A portrait of King Robert II of Scotland in the Great Gallery at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh
his son, Robert III of Scotland, is also remembered at Holyrood
The death of David II, son of Robert the Bruce, in 1371 marked the end of the Bruce reign and the bloody beginnings of the Stewart dynasty, one that would rule Scotland for 343 years.
While war with England was largely kept at bay through various truces and the Auld Alliance with France remained predominantly intact, the first Stewart monarchs battled internally with issues of legitimacy, both old and young ascendants to the throne, and attempted power grabs by strong, rival families.
Despite this, the founding Stewart fathers did eventually instil a firmer, if heavy-handed approach to royal governance, instigating reforms and securing the foundations of the dynasty that would ultimately unite the Scottish and English thrones centuries later in 1603.
ROBERT II
Robert Stewart,