March 2nd , 1316
Robert II of Scotland was born on March 2, 1316, and he was the first monarch of the House of Stewart (Stuart), ruling from 1371 until his death in 1390. His birth ensured the royal succession of Robert the Bruce (Robert I), his maternal grandfather, whose efforts secured Scotland’s independence from English domination during the First War of Scottish Independence.
Robert II’s path to the throne was set through his lineage; he was the son of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce, and Walter Stewart, the 6th High Steward of Scotland. Marjorie’s death following a riding accident left Robert as a direct heir to the Scottish throne through his grandfather’s line. This lineage was significant because the survival of the Bruce line was precarious, with Robert the Bruce having only one legitimate son, David II, who had no surviving children. Upon David II’s death in 1371, the crown passed to Robert II, establishing the Stewart dynasty that would rule Scotland until 1603 and continue in England and Great Britain after the Union of the Crowns.
Robert II’s reign marked the beginning of a period of relative peace and stability in Scotland following decades of warfare and internal strife. His accession to the throne was a significant moment in Scottish history, not only for the establishment of the Stewart dynasty but also for reinforcing the legacy of Robert the Bruce and the continued independence of Scotland during a tumultuous period in British history.
