David II. & Edward Balliol

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Two years after the Death of Robert the Bruce, his five-year-old Son David was crowned King in Scone in November 1331, and until his majority, Sir Thomas Randolph was in charge. Already in 1328, he was, as agreed in the ‘Edinburgh Northampton Agreement’, married at the age of four years with the then six-year-old Joan, Daughter of Eduard II.

The laboriously achieved peace with England did not last long.
Two years after David’s coronation, Edward Balliol, Son of expelled legitimate King John Balliol, and Henry Beaumont -member of the Comyn family- with the approval and (secret) support of Edward III. a small Army and marched to Scotland to claim the Throne. In the turmoil after the Death of Thomas Randolph, they saw the opportunity to strike. Under the new regent Donald, Earl of Mar and his ally Patrick of Dunbar, the scottish Army defeated the attackers and David II. was with his Wife Johanna to the Court of the french King Phillip VI. brought to safety.
The support of the People and Nobility of Edward Balliol, who crowned himself the new King in Scone in September 1332, was limited so that he was repeatedly challenged. At Annan he was finally defeated, fled half clothed to England and was deposed as King. Edward III. then openly sided with Balliol and supported him in 1333 victorious in the ‘Battle of Halidon Hill’, whereupon Balliol was reinstated as King and returned to Scotland. But even then the support Balliol was low. Balliol retired to England and barely participated in the War he carried on his behalf.

After the return of David in 1336 Balliol was finally deposed as king.
David saw in this his chance, sat down at the head of a new Army and fell according to the ‘Auld Alliance’ in October 1346 in England. The attempt failed and David was captured. Balliol returned to Scotland and instigated an uprising. Since he could not hold his influence permanently, he renounced January 1356 final on the Throne and received in return from Eduard a pension. After years of tough negotiations, David was released in 1357 when a ransom agreement was reached. Scotland, however, was unable to pay the full amount, so David suggested to the english King that he or one of his Sons should inherit the scottish Throne. In 1364, the scottish Parliament revoked the request but was unable to reach an agreement.

Edward Balliol died in 1367 unmarried and childless. His Grave is probably under the Post Office of Doncaster.

David II. died on February 22, 1371 without a legitimate Son.
He is considered an incompetent King because of comparisons with his Father Robert the Bruce, whom he could not possibly live up to.

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First Stuart Dynasty