David Stewart (24 October 1378, Scotland – 26 March 1402, Scotland) was prince and heir to the throne of Scotland from 1390 and the first Duke of Rothesay from 1398.
He was named after his great-great-uncle, David II of Scotland, and also held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1398–1402) and Earl of Carrick (1390–1402). He and his uncle (and arch-rival) Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, share the distinction of being the first Dukes to be created in the Scottish Peerage. David did not become King.
His marriage to Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald "the Grim", 3rd Earl of Douglas created an alliance of Douglas with the throne. It also caused a serious rupture with George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March, whose daughter Elizabeth had originally been betrothed to David. David and Majorie had no children.
As eldest son of King Robert III of Scotland and his Queen, Anabella Drummond, David was heir to the throne of Scotland.
David had an ally in his mother, the Queen. She worked to strengthen her son's influence, arranging the great tournament of 1398 in Edinburgh where he was knighted; later that year she was present, with the king, at the ceremony, performed by Walter Trail, Archbishop of St. Andrews, when David was created 'Duke of Rothesay' and Robert Stewart '1st Duke of Albany'.
In 1399, at age 21, David was appointed "Lieutenant" of the kingdom, partly due to the infirmity of his father at a time of civil unrest and conflict with England.
David is known to have immersed himself in the political life of the kingdom, playing a role, for instance, in peace negotiations with John of Gaunt in the Marches. However, his actions were significantly constrained by his inexperience and the ultimately mortal rivalry of his uncle, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.
Albany had been protector of the kingdom prior to David's lieutenancy. He was a ruthlessly effective politician with a well-developed power base, and his designs on the throne were not a secret.
In late February 1402, while travelling on official business, David was arrested just outside the city of St. Andrews. Albany and Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas had arranged the arrest, the pretext for which was that David's lieutenancy had expired. He was held captive in St. Andrews Castle, and soon afterwards taken to Falkland Palace, Albany's residence in Fife.
David remained a prisoner in the Well Tower at Falkland and eventually died there from neglect and starvation. A few weeks later, in May 1402, a public enquiry into the circumstances of David's death exonerated Albany of all blame, but suspicions of foul play remained.
Four years later, in 1406, David's younger brother, James Stewart, succeeded Robert III as king, while Albany secured himself as 'de facto' ruler of Scotland. The aforementioned suspicions had not left King James's mind, however, and they would eventually lead to the downfall of the Albany Stewarts.
∼David Stewart, 1st and last Duke of Rothesay, was the son of Robert III, King of Scotland, and Annabel Drummond. He married Lady Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Lady Joan Moray, in February 1400 at Bothwell Church, Scotland. He died at Falkland Palace under mysterious circumstances.
He was named after his great-great-uncle, David II of Scotland, and also held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1398–1402) and Earl of Carrick (1390–1402). He and his uncle (and arch-rival) Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, share the distinction of being the first Dukes to be created in the Scottish Peerage. David did not become King.
His marriage to Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald "the Grim", 3rd Earl of Douglas created an alliance of Douglas with the throne. It also caused a serious rupture with George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March, whose daughter Elizabeth had originally been betrothed to David. David and Majorie had no children.
As eldest son of King Robert III of Scotland and his Queen, Anabella Drummond, David was heir to the throne of Scotland.
David had an ally in his mother, the Queen. She worked to strengthen her son's influence, arranging the great tournament of 1398 in Edinburgh where he was knighted; later that year she was present, with the king, at the ceremony, performed by Walter Trail, Archbishop of St. Andrews, when David was created 'Duke of Rothesay' and Robert Stewart '1st Duke of Albany'.
In 1399, at age 21, David was appointed "Lieutenant" of the kingdom, partly due to the infirmity of his father at a time of civil unrest and conflict with England.
David is known to have immersed himself in the political life of the kingdom, playing a role, for instance, in peace negotiations with John of Gaunt in the Marches. However, his actions were significantly constrained by his inexperience and the ultimately mortal rivalry of his uncle, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.
Albany had been protector of the kingdom prior to David's lieutenancy. He was a ruthlessly effective politician with a well-developed power base, and his designs on the throne were not a secret.
In late February 1402, while travelling on official business, David was arrested just outside the city of St. Andrews. Albany and Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas had arranged the arrest, the pretext for which was that David's lieutenancy had expired. He was held captive in St. Andrews Castle, and soon afterwards taken to Falkland Palace, Albany's residence in Fife.
David remained a prisoner in the Well Tower at Falkland and eventually died there from neglect and starvation. A few weeks later, in May 1402, a public enquiry into the circumstances of David's death exonerated Albany of all blame, but suspicions of foul play remained.
Four years later, in 1406, David's younger brother, James Stewart, succeeded Robert III as king, while Albany secured himself as 'de facto' ruler of Scotland. The aforementioned suspicions had not left King James's mind, however, and they would eventually lead to the downfall of the Albany Stewarts.
∼David Stewart, 1st and last Duke of Rothesay, was the son of Robert III, King of Scotland, and Annabel Drummond. He married Lady Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Lady Joan Moray, in February 1400 at Bothwell Church, Scotland. He died at Falkland Palace under mysterious circumstances.
