevene his actions. David was named as a member of his father's council in 1397, and around that time he took a leading role in Anglo- Scottish diplomacy. In March 1398, David defended Scottish claims to Jedforest in negotiations with
John of Gaunt John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399), was an English royal prince, military leader and statesman. He was the fourth son (third surviving) of King Edward III of England, and the father of King Henry IV. Because ...
, the uncle of
Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...
. On 28 April 1398, Robert III elevated David to the new title of
Duke of Rothesay Duke of Rothesay ( ; ; ) is the main dynastic title traditionally given to the male heir apparent to the Scottish and, later, British thrones. The dukedom was created in 1398 by Robert III of Scotland for his eldest son. Duke of Rothesay i ...
during a general council at Scone Abbey. David's influence was further reflected by the creation of his ally, David Lindsay of Crawford, as
Earl of Crawford Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient extant titles in Great Britain, having been created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1398 for David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford, Sir David Lindsay. It is the premier earldom recorded on the Union Roll. ...
during the same council.


Marital disputes

David was betrothed to marry Elizabeth Dunbar, a daughter of George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March, by August 1395, when
antipope Benedict XIII Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor (25 November 1328 – 23 May 1423), known as () or Pope Luna, was an Aragonese nobleman who was antipope with the regnal name Benedict XIII during the Western Schism. Early life Pedro Martínez de Lu ...
granted a dispensation to the couple. David's marriage to Elizabeth never took place. Robert III did not approve of his son's marriage. The king attacked
Dunbar Castle Dunbar Castle was one of the strongest fortresses in Scotland, situated in a prominent position overlooking the Dunbar Harbour, harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian. Several fortifications were built successively on the site, near th ...
, the seat of George, Earl of March, probably during the autumn of 1396, in order to prevent David's marriage to the earl's daughter. Robert III's opposition to the marriage forced David's prospective father-in-law, the Earl of March, to seek refuge in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
during 1397. In March 1397, Benedict XIII issued a second dispensation to David and Elizabeth, suggesting that David had personally lobbied the antipope for permission to marry Elizabeth. Despite this dispensation, there is no indication that David and Elizabeth had contact with each other after 1397. Elizabeth's father, the Earl of March, still expected the marriage to take place as late as 1400. David married Mary Douglas, a daughter of Archibald, 3rd Earl of Douglas, at Bothwell Castle in February 1400. Although he had previously supported his brother-in-law, George Douglas, in his violent raids on the estates of Archibald's allies in 1397, David now married Archibald's daughter as a sign of his reconciliation with the Earl of Douglas, a close associate of his uncle, Robert, Duke of Albany. David's repudiation of his betrothal to Elizabeth Dunbar led the latter's father, George, Earl of March, to complain to
Henry IV of England Henry IV ( – 20 March 1413), also known as Henry Bolingbroke, was King of England from 1399 to 1413. Henry was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (a son of King Edward III), and Blanche of Lancaster. Henry was involved in the 1388 ...
that he had been "gretly wrangit" by the prince. This complaint was a major factor in the English invasion of Scotland later that same year.


