The Royal Standard of Scotland – The Stewart Dynasty

                             The Stewart Dynasty 

This series of Pages will seek to describe the effects of the Stewart Dynasty (later changed to Stuart) on Scotland over the centuries,. The Stewarts ruled Scotland from 1371 with the accession of the first Stewart king Robert II. Until the death of Queen Anne in 1714 and the subsequent failure of her half-brother James Francis Stuart to regain the throne as King James VIII.

                                    The Role of the Dynasty

These articles will seek to illustrate the dynasty’s often neglected role in shaping Scottish history and society. It is often difficult to get an accurate impression of their successes , failures and achievements as a dynasty given the often violent anti-Stuart propaganda which has continued to be espoused . Even since their ultimate demise over two hundred years ago. This combined with an over romanticization of their attempts to recover the throne further disguises their true effects on Scottish history.

                                       The Origins of the Stewart Dynasty

From relatively humble origins as incoming Anglo-Norman knights they rose through the medieval society of the time. First through the royal household then through marriage and acquisition. By backing Robert Bruce in the Wars of  Independence, they married in to the Bruce family and through this eventually gained the Scottish throne. Success followed success for centuries until their next step in to England totally failed . This dramatic failure resulted in the outbreak of disastrous civil wars. These and continuing political errors eventually produced their expulsion from both kingdoms, and the destruction of Scotland as a political entity in its own right.