The community of the realm in Scotland, 1249–1424
History, law and charters in a recreated kingdom
David II's relationships
By Matthew Hammond
CITE THIS PAGE: Matthew Hammond, 'David II's relationships', The community of the realm in Scotland, 1249 -1424: History, law and charters in a recreated kingdom, 21 Nov. 2019, https://cotr.ac.uk/social-network-analysis-political-communities-and-social-networks/networks-david-ii-king-scots-1329-71/david-iis-relationships/
The People of Medieval Scotland database includes information about three categories of relationships - familial, tenurial & lordship, and employment. The visualizations below are based on explicit statements about these relationships made in the charters and other sources found in PoMS. They do not offer an exhaustive reflection of all known family members, for example, of King David. Below you will find images of each relationship dataset and a link to an interactive version you can explore on the PoMS website. The visualizations are only capable of showing a single relationship type for each relationship. Consult the accompanying tables to see if there was more than one relationship type between the king and the other individuals.
Family relationships
The sheer number of David's expressed familial relationships is remarkable. It is important to note that the programme is only able to assign one colour to each relationship; when there is more than one familial relationship type (as with the other datasets below), you should consult the table to see whether there are more than one relationship type with any actors. The most significant example here is Robert Stewart, the son of King David's half-sister Margery Bruce (d. 1316) and Walter Stewart (d. 1327). He is described 266 times as the king's nephew (nepos) but three times as his 'relative' (consanguineus). Thus, it would be preferred to have the relationship with Robert displayed as that of nepos, with coloured orange instead of pink. Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray, and William, earl of Ross, are similarly described as both nepos and consanguineus in David's charters. William, earl of Sutherland, husband of David's sister Margaret, is termed both 'brother' and 'brother-in-law'. What is most noteworthy about this graph, however, is the large number of more distant relatives described as cousins or relatives (cognatus or consanguineus for men, cognata or consanguinea for women), a phenomenon which will be the topic of future research.
You can explore the interactive Gephi sociogram of David II's familial relationships on the PoMS website.
| Person ID | Person Name | Gender | Count | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23883 | Alexander Fraser (III) (mid14C) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23771 | Alexander of Strachan (mid 14C) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23863 | Alexander of Straiton (mid 14C) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23541 | Andrew Campbell, knight | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23774 | Andrew Murray, king's armour-bearer | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23321 | Andrew of Cunningham | M | 2 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23242 | Angus son of John of the Isles | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23765 | Christiana de St Michael | F | 1 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 23512 | Christiana Keith, wife of Robert Erskine | F | 3 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 23767 | David Falconer, godson of King David II | M | 1 | Godson |
| 23942 | David Stewart, son of King Robert II | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 17148 | Duncan (IV), earl of Fife (d.1353) | M | 6 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 16473 | Edward Bruce, lord of Galloway, earl of Carrick, king of Ireland (d. 1318) | M | 1 | Uncle - maternal (avunculus) |
| 23124 | Edward III, king of England (d. 1377) | M | 4 | Brother |
| 23722 | Elizabeth, sister of David II, wife of Walter Oliphant | F | 5 | Sister |
| 23795 | Euphemia of Ross, countess of Ross (d. 1394x95) | F | 3 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 23937 | Euphemia, queen of Scots (d. 1386) | F | 1 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 23658 | George of Dunbar, earl of March (d. 1423/4) | M | 6 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23618 | Gilbert of Glencarnie (mid 14C) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23362 | John Campbell, earl of Atholl (d. 1333) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23785 | John of Bothwell | M | 2 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23189 | John of Islay, lord of the Isles (d. 1387) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23264 | John of Menteith (II), knight | M | 3 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23167 | John Randolph, earl of Moray, lord of Annandale and Man | M | 23 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23805 | John Stewart, earl of Carrick (d. 1406) [King Robert III] | M | 3 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23222 | John, son of King Robert I (d. 1324) | M | 1 | Brother |
| 22799 | Malcolm Fleming, earl of Wigtown (d. 1357x62) | M | 1 | Foster-father (_alumnus_) |
| 23224 | Margaret Bruce, daughter of Robert I | F | 3 | Sister |
| 23736 | Margaret, queen of Scots (d. ca 1375) | F | 1 | Bride/betrothed (f.) (sponsa) |
| 23214 | Margaret, sister of King David II | F | 2 | Sister |
| 23318 | Margaret, wife of William Douglas, earl of Douglas | F | 1 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 23223 | Matilda Bruce, daughter of Robert I | F | 1 | Sister |
| 23151 | Maurice Murray, earl of Strathearn (d. 1346) | M | 13 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 5981 | Patrick (V), earl of Dunbar/March and Moray (d.1369) | M | 13 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23256 | Philippa de Mowbray | F | 2 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 16081 | Robert [Bruce] I, king of Scots (d.1329) | M | 20 | Father |
| 23029 | Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390) | M | 266 | Nepos (nephew/grandson) |
| 23029 | Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390) | M | 3 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23743 | Robert Bruce, cousin of King David II | M | 3 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 22935 | Robert Bruce, son of King Robert I (illeg.) | M | 1 | Brother |
| 23266 | Robert Erskine, chamberlain | M | 5 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23897 | Robert of Annandale | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23608 | Robert of Corrie, lord of Newbie | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23690 | Susanna, daughter of Thomas of Torthorwald | F | 1 | Cognata/consanguinea (kinswoman/female cousin) |
| 23958 | Thomas de Henvyle | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23689 | Thomas of Torthorwald (d. 1346) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 13771 | Thomas Randolph (d.1332), earl of Moray | M | 5 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 13771 | Thomas Randolph (d.1332), earl of Moray | M | 1 | Nepos (nephew/grandson) |
| 23269 | Thomas Stewart, earl of Angus (d. 1362x64) | M | 2 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23268 | Thomas, earl of Mar (d. 1373x74) | M | 25 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23686 | Walter of Leslie, knight | M | 3 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23160 | William (III), earl of Ross (d. 1372) | M | 12 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23160 | William (III), earl of Ross (d. 1372) | M | 2 | Nepos (nephew/grandson) |
| 23213 | William (IV), earl of Sutherland (d. 1370x71) | M | 1 | Brother |
| 23213 | William (IV), earl of Sutherland (d. 1370x71) | M | 1 | Brother-in-law (gener) |
| 23219 | William Douglas, earl of Douglas (d. 1384) | M | 9 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 1 | William I, king of Scots (d.1214) | M | 1 | Ancestor |
| 23688 | William of Carlisle (mid 14C) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 16903 | William of Cunningham, knight (14C) | M | 3 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 23467 | William of Dissington, knight | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
| 16396 | William Wiseman, knight (14C) | M | 1 | Cognatus/consanguineus (kinsman/male cousin) |
Tenurial & Lordship relationships
In this Gephi sociogram of David's tenurial and lordship relationships, the nature of the relationship is illustrated in the colour of the lines connected the individuals (see the key below the picture). The most noteworthy relationship types are the nine explicitly named enemies of David II and the six bachelors of David II, that is, low-level knights in the king's household.
Key
- Blue: Lord (dominus)
- Light green: bachelor
- Green: serf/neyf
- Orange: associate/companion
- Pink: enemy
You can explore the interactive Gephi sociogram of David II's lordship relationships on the PoMS website.
| Person ID | Person Name | Gender | Count | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5723 | Alexander (II or III), king of Scots | M | 1 | Predecessor |
| 58 | Alexander II, king of Scots (d.1249) | M | 9 | Predecessor |
| 360 | Alexander III, king of Scots (d.1286) | M | 6 | Predecessor |
| 2211 | Chapter of Aberdeen | 5 | 1 | Lord (dominus) |
| 23187 | David Fleming, knight | M | 1 | Bachelor |
| 130 | David I, king of Scots (d.1153) | M | 1 | Predecessor |
| 23161 | David of Strathbogie, titular earl of Atholl (d. 1335) | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 23165 | James Lovell | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 23864 | John Abernethy | M | 1 | Bachelor |
| 17196 | John de Mowbray, knight, lord of Methven | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 20442 | John de Warenne, earl of Surrey (d.1347) | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 23237 | John Dungal | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 22970 | John of Gelston, son of John of Gelston knight | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 23170 | John of Preston, knight (14C) | M | 3 | Bachelor |
| 23236 | John son of Duncan son of Alexander of Islay | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 74 | Malcolm IV