| Notes |
- Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife and later Earl of Menteith, Earl of Atholl, Earl of Buchan, Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland, has traditionally been described as a man of ruthless ambition, however recent historian, Dr. Shayna Devlin, PhD, who acknowledges his ambitiousness, casts him in a more favourable light as a participant in a system of late medieval corporate (family) governance, where he was doing his part to participate in shared roles with his royal family members.
(There are three Robert Stewarts in this family, making for a confusing read and necessitating the constant repetition of titles in order to distinguish which Robert is being referring to each time.)
(This) Robert Stewart was the third son of King Robert II of Scots, a man who persistently consolidated power in his very large family (he had over two dozen children by several women) and vested much of that power in his eldest sons. This strategy was very successful until such time as his powerful sons began to flex their own influential muscles.
(This) Robert Stewart married in 1361 to Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith, who, only a year prior, had inherited the Earldom of Menteith from her late father Sir John Graham, Earl of Menteith, through her mother, Mary, the late Countess of Menteith. Thus, Robert became Earl of Menteith and acquired lands around the town of Doune in southern Perthshire. Sometime shortly thereafter, Robert began restoration work on the 13th century ruins of what would become Doune Castle, which still stands in excellent condition today and has been used in many films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Robert, Earl of Menteith's eldest brother, Walter Stewart, had married Isabella, Countess of FIfe, bestowing the honour of Lord of Fife on Walter. Walter died in 1362 without any children. The king sought to keep the powerful Earldom of Fife in the family and convinced Isabella to resign her earldom to her brother-in-law, Robert Stewart, Earl of Menteith, in exchange for keeping the income for much of her lands, which she did in March 1371, after which Robert was styled Earl of Fife and Menteith.
Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith's younger brother, Alexander Stewart, was made Earl of Buchan and Justiciar of the North and abused his power there, eventually in June 1390, burning the town of Elgin in a dispute with the local bishop and earning Alexander the nickname "The Wolf of Badenoch". Alexander's abuse of power was destabilizing for the Stewart family grip on power throughout Scotland, and King Robert II was reluctant to rein in his rogue son.
After the death of his first wife, Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife and Menteith, married secondly to Muriella Keith.
In 1388, Robert II's sons, John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, and Robert Stewart, Earl of FIfe and Menteith, persuaded the Scottish High Council that their father was too feeble to rule and had ruling authority vested in them for the remainder of their father's reign. They dealt swiftly with their rogue brother, Alexander, stripping him of his title of Earl of Buchan and bestowing that on Robert's son, Murdoch Stewart.
In Aug 1390, King Robert II died and his eldest son, John, Earl of Carrick, was crowned King of Scots and took the reigning name of King Robert III. Robert III suffered from a prior injury rendering him partially disabled. In the medieval world, a "lame" king was a weak king. King Robert III allowed his brother, Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife and Menteith, authority to run the affairs of state until 1393 when King Robert III reassumed his royal responsibilities for the next six years. Robert III then delegated his authority to his eldest son David.
In 1398, the king's son, David, was created Duke of Rothesay, the first royal Dukedom in Scotland. The king's brother, Robert, Earl of Fife and Menteith, was likewise created Duke of Albany. Historians claim this was the beginning of a power struggle between the two Dukes as to who would rule Scotland.
In 1401, David had proven to be so incompetent that Robert III had him arrested and placed in custody of his brother, Robert, Duke of Albany. While in custody, David died. Robert, Duke of Albany, was widely suspected to be responsible, however an inquiry by the Scottish Council exonerated him. History, however, has never exonerated him. Historians have long suggested that Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, was likely responsible for starving his rival to death, suggesting that he did so as it would bring Robert one step closer to the throne with only his second nephew, James (the future King James I), remaining in the way. Others have suggested that it may have been a recognition that Robert, Duke of Albany, was simply a more competent ruler than David.
In 1402, under persuasion from the king, Robert's stepmother, Euphemia, Countess of Ross, resigned her earldom of Ross in favour of Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife and Menteith. He bestowed the Earldom on his third son, Robert.
In late 1405, the king began to fear for the life of his remaining son, Prince James. In February 1406, 11-year-old Prince James was sent to France for his safety. His ship was intercepted by English pirates and he was taken to London as a prisoner of King Henry IV of England. A few weeks later in April 1406, Robert III died and the captive James became the uncrowned King James I of Scots. James remained a prisoner in the Tower of London for 18 years.
In the absence of the king, Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, ruled Scotland as Regent and made little effort to secure the release of his nephew, the king.
Even though Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, was never king, he governed Scotland at various times for over thirty years during the reigns of three kings. Robert had his second son, John Stewart, made Earl of Buchan, following the death of Robert's brother, Alexander, The Wolf of Badenoch. Robert had his third son, Robert Stewart, made Earl of Ross, which angered Donald McDonald, Lord of the Isles, who felt the Earldom of Ross belonged to him, sparking an invasion by the Islemen.
Upon the death of Robert Stewart, the Dukedom of Albany, the governorship of Scotland, Doune Castle, and all of Robert's other titles and lands, passed to his eldest son, Murdoch Stewart. Murdoch continued to rule Scotland on behalf of the Albany Stewarts, but not for very long.
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Abt 1340 - 1420 (~ 80 years)
