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| 2. Scotland |
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(See 1249–86) |
| THE HOUSE OF STUART (1370-1625) |
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| 1305 |
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| The conquest of Scotland by Edward I of England saved the country from civil war. Edward's plan of union seemed possible for a brief period, until the emergence of Bruce's great-grandson, Robert, who turned against the English and maintained himself until the incompetence of Edward II gave him a chance to extend the opposition to the English. | 1 |
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| 1311–13 |
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| Bruce began a great advance into England and besieged Stirling (1314). | 2 |
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| 1314, June 24 |
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| Battle of Bannockburn. Bruce completely defeated the English and established himself on the throne. | 3 |
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| 1323 |
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| A truce of five years with England was followed by the Treaty of Northampton, which recognized Robert Bruce's title and provided for the marriage of his son David to Joan, daughter of Edward II. | 4 |
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| 1329–70 |
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| DAVID II, son of Robert, king. His minority was followed by an incompetent rule. | 5 |
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| 1332 |
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| Edward Baliol, with English support, was crowned, and Bruce fled to France. After Baliol's recall to England, Bruce returned and was defeated. | 6 |
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| 1346 |
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| Bruce was captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross in an effort to aid France by invading England. He was not ransomed until 1357. | 7 |
| Edward Baliol's futile reign gave the Scottish parliament its chance; the burghs had sent representatives to the parliament of 1326, but the practice was not a regular one until 1424. On at least two occasions the parliamentary majority went home (1367, 1369) and left the session to commissions, thus establishing the Lords of Articles, who assumed deliberative functions and soon became tools of the crown. Nevertheless, parliament managed to gain some control over royal acts, and kept its hand on the declaration of war and peace and the coinage. The lower clergy began sending representatives to parliament (e.g., 1367, 1369, 1370). | 8 |
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| 1356 |
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| Edward Baliol handed over his crown to Edward III. | 9 |
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| 1371 |
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| The Stuart line was established on the Scottish throne by the accession of ROBERT II, grandson of Robert Bruce (1371–90). | 10 |
| The family maintained itself for three centuries, despite a succession of futilities and minorities. The rival house of Douglas was finally extinguished (1488). | 11 |
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| 1406–37 |
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| JAMES I. After imprisonment (since 1405) in England, James began a vigorous reform, reduction of violence, restoration of the judicial process, and new legislation that ended anarchy and disciplined the Church. The country lairds were given representation in parliament as a support to the crown (1428). James was assassinated, 1437. St. Andrew's University founded. | 12 |
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| 1437–60 |
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| JAMES II. From James I to Charles I (1625), every sovereign was a minor on his accession. The reduction of the earls of Douglas (1452), followed by confiscation of their lands, enriched the crown. Rosburgh was taken from the English, leaving only Berwick in alien hands. | 13 |
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