Editing Robert II of Scotland (section)

=== Loss of authority and death ===
[[File:Otterburn Battle.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A medieval miniature depicting the [[Battle of Otterburn]] where Carrick's close ally, James, Earl of Douglas was killed]]

Robert's son, John, [[Earl of Carrick]], had become the foremost Stewart magnate south of the Forth just as Alexander, Earl of Buchan was in the north.<ref>Barrell, ''Medieval Scotland'', pp. 141–142</ref> Alexander's activities and methods of royal administration, enforced by [[Gaels|Gaelic]] mercenaries, drew criticism from northern earls and bishops and his younger half-brother [[David Stewart, Earl of Strathearn|David, Earl of Strathearn]]. These complaints damaged the king's standing within the Council leading to criticism of his ability to curb Buchan's activities.<ref>For an account of the background to Buchan's activities in the north of Scotland and the context in which he operated see Boardman, ''Early Stewart Kings'', pp. 83–89</ref> Robert's differences with the Carrick affinity regarding the conduct of the war and his continued failure or unwillingness to deal with Buchan in the north led to the political convulsion of November 1384 when the Council removed the king's authority to govern and appointed Carrick as lieutenant of the kingdom — a ''[[coup d'état]]'' had taken place.<ref name="Oram, p126"/><ref>Grant in Jones, et al., ''New Cambridge History'', pp. 360–361</ref> With Robert sidelined, there was now no impediment in the way of war. In June 1385, a force of 1200 French soldiers joined the Scots in a campaign that involved the Earl of Douglas and two of Robert's sons, John, Earl of Carrick and Robert, Earl of Fife.<ref>Oram et al., ''Kings and Queens'', p. 127</ref> The skirmishes saw small gains but a quarrel between the French and Scottish commanders saw the abandonment of an attack on the important castle of Roxburgh.<ref>Goodman & Tuck, ''War and Border Societies'', p. 45</ref>

[[File:Dundonald Castle 20080424 - from south west.jpg|thumb|left|275px|[[Dundonald Castle]], where Robert II died in 1390]]

The victory of the Scots over the English at the [[Battle of Otterburn]] in [[Northumberland]] in August 1388 set in motion Carrick's fall from power. One of the Scottish casualties was Carrick's close ally James, Earl of Douglas. Douglas died without an heir, which led to various claims upon the title and estate — Carrick backed Malcolm Drummond, the husband of Douglas's sister, while Fife sided with the successful appellant, [[Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas|Sir Archibald Douglas]], Earl of Wigtown and Lord of Galloway who possessed an entail on the Douglas estates.<ref name="Goodman p. 51">Goodman & Tuck, ''War and Border Societies'', p. 51</ref> Fife, now with his powerful Douglas ally, and those who supported the king ensured a countercoup at the December Council meeting when the guardianship of Scotland passed from Carrick (who had recently been badly injured from a horse-kick) to Fife.<ref name="Goodman p. 51"/><ref name="Grant in Jones, p361">Grant in Jones, et al., ''New Cambridge History'' p. 361</ref> Many had also approved of Fife's intention to properly resolve the situation of lawlessness in the north and in particular the activities of his younger brother, Buchan.<ref name="Grant in Jones, p361"/> Fife relieved Buchan of his offices of lieutenant of the north and justiciar north of the Forth. The latter role was given to Fife's son, [[Murdoch Stewart]]. Robert II toured the northeast in late January 1390, perhaps to reinforce the changing political scene in the north following Buchan's removal from authority.<ref name="BoardmanESK p171">Boardman, ''Early Stewart Kings'', p. 171</ref> In March, Robert returned to [[Dundonald Castle]] in Ayrshire where he died on 19 April and was buried at Scone on 25 April.<ref>The date of Robert II's death and the disputed date of Robert II's burial and the reasons for the delay in Robert III's coronation are explained by [[Dauvit Broun]] in Brown & Tanner, ''History of Scottish Parliament'' pp. 112-116</ref>