Regency

By April 1398, Robert III's rule of
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
was facing severe criticism in many parts of the kingdom. The king, who suffered from periodic bouts of illness, was accused of failing to maintain order in northern Scotland. At the time of his creation as Duke of Rothesay that same month, David was tasked by the general council with leading an army into the Highlands to confront Donald, Lord of the Isles, who had recently raided in
Moray Moray ( ; or ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with a coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Its council is based in Elgin, the area' ...
. David's uncle
Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...
, who had been created
Duke of Albany Duke of Albany is a peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on younger sons in the Scotland, Scottish and later the British royal family, particularly in the Houses of House of Stuart, Stuart and House of Hanover, Hanover. History ...
on the same day as David's own elevation to ducal status, was appointed as joint leader of the expedition against Donald. The royal campaign in the north was derailed when Walter Danielston, a brother of the former
castellan A castellan, or constable, was the governor of a castle in medieval Europe. Its surrounding territory was referred to as the castellany. The word stems from . A castellan was almost always male, but could occasionally be female, as when, in 1 ...
of
Dumbarton Castle Dumbarton Castle (, ; ) has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. It sits on a volcanic plug of basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high and overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton. History Dumbarton Rock was forme ...
, seized control of the castle against Robert III's wishes. Although he laid siege to Dumbarton with a large army in late 1398, Robert III was unable to remove Danielston from the castle. David joined his father at the siege of Dumbarton, where he was given the earldom of Atholl in September 1398, possibly as a reward for his efforts to pacify northern Scotland. Robert III's failure to recapture Dumbarton was the final blow to his prestige and political authority. David attended a gathering of noblemen at Falkland Palace, the residence of his uncle Robert, Duke of Albany, in November 1398, where the two men likely decided to remove the king from power. At a general council held at
Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
in January 1399, Robert III was forced to surrender power to David as regent of the kingdom. The king's subjects were ordered to obey and support David "as they should do with the king's person". He was officially styled as "lieutenant" for his father. David's assumption of power was supported by Archibald, 3rd Earl of Douglas, in the prelude to David's marriage to the earl's daughter the following year. David was also supported by his mother
Annabella Annabella, Anabella, or Anabela is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: *Annabella of Scotland (c. 1433–1509), daughter of King James I *Annabella (actress) (1907–1996), stage name of French actress Suzanne Georgette C ...
, who had arranged for him to be knighted at a tournament in Edinburgh. At the beginning of his regency, David cooperated with his uncle, the Duke of Albany, in the governance of Scotland. The parliamentary statutes that had allowed David to assume power also required him to take advice from a council of twenty-one noblemen and prelates, including Robert, Duke of Albany, and Walter Stewart of Brechin, another of David's uncles. David's maternal uncle, Malcolm Drummond, reconciled with the Duke of Albany in 1399, likely as part of a general rapprochement between the affinities of David and Robert. David convened a
parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
at
Scone A scone ( or ) is a traditional British and Irish baked good, popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is usually made of either wheat flour or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans. A scone is often ...
in February 1401, where he was responsible for new statutes of criminal and property law. One of the decrees of this parliament was that widows and orphans should have greater access to David and other royal officials, a measure intended to allow poor petitioners to complain to the king's council more easily. David also issued statutes on hunting and the burning of
moorland Moorland or moor is a type of Habitat (ecology), habitat found in upland (geology), upland areas in temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and the biomes of montane grasslands and shrublands, characterised by low-growing vegetation on So ...
.


War with England

After the deposition of
Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...
in 1399, David seems to have authorized Scottish raids into northern
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. Shortly before the coronation of the new English king, Henry IV, on 13 October 1399, a Scottish army destroyed Wark Castle in
Northumberland Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...
. George, Earl of March, appealed to Henry IV for support in the spring of 1400, after David had repudiated the earl's daughter, Elizabeth, to marry Mary Douglas. Henry responded to these appeals by invading Scotland in August 1400, raising an army of 20,000 men for the purpose. The English army advanced to
Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...
, where Henry demanded the feudal homage of Robert III and the Scottish nobility. Upon hearing of Henry's approach, David retreated to
Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...
, where he barricaded himself alongside his brother-in-law, Archibald, Master of Douglas, and other noblemen. David responded to Henry's demands for homage in a defiant letter, in which he refused to accord Henry the title of
King of England The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers Constitutional monarchy, regula ...
, and offered a staged battle between members of the English and Scottish nobility as a means to end the war. According to the contemporary author Walter Bower, David clashed with his uncle, Robert, Duke of Albany, over the conduct of the war, with the duke refusing to bring his army to David's aid at Edinburgh. Henry was unable to defeat the Scots in a
pitched battle A pitched battle or set-piece battle is a battle in which opposing forces each anticipate the setting of the battle, and each chooses to commit to it. Either side may have the option to disengage before the battle starts or shortly thereafter. A ...
and, lacking the supplies to besiege Edinburgh Castle, withdrew to England in September. In March 1401, David and his uncle, the Duke of Albany, attempted to open negotiations with Henry IV for peace, but were prevented from doing so by David's brother-in-law Archibald, who had now become
Earl of Douglas This page is concerned with the holders of the forfeit title Earl of Douglas and the preceding Scottish feudal barony, feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1 ...
. Archibald physically prevented David from entering the West March. Around this time, Henry Percy led an English army to raid in
East Lothian East Lothian (; ; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In ...
, but was defeated by Archibald. David arranged negotiations with English representatives at
Kirk Yetholm Kirk Yetholm ('kirk yet-ham') is a village in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland, southeast of Kelso, Scotland, Kelso and less than west of the Anglo-Scottish Border, border. The first mention is of its church in the 13th century. Its ...
in October 1401, but probably fell from power before they could take place.


