David II of Scotland spent eleven years as a prisoner of the English crown.
Crowned at age seven, David II navigated a turbulent reign defined by exile, a decade of captivity, and a desperate attempt to trade his kingdom’s sovereignty for debt relief. Despite these immense pressures, he ultimately strengthened the Scottish monarchy and left behind a more stable, independent realm than he inherited.
Born in 1324 to Robert the Bruce, David II ascended the throne at age five. His early reign was marred by the Second War of Scottish Independence, forcing him into French exile by 1334. He returned to Scotland in 1341 at age 17, but his attempt to support France during the Hundred Years' War led to his capture at the 1346 Battle of Neville's Cross. He remained a prisoner in England for eleven years, during which time his nephew, Robert Stewart, governed Scotland.
The 1357 Treaty of Berwick secured his release in exchange for a massive ransom of 100,000 merks. As the kingdom struggled to meet these payments, David’s relationship with his subjects soured. By 1363, facing financial ruin, he proposed a controversial deal to Edward III: he would name the English king or his son as his successor in exchange for cancelling the remaining debt. The Scottish parliament indignantly rejected this plan in 1364, forcing David to continue secret negotiations while he simultaneously tightened his grip on internal governance.
David’s personal life was equally fraught. His long marriage to Joan of the Tower produced no heirs, and his subsequent marriage to Margaret Drummond also failed to secure a successor. Desperate to prevent his nephew, the future Robert II, from inheriting the throne, David unsuccessfully attempted to divorce Margaret. Despite these dynastic failures and his reputation for being alienated from his nobles, David’s later years were marked by firm, active rule. When he died unexpectedly in 1371, he left the Scottish monarchy in a surprisingly strong position, ensuring the kingdom remained free and independent.
Source: David II of Scotland
