ROBERT II. (1316-1390), called "the Steward," king of Scotland, a son of Walter, the steward of Scotland (d. 1326), and Marjorie (d. 1316), daughter of King Robert the Bruce, was born on March 2, 1316. In 1318 the Scottish parliament decreed that if King Robert died without sons the crown should pass to his grandson; but the birth of a son, afterwards King David II., to Bruce in 1324 postponed the accession of Robert for nearly 42 years. Soon after the infant David became king in 1329, the Steward began to take a prominent part in the affairs of Scotland. He was one of the leaders of the Scottish army at the battle of Halidon Hill in July ; and together with John Randolph, 3rd earl of Moray (d. 1346), was chosen co-regent of Scotland, while David sought safety in France. The colleagues soon quarrelled; Randolph fell into the hands of the English, and Robert became sole regent until the return of David in 1341. The Steward escaped from the battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, and was again regent while the king was a captive in England.
Soon after this event some friction arose between Robert and his royal uncle. Accused, probably without truth, of desertion
at Neville's Cross, the Steward as heir-apparent was chagrined by David's recognition of Edward III. as his successor.
In 1363 he rose in rebellion, and after having made his sub mission was seized and imprisoned together with his three sons, being only released a short time before David's death in February 1371. By the terms of the decree of 1318 Robert now succeeded to the throne, and was crowned at Scone in March 1371. His reign was unimportant; for relations with England and France see SCOTLAND: History. The king died at Dundonald on May 13, 1390, and was buried at Scone.
See Andrew of Wyntoun, The Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, edited by D. Laing (Edinburgh, 1872-79) ; John of Fordun, Scotichronicon, continued by Walter Bower, ed. T. Hearne (Oxford, 1722) ; John Major, Historia maioris Britanniae translated by A. Constable (Edin burgh, 1892) ; and P. F. Tytler, History of Scotland (Edinburgh,