List of Heirs of Scotland - Heirs To Robert I (The Bruce)

Heirs To Robert I (The Bruce)

After the Battle of Falkirk, William Wallace relinquished the position of Guardian of Scotland in favour of Robert de Bruce, Earl of Carrick and John Comyn of Badenoch ("the Red Comyn"), John Balliol's brother-in-law. These men had strong claims to the throne of Scotland themselves: Bruce was grandson of the Robert Bruce who had been a Competitor for the Crown in 1290, and Comyn had actually been a Competitor himself, as the senior descendant of the 11th century King Donald Bane. On 10 February 1306, Bruce murdered Comyn at what was supposed to be a parley between the two rivals, and set about claiming the throne for himself, being crowned at Scone on 27 March. Over the next years he gradually reconquered Scotland from the English, culminating in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. He was finally recognised by the English as King of independent Scotland by the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, 1328. At the time he seized the throne, Robert I had no sons, and the succession was not set out until the Parliament held at Ayr, which, on 27 April 1315, made Robert's brother,

• Edward the heir, followed by Robert's daughter
• Marjorie. In 1315 she married Walter, High Steward of Scotland; she died the following year a few hours after giving birth to their son
• Robert, born 2 March 1316. In 1318 the Parliament of Scotland confirmed that he would succeed as King if his grandfather King Robert I died without sons. However, six years later
• David was born, on 5 March 1324. He was son of King Robert I by his second wife Elizabeth de Burgh, and was thus heir apparent from birth. In 1328 he was created Earl of Carrick, the title held by his father before his accession.

Robert I died on 7 June 1329, and was succeeded by his only surviving son (a second son, John, had died in infancy).