[MR] Wikipedia: The Stewart Dynasty of Scotland & England

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1371, the second and last King of Scots in the Bruce line,
David II, died without issue. His successor was 55-year-old Robert Stewart,
who ruled as Robert II, King of Scots.

King Robert II was the son of Marjorie Bruce (daughter of the late King
Robert the Bruce), and of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. As
he was David II's nephew, Robert was proclaimed King of Scots by
Parliament. He ruled for 19 years until his death in 1390.

Robert II was succeeded by his son John, who "ruled" as Robert III, until
his death in 1406, though he was a king in name only due to poor health (he
was 53 when he assumed the throne). His son James, was the first of a whole
mess of Jameses, plus a Mary). It was King James VI of Scotland, who
succeeded Queen Elizabeth of England's as James I of England. James' 1603
accession to the English throne takes us out of the SCA's period of
interest.

James I & VI was followed by a pair of Charleses, another James (II & VII),
and that James' daughters, Queen Mary followed by Anne. Anne had 17 failed
pregnancies or children who died young. Upon Anne's death in 1714 the
Stuart line failed. The crowns of England and Scotland went to the Georges,
Hanovarians who were distantly related through James I & VI's daughter
Elizabeth Stuart. It is through Elizabeth Stuart that the current monarch
Queen Elizabeth II claims the throne of Great Britain Confused? It's a
piece of cake for genealogists.

By the way, it was Mary Queen of Scots who changed the family name to the
French spelling "Stuart".

Here is a summary of the main Stewart/Stuart line:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Stuart .

The Catholic Royal Stuart line of exiled pretenders to the English and
Scottish thrones ended in 1807 with the death of James II & VII's grandson,
Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart (brother of the by-then late Bonnie Prince
Charlie). There are a whole bunch of Stewart/Stuart cadet lines,
Stewart/Stuart lines through female descent, Stewart/Stuart lines through
illegitimate offspring, and frauds like the charming so-called "Sobieski
Stuart" brothers of Scotland who claimed descent from the Bonnie Prince's
illegitimate daughter. Understandably, Stewart and Stuart are very common
names around the world.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge 🦆