David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay facts for kids

David Stewart (born October 24, 1378 – died March 26, 1402) was a Scottish prince. He was the first son of Robert III of Scotland, the King of Scots. This meant David was the heir apparent, or next in line to the throne, from 1390. He was also the very first Duke of Rothesay starting in 1398.

David was named after his great-granduncle, David II of Scotland. He also held the titles of Earl of Atholl and Earl of Carrick. David and his uncle, Robert Stewart, were the first dukes ever created in Scotland. Sadly, David never became king. His marriage to Marjorie Douglas, the daughter of Archibald the Grim, had no children.

David's Early Life and Royal Role

David Stewart was born on October 24, 1378. His parents were John Stewart, who was the King's chief officer, and Anabella Drummond. In 1390, his father became King Robert III. This made David the first in line to the Scottish throne.

David was very involved in the politics of Scotland. Around 1396, he was given the job of bringing peace to the northern parts of the country. He also helped with peace talks with John of Gaunt near the English border.

A Tricky Marriage

In 1395, David was set to marry Elizabeth de Dunbar. Her father, George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March, was a very powerful man. This marriage would have created a strong political friendship. A special permission from the Pope was needed for the marriage. But David and Elizabeth married before it arrived, which caused some trouble. They had to separate for a while and then get permission to "remarry" in 1397.

However, Archibald Douglas, also known as "The Grim," convinced King Robert to change plans. Instead of remarrying Elizabeth, David was then set to marry Archibald's daughter, Marjorie Douglas. This made the Dunbar family very angry. They lost an important alliance and felt insulted. As a result, George Dunbar, Earl of March, left Scotland and joined King Henry IV of England. This was a dangerous situation for Scotland.

Leading Scotland as Lieutenant

In January 1399, the Scottish Parliament decided that David should lead the kingdom. He was made "lieutenant" with full royal powers for three years. This was partly because his father, the King, was not well. It was also a time of unrest and conflict with England.

Even though David had this important role, his power was limited. He was young and didn't have much experience. Also, his uncle, Robert Stewart, was a powerful rival. Albany had been in charge before David. He was a very skilled politician and wanted the throne for himself.

David's mother, the Queen, tried to help him. She organized a big tournament in 1398 in Edinburgh where David was made a knight. In the same year, David was given the title Duke of Rothesay. His uncle, Albany, also became a duke at this ceremony. But both the Queen and the Archbishop who performed the ceremony died by 1401. By then, David's father, the King, could not do much to help him.

His Mysterious Death

Falkland Palace, where David died in mysterious circumstances.

In February 1402, David was on his way to St Andrews. He was arrested just outside the city. This arrest was planned by his uncle Albany. Albany was working with David's brother-in-law, Archibald Douglas. Archibald was upset with David for his actions towards his wife, who was Archibald's sister. David's father-in-law, the powerful third Earl, had died two years before.

The reason given for David's arrest was that his three-year period as lieutenant had ended. He was first held in St Andrews Castle. Soon after, he was taken to Falkland Palace, which was Albany's home. It is said that David was taken there blindfolded and riding backwards on a mule. David remained a prisoner at Falkland and died there shortly after. People believed he died from lack of food.

David was buried at Lindores Abbey. The King set up special prayers for David's soul in churches in Dundee, Deer Abbey, and Culross. A few weeks after his funeral, in May 1402, an investigation looked into David's death. It cleared Albany of any blame.

Four years later, in 1406, David's younger brother, James Stewart, became king. However, James was held captive in England at the time. This allowed Albany to rule Scotland as the real power.

David in Stories and Books

David Stewart's story has been told in many ways. An old play from the 1700s called The Duke of Rothsay, a tragedy is about him. His time in prison is a main part of Walter Scott's famous book, The Fair Maid of Perth (1828). In this book, David is shown as a sad victim. He also appears as a character in Nigel Tranter's books about the early Scottish kings, called The Stewart Trilogy.

Images for kids

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  Falkland Palace, where David died in mysterious circumstances.