Robert Stewart was born in 1316, the son of Walter Stewart and Marjorie Bruce the eldest daughter of Robert I. It was this Bruce descent that would secure his kingship on David II's failure to produce an heir.

At only 16 Robert was involved in the Battle of Halidon Hill on 19th July 1333 against Edward Balliol. He escaped back to Dumbarton Castle on the Scots defeat but stayed on to fight the Balliol supporters as David II went into exile in France; he was no doubt mindful that his slim chances of succession depended entirely on David II remaining king. Robert proved himself a worthy deputy and by 1341 Edward Balliol was a spent force. On David II's return that year, Robert was the main powerbroker in Scotland.

There began a deep rivalry between king and guardian. David II successfully chipped away at Robert Stewart's influence only to lose his hard won power on his defeat and subsequent capture at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. Robert Stewart abandoned the king in battle and returned to Scotland to reinstate his own power. It was only in 1357 that David II once again returned to Scotland to reestablish his regal authority.

While David II was childless, Robert had married Elizabeth Mure and fathered four sons and several daughters. His second wife Euphemia Randolph gave him a second brood. He also fathered several illegimate children by various mistresses. The contrast between the two men was striking. On David II's death in 1371 Robert became king. He was now 55.

As king, Robert II was happy to marry off his many sons and daughters into the powerful families of the day. Whilst this initially had the effect of settling his rule, the increasing powers of the Stewart princes led them to feud with one another. By 1384 the old king could no longer control his sons; his eldest son and heir, Prince John, the Earl of Carrick, effectively took charge of the country as Lieutenant.

Previously Robert II had given the Scots backing to the French Pope during the Avignon schism and Prince John resumed the Auld Alliance in a campaign that included French troops against England in 1385. It was a disaster and the English reacted by invading up to the Lothians and burning Edinburgh. Both king and heir had now proven ineffective.

Power in the north rested with Robert II's fourth son Alexander and Prince John's failure to control his brother led to his resignation when his main ally, the Earl of Douglas, died in the still victorious Battle of Otterburn in 1388. The Lieutenancy fell now to Robert II's third son, Prince Robert, the Earl of Fife.

An aged Robert II, now in his seventies, could do nothing to prevent the political battle between his bickering family; especially between Prince Alexander and Prince Robert. The king retired to Dundonald Castle in Ayrshire where he died aged 74. Historians have long branded Robert II feeble and ineffective, but his best days came before he was king. The crown was too late.

Born March 2, 1316, he was a grandson of Robert the Bruce - his mother being the king's daughter, Marjorie; his father was Walter the 6th High Steward of Scotland and, having taken this for a surname, Robert was the first of the line of Stewart or Stuart kings, who much later (in 1603) became also kings of England.

When only two years old, Parliament chose him as Bruce's successor, but the birth of a son to Bruce in 1324 changed the position. This son, David II, became king in 1329, and from then until 1371 Robert was one of the chief men of his kingdom. Several times he was made regent (when David was in France and when he was imprisoned by the English from 1346-57).

Robert fought at the Battle of Halidon in 1333 and was a leader at the battle of Neville's Cross when David was captured. He married Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan. They had a number of children (including King Robert III) but their legitamacy was questioned by some because Robert and Elizabeth were too close blood relations. A Papal dispensation on this was obtained in 1347, but this did not convince everyone. Robert fathered 21 children in total, including four children from a second marriage to Euphemia Ross.

Later Robert rebelled against David and was imprisoned. The dissension was healed, and when David died childless in 1371, Robert, then 55, succeeded him. He reigned for 19 years, most of which were troubled by wars in which he could take little part. Most of the time, he allowed his eldest son, the Earl of Carrick, later Robert III, to act in his stead. When Robert III became infirm due to a riding accident in 1388, the Earl of Fife took over the reins of power.

King Robert II died April 13, 1390, in Dundonald Castle and was succeeded by his son, Robert III.

DUNDONALD CASTLE:

Set on top of a hill overlooking the surrounding north Kilmarnock, the castle is visible for miles around. Even so, it is surprisingly difficult to find the castle once you are in the village of Dundonald itself! The prominent hill is believed to have been occupied before 2000BC and a wooden hill fort built on the site between 500 and 200BC.

In the 12th century an earthwork and timber fort was built by Walter, the High Steward of King David I. A more substantial Dundonald Castle was originally built by the Stewart family in the 13th century. Much of that grand castle was destroyed during the Wars of Independence with England early in the 14th century. The castle was then rebuilt in the middle of the 14th century by King Robert II and it is this castle which we see today. The castle was also used by King Robert III. King Robert II died at Dundonald in 1390 and Robert III also died there, in 1406.

The castle was sold by King James III to the Cathcart family in 1482 and was then bought by Sir William Cochrane in 1636. In 1644 Sir William used some of the stone from the castle to build himself a mansion of Auchans. Later, the perennial tourists, Dr Johnston, visited Dundonald Castle in 1773.

In recent years, the castle has been looked after by the Friends of Dundonald Castle and by Historic Scotland who have a small visitor centre on the site.