David II (1329 - 1371)

David II was unfortunate to have been king at the same time as Edward III, who was a capable and distinguished king. At age four David was married to Edward III's sister Joan, this was a loveless and also barren marriage. In 1362 Joan died and only a year later David married his mistress, Margaret Logie, a widow who already had a child from her first marriage. Probably due to David's infertility this marriage did not produce any children so David applied to Rome for a divorce so he could marry yet another mistress, Agnes of Dunbar. The matter was never settled as David died at age 46, heirless.

David's reign can be easily split into separate parts - 1334-1341 when he spent his early years as an exile in France, 1346-1357 a prisoner in England, and the rest when he was actually in Scotland. David was crowned king at Scone, and was the first to be annointed, a sign of papal approval. Only three years later he was in France as an exile at Chateau Gaillard. He was defeated in battle at Dupplin Moor and for three months Edward Balliol ruled Scotland before being driven back to the English court. This caused Edward III to come north and he heavily defeated the Scots at Halidon Hill, forcing David to flee to France. This caused the War of Independence to restart, in David's absence. By 1341 Edward was heavily involved in affairs on the continent and it was felt that it was now safe enough for David to return from his comfortable exile. This time his reign lasted for five years before he was again defeated at Neville's Cross in 1346. David had unwisely agreed to aid King Philip of France and so he crossed the border into Northumberland burning Hexham and Lanercost. Edward had capable nobles in Neville and Percy and on 17th October they soundly defeated the similarly sized army of David. Although David himself fought bravely, despite an arrow wound in the face, he was captured as he tried to hide beneath the span of Aldin Grange Bridge.

David II & Edward III after Neville's Cross

He was finally released eleven years later in 1357. The Treaty of Berwick imposed a severe financial burden on the country - 100,000 merks were to be paid in ten instalments and 23 hostages were to be handed over until the debt was paid. Although David occasionally handed over some money and hinted to Edward that Scotland could become his if David died without producing an heir, he never did homage for Scotland and the kingdom was passed on as free as when David came to power.

David managed to build up a strong financial position despite the Black Death, the wars with England, and the payments then due to Edward for his ransom. He developed a civil service and the royal exchequer was regularly audited. David ruled with a strong hand and even put Robert the Steward in prison for a while after he offended Queen Margaret. Although he didn't live up to the reputation of his illustrious father he ruled the country fairly when he was able.

History Books on this time period:

Author	Title	Published	Price	Order Now From:
Grant, A.	Independence & Nationhood: Scotland 1306-1469	1991	£9.95 or $20.00	Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Under Robert Bruce and his successors, Scotland's independence from England was maintained and its sense of nationhood developed. Alexander Grant shows how this had a profound effect upon domestic as well as foreign affairs, and how it led to the evolution of a distinctive Scottish government, nobility, Church and economy. At the same time he puts Scottish history into the international context of the 100 Years War, the economic and demographic upheaval caused by the bubonic plague, and the Christianity of the pre-reformation era. Challenging traditional assumptions of general late-medieval decline, Independence and Nationhood demonstrates how the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a crucially important period of change and growth for Scotland.
Nicholson, R.	Scotland: The Later Middle Ages	1974	£15.99	Amazon.co.uk
The four-volume Edinburgh History of Scotland is the most important project in Scottish historical writing for more than half a century; each volume is written by an expert on the period who brings to his work the direct acquaintance with original sources on which authoritative historical writing can alone be based. This, the second volume, covers the period from the close of the 13th century to the Battle of Flodden. It presents a sophisticated analysis of the facts and a comprehensive description of all the varied and intricate aspects of Scottish Medieval life. Although the book is detailed enough to serve as a work of reference, the historical development of the emergence of, possibly, the first self-conscious nation of Europe into what was perhaps the first 'new monarchy' of Europe may here be read as a continuous narrative of events. Professor Nicholson presents a precise picture of the economy, society and politics of medieval Scotland.
Paterson, R. C.	For the Lion: A History of the Scottish Wars of Independence	1996	£9.95	Amazon.co.uk
Seven hundred years ago King Edward I of England crossed the Scottish border with a powerful army and began one of the epic struggles of the Middle Ages - the Scottish Wars of Independence. For England the aim of the war was simple: to establish an imperial sway over the whole of the British Isles. Scotland had to prevail against its powerful southern neighbour or face national obliteration. The Anglo-Scots conflict can be divided into two distinct phases: the First War of Independence, which concluded when England recognised Robert Bruce as King of Scots in 1328; and the Second War of Independence, in which the English tried to oust Bruce's son and successor David II, and place their own puppet king, Edward Balliol, on the throne of Scotland. This book is the first attempt to embrace in a single volume the whole course of the wars from the invasion of 1296 to the release of David from English captivity in 1357. It aims to bring alive to a modern audience one of the great dramas of British history, and to help them understand what was one of the most formative periods of the whole Scottish national experience.

Historical Fiction Books on this time period

Author	Title	Published	Price	Order Now From:
Tranter, Nigel	Flowers of Chivalry		£5.99	Amazon.co.uk
The battle to save Scotland's independence in the years after the death of Robert Bruce.