Downfall

David's mother,
Annabella Annabella, Anabella, or Anabela is a feminine given name. Notable people with the name include: *Annabella of Scotland (c. 1433–1509), daughter of King James I *Annabella (actress) (1907–1996), stage name of French actress Suzanne Georgette C ...
,
Queen of Scots The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British cons ...
, died in the "harvest time" of 1401, probably in October. According to Walter Bower, the queen's death led directly to the end of David's working relationship with his uncle, Robert, Duke of Albany. David's conflict with his uncle was likely caused by the aggressive fiscal policy which he began to pursue in the latter half of 1401. After the death of Walter Trail, Bishop of St. Andrews, during the summer of that year, David attempted to occupy St. Andrews Castle until a new bishop could be elected. David ordered the construction of
siege engines A siege engine is a device that is designed to break or circumvent heavy castle doors, thick city walls and other fortifications in siege warfare. Some are immobile, constructed in place to attack enemy fortifications from a distance, while othe ...
to capture the castle. David's interest in St. Andrews was likely driven by its status as the wealthiest Scottish diocese. David's uncle, the Duke of Albany, probably opposed his actions in St. Andrews. The duke supported the right of his illegitimate half-brother, Thomas Stewart, to claim the revenues of St. Andrews as bishop, in opposition to David. David's uncle was probably also angered by the prince's interference in his earldom of
Fife Fife ( , ; ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in Scotland. A peninsula, it is bordered by the Firth of Tay to the north, the North Sea to the east, the Firth of Forth to the s ...
, which included most of the diocesan lands of St. Andrews. David personally visited a number of prominent
burghs A burgh ( ) is an autonomous municipal corporation in Scotland, usually a city, town, or toun in Scots. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was bro ...
, including
Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...
,
Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...
, and Montrose, during the summer of 1401, in order to acquire money from their financial officials. David was accused of violently forcing officials in Dundee to give him £70, while in Montrose he abducted John Tyndale, a customs official, until Tyndale handed over £24. At this time, David may also have attempted to claim his mother's annual pension of 2,500 merks. David's fiscal policies likely angered his uncle, Robert, Duke of Albany, whose authority as
Chamberlain of Scotland Holders of the office of Lord Chamberlain of Scotland are known from about 1124. It was ranked by King Malcolm as the third great Officer of State, called ''Camerarius Domini Regis'', and had a salary of £200 per annum allotted to him. He ancien ...
had been bypassed by the prince's actions. The duke, who likely felt threatened by David's assertiveness, began arranging an attack against his nephew in late 1401. David also came into conflict with his brother-in-law, Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas, by claiming the title of Earl of March, which had been forfeited by George Dunbar after the English invasion, probably in mid-1401. David's possession of March prevented Archibald from obtaining his desired lands in the earldom. David likely opposed Archibald's desire to dismantle the earldom because it would prevent Dunbar, who had fled to
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, from regaining his former lands as part of a potential peace treaty with Henry IV. Probably towards the end of 1401, David was betrayed and arrested on the road near Strathtyrum by his retainers, John Ramornie and William Lindsay of Rossie. His ally, David, Earl of Crawford, may also have taken part in his arrest. Robert, Duke of Albany, who had arranged for David's arrest, ordered the prince to be imprisoned in St. Andrews Castle, where David's siege had now been abandoned. The Duke of Albany negotiated with Archibald, Earl of Douglas, at
Culross Culross (/ˈkurəs/) (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cuileann Ros'', 'holly point or promontory') is a village and former royal burgh, and parish, in Fife, Scotland. According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 395. Originally, Culross ...
to secure his support for David's imprisonment, probably a few days after David's arrest.


Death

David was transferred from St. Andrews to Falkland Palace shortly after the meeting at Culross. His brother-in-law, Archibald, Earl of Douglas, may have escorted him to prison at Falkland. According to Walter Bower, David was forced to ride from St. Andrews to Falkland on a mule, wearing russet robes. This was likely a deliberate measure of humiliation, recalling the treatment of
Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...
after his deposition several years earlier. Robert, Duke of Albany, who feared resistance from David's remaining allies, ordered the arrest of David's maternal uncle, Malcolm Drummond, around the same time that David was imprisoned at St. Andrews. Drummond was later killed in the custody of Alexander Stewart, the duke's ally and David's illegitimate cousin. The decision to kill David himself may already have been made between his uncle and brother-in-law at Culross. The duke, having initially ordered David's arrest, probably reasoned that it was now too dangerous to allow David to succeed his infirm father, Robert III, as
King of Scots The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British cons ...
. If David became king, the duke would likely face accusations of
treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state (polity), state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to Coup d'état, overthrow its government, spy ...
for his continued detention. David died at Falkland Palace, while in his uncle's custody, on either 25 or 27 March 1402. Contemporaries generally believed that David was starved to death on his uncle's orders, although Walter Bower asserted that he died of
dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...
. Bower claimed that the appearance of the Great Comet of 1402 in Scotland was taken as a sign of David's death. David was buried at Lindores Abbey. The circumstances of David's death were debated at a general council held at
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
in May 1402, where Robert, Duke of Albany, and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, were exonerated of blame. Robert III was forced to decree that David had died "by divine providence and not otherwise." In 1405, Robert III made a grant to Deer Abbey for masses to be said in David's memory. According to
Hector Boece Hector Boece (; also spelled Boyce or Boise; 1465–1536), known in Latin as Hector Boecius or Boethius, was a Scottish philosopher and historian, and the first Ancient university governance in Scotland, Principal of King's College, Aberdeen, ...
, pilgrims sought miraculous healing at David's tomb at Lindores for many years after his death. David's younger brother, James I, who succeeded their father as
King of Scots The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British cons ...
in 1406, took revenge on David's captors after returning to Scotland in 1424. James executed his cousin, Murdoch, Duke of Albany, the eldest son of Robert, Duke of Albany, and two of Murdoch's own sons.
John Shirley John Shirley (born February 10, 1953) is an American writer, primarily of horror, fantasy, science fiction, noir fiction, westerns, and songwriting. He has also written one historical novel, a western about Wyatt Earp, ''Wyatt in Wichita'', and ...
, the contemporary English author, believed that James ordered Murdoch's death "because of the false murder of his brother, the Duke of Rothesay". James also imprisoned John Ramornie and William Lindsay of Rossie, the men who had arrested David in 1401, and deprived them of their lands.


Fictional portrayals

David was the subject of an anonymous, full-length 18th century verse drama, ''The Duke of Rothesay, a tragedy,''The Duke of Rothesay, a tragedy, Edinburgh: printed for J. Wood. Sold by C. Elliot; and by A. Donaldson, at his shops in London and Edinburgh, 1780
National Library of Australia. Thomson Gale, 2003. Eighteenth century collections online. Access restricted to subscribers.
published and sold in Edinburgh in 1780. The story of his imprisonment is the principal subject of
Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...
's ''
The Fair Maid of Perth ''The Fair Maid of Perth'' (or ''St. Valentine's Day'') is an 1828 novel by Sir Walter Scott, one of the Waverley novels. Inspired by the strange, but historically true, story of the Battle of the North Inch, it is set in Perth, Scotland, Perth ...
'' (1828) in which he is likewise portrayed as tragic victim. He also features as a principal character in relevant novels from Nigel Tranter's trilogy about the early Stewart kings, ''The Stewart Trilogy'' (1976-1977).


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rothesay, David Stewart, Duke Of 1378 births 1402 deaths 14th-century Scottish people 15th-century Scottish nobility David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay
David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...
David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Dukes of Rothesay 501 14th-century Scottish earls 15th-century Scottish peers Princes and great stewards of Scotland People of Falkland Palace Sons of kings