King David II of Scotland (1329 - 1371)
Name: King David II of Scotland
Father: Robert I, The Bruce
Mother: Elizabeth de Burgh
Relation to Charles III: 19th great-granduncle
House of: Bruce
Born: March 5, 1324 at Dunfermline, Fife
Ascended to the throne: June 7, 1329 aged 5 years
Crowned: November 24, 1331 at Scone Abbey, Perthshire
Married:(1) Joan of England, July 17, 1328
Married:(2) Margaret Drummond, February 20, 1364
Children: none
Died: February 22, 1371, at Edinburgh Castle, aged 46 years, 11 months, and 18 days
Buried at: Holyrood Abbey
Succeeded by: his nephew Robert II
David was married at the age of 4 to Joan the 7 year old daughter of Edward II. He succeeded to the throne the following year on the death of his father Robert I and was crowned at Scone in 1331.
The regency was in the hands of Thomas Randolph of Moray until he and David were overthrown in 1332 by Edward Balliol (son of John Balliol) at the Battle of Dupplin Moor near Perth. David was restored to the throne the following year but again overthrown when Balliol returned with Edward III and defeated the Scots at Halidon hill. David and Joan fled to France where they were guests of King Phillip VI.
In 1341 the Scottish nobles under Robert Stewart gained the upper hand and David and Joan were able to return to Scotland and were restored to the throne. Five years later in 1346 David attacked England in support of France while Edward III was away fighting in France. The Scots were defeated at Nevillie’s Cross near Durham where David was injured and taken prisoner. He was held captive in England for 11 years until 1357 when under the Treaty of Berwick he was allowed to return to Scotland for a ransom of 100,000 merks ‘A King’s Ransom’. The full amount was never paid.
Queen Joan died in 1362, and David married Margaret Drummond but there were no children from either marriage. David was succeeded by his nephew Robert II.
Timeline for King David II of Scotland
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1329 | David II succeeds to the Scottish throne on the death of his father, Robert Bruce |
| 1331 | David II (aged 7) crowned at Scone |
| 1332 | Edward Balliol, son of John Balliol, invades Scotland and deposes David II. Edward Balliol is crowned King of Scotland by the English |
| 1333 | David is restored to the throne. |
| 1333 | Balliol flees to England but returns when Edward III of England invades Scotland and defeats the Scots at Halidon Hill. King David II goes into exile in France. |
| 1341 | Edinburgh Castle captured from the English. David returns from exile. |
| 1346 | David II invades England but is defeated at Neville’s Cross and captured. He is taken to the Tower of London, where he is imprisoned for the next 11 years |
| 1350 | Scotland suffers from the Black Death. Up to a quarter of the population die. |
| 1356 | Edward III devastates the Lothian region in a campaign known as 'The Burnt Candlemas' |
| 1357 | David II is released from captivity and returns home to Scotland. |
| 1371 | Death of David II. He is succeeded by his nephew, Robert Stewart, the first Stewart King of Scotland. Robert, the hereditary High Steward of Scotland and grandson of Robert Bruce, is crowned |