David Stewart (24 October 1378, Scotland – 26 March 1402, Scotland) was prince and heir to the throne of Scotland from 1390 and the first Duke of Rothesay from 1398.
He was named after his great-great-uncle, David II of Scotland, and also held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1398–1402) and Earl of Carrick (1390–1402). He and his uncle (and arch-rival) Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, share the distinction of being the first Dukes to be created in the Scottish Peerage. David did not become King.
His marriage to Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald "the Grim", 3rd Earl of Douglas created an alliance of Douglas with the throne. It also caused a serious rupture with George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March, whose daughter Elizabeth had originally been betrothed to David. David and Majorie had no children.
As eldest son of King Robert III of Scotland and his Queen, Anabella Drummond, David was heir to the throne of Scotland.
David had an ally in his mother, the Queen. She worked to strengthen her son's influence, arranging the great tournament of 1398 in Edinburgh where he was knighted; later that year she was present, with the king, at the ceremony, performed by Walter Trail, Archbishop of St. Andrews, when David was created 'Duke of Rothesay' and Robert Stewart '1st Duke of Albany'.
In 1399, at age 21, David was appointed "Lieutenant" of the kingdom, partly due to the infirmity of his father at a time of civil unrest and conflict with England.
David is known to have immersed himself in the political life of the kingdom, playing a role, for instance, in peace negotiations with John of Gaunt in the Marches. However, his actions were significantly constrained by his inexperience and the ultimately mortal rivalry of his uncle, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.
Albany had been protector of the kingdom prior to David's lieutenancy. He was a ruthlessly effective politician with a well-developed power base, and his designs on the throne were not a secret.
In late February 1402, while travelling on official business, David was arrested just outside the city of St. Andrews. Albany and Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas had arranged the arrest, the pretext for which was that David's lieutenancy had expired. He was held captive in St. Andrews Castle, and soon afterwards taken to Falkland Palace, Albany's residence in Fife.
David remained a prisoner in the Well Tower at Falkland and eventually died there from neglect and starvation. A few weeks later, in May 1402, a public enquiry into the circumstances of David's death exonerated Albany of all blame, but suspicions of foul play remained.
Four years later, in 1406, David's younger brother, James Stewart, succeeded Robert III as king, while Albany secured himself as 'de facto' ruler of Scotland. The aforementioned suspicions had not left King James's mind, however, and they would eventually lead to the downfall of the Albany Stewarts.
∼David Stewart, 1st and last Duke of Rothesay, was the son of Robert III, King of Scotland, and Annabel Drummond. He married Lady Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Lady Joan Moray, in February 1400 at Bothwell Church, Scotland. He died at Falkland Palace under mysterious circumstances.
He was named after his great-great-uncle, David II of Scotland, and also held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1398–1402) and Earl of Carrick (1390–1402). He and his uncle (and arch-rival) Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, share the distinction of being the first Dukes to be created in the Scottish Peerage. David did not become King.
His marriage to Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald "the Grim", 3rd Earl of Douglas created an alliance of Douglas with the throne. It also caused a serious rupture with George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March, whose daughter Elizabeth had originally been betrothed to David. David and Majorie had no children.
As eldest son of King Robert III of Scotland and his Queen, Anabella Drummond, David was heir to the throne of Scotland.
David had an ally in his mother, the Queen. She worked to strengthen her son's influence, arranging the great tournament of 1398 in Edinburgh where he was knighted; later that year she was present, with the king, at the ceremony, performed by Walter Trail, Archbishop of St. Andrews, when David was created 'Duke of Rothesay' and Robert Stewart '1st Duke of Albany'.
In 1399, at age 21, David was appointed "Lieutenant" of the kingdom, partly due to the infirmity of his father at a time of civil unrest and conflict with England.
David is known to have immersed himself in the political life of the kingdom, playing a role, for instance, in peace negotiations with John of Gaunt in the Marches. However, his actions were significantly constrained by his inexperience and the ultimately mortal rivalry of his uncle, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.
Albany had been protector of the kingdom prior to David's lieutenancy. He was a ruthlessly effective politician with a well-developed power base, and his designs on the throne were not a secret.
In late February 1402, while travelling on official business, David was arrested just outside the city of St. Andrews. Albany and Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas had arranged the arrest, the pretext for which was that David's lieutenancy had expired. He was held captive in St. Andrews Castle, and soon afterwards taken to Falkland Palace, Albany's residence in Fife.
David remained a prisoner in the Well Tower at Falkland and eventually died there from neglect and starvation. A few weeks later, in May 1402, a public enquiry into the circumstances of David's death exonerated Albany of all blame, but suspicions of foul play remained.
Four years later, in 1406, David's younger brother, James Stewart, succeeded Robert III as king, while Albany secured himself as 'de facto' ruler of Scotland. The aforementioned suspicions had not left King James's mind, however, and they would eventually lead to the downfall of the Albany Stewarts.
∼David Stewart, 1st and last Duke of Rothesay, was the son of Robert III, King of Scotland, and Annabel Drummond. He married Lady Marjorie Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Lady Joan Moray, in February 1400 at Bothwell Church, Scotland. He died at Falkland Palace under mysterious circumstances.
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