Scottish History - The House of Bruce David 2nd

• David II (1329-1371)

David almost lost all that his famous father, Robert the Bruce, had gained. David was only five years old when Robert the Bruce died. He was the son of Robert and his second wife, Elizabeth. He was married at the age of four to Edward II's daughter, Joan, and became Scotland's first anointed king a year later.

Robert the Bruce had received oil blessed by the Pope and permission for it to be used to anoint his son at his coronation. It was the first time that a king had been anointed during the crowning ceremony. The oil was sprinkled on ten parts of the king's body, his head, breast, shoulders, armpits, elbows and the palms of his hands. He was thus considered "The Lord's anointed."

Edward III realized the vulnerability of the Scottish throne. The men who had been close to Bruce were gone, Douglas killed in Spain and Randolph, the Earl of Moray, had died. Edward turned a blind eye when Edward Balliol, the son of Toom Tabard, defeated David's army and proclaimed himself king.

The Scots had apparently forgotten the ways of warfare under Bruce and lost the battle with Balliol's army. Scotland now had two kings. Balliol was quickly ejected from Scotland but returned a year later while David was sent to France for safekeeping. Scotland was shared between Edward III and Edward Balliol but David's cause was kept alive by John Randolph, Robert Steward and Sir Andrew Moray. During this time Edward III was pursuing his claim to the French throne and so began the Hundred Years' War between France and England.

Five years after returning to Scotland, David invaded England for the French (rather foolishly) and not being the warrior that his father was, he was captured.

Scotland was impoverished by war and needed peace and good government but David provided neither. In captivity he became friendly with Edward III, who, after all, was his brother-in-law. In the meantime, Edward Balliol returned to Scotland. Edward Balliol apparently realized his position was futile and retired on a pension from Edward III who took Scotland under his direct control. After nine years of captivity, David paid a ransom of 100,000 merks per year and was returned to Scotland. Robert Stewart, the Bruce's grandson, had been guardian of Scotland during David's time in France and England.

David antagonized parliament because he wanted a union between Scotland and England so that he wouldn't have to pay his yearly ransom. He had no children and his proposal was that when he died the crown would go to Edward or one of his sons. He felt the Scots would accept this to avoid the payment of the ransom. However, they did not agree.

After Queen Joan died, David married his mistress, Margaret Drummond, the widow of Sir John Logie, but she failed to produce an heir and he unsuccessfully tried to divorce her. The Scottish nobles regarded her as unworthy to be Queen. As an aside, it was during David's reign that the Black Death swept across Europe. Scotland was the last country to suffer.

Scotland did prosper under David at the end of his reign but taxes were increased to pay the ransom which had been changed from a ten year payment to a 25 year payment and increased. The increases in taxes did not necessarily reflect such an increase in productivity.

David died at the age of 46 without a direct heir but Scotland was still independent and the Stewarts took the throne