The Scottish Royal Family: The House of Stewart

The Scottish monarchy was ruled by the House of Stewart from 1371 until 1714, making them one of the most enduring royal dynasties in British history. This article delves into the origins, key figures, and eventual fall of the House of Stewart.

Origins and Early Years

The Stewart lineage can be traced back to a Breton knight named Alan fitz Flaad, who served under King Henry I of England. His second son, Walter, became the first hereditary High Steward of Scotland. This position was an important role in Scottish governance. The High Stewards of Scotland were appointed by the Scottish kings, but over time, the role became hereditary, and Walter Stewart was the first to hold it as an hereditary position.

Robert II: The First Stewart King

The 6th High Steward, named Walter, married Princess Marjorie, the daughter of Robert the Bruce. Their son, Robert Stewart, became the first Stewart king of Scotland. King Robert II (1371-1399) was the first of nine Stewart monarchs who reigned over Scotland.

Stewart Monarchs

The Stewart dynasty continued to rule Scotland until 1714, with the final Stewart monarch being Queen Anne. Here is a list of the Stewart monarchs:

Robert II (1371–1399) Robert III (1399–1406) James I (1406–1437) James II (1437–1460) James III (1460–1488) James IV (1488–1513) James V (1513–1542) Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1567) James VI (1567–1625)

The Union with England

James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England and Ireland in 1603, marking the start of a personal union between the two countries. After James VI, the Stewart line continued with five more monarchs: Charles I, Charles II, James II, Mary II, and Anne I. Queen Anne, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, had no surviving children, and the Stuart line ended with her.

Legacy and Succession

Queen Anne's reign saw the rise of the House of Hanover, which succeeded the House of Stewart following her death in 1714. The first Hanoverian king was King George I, who had a distant connection to the Stuart lineage through his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Stuart, the eldest daughter of King James I of England.

It is important to note that, despite the Jacobite fervor and the claimant Franz Herzog, the legitimate royal House in the United Kingdom is the House of Windsor, which has ruled since 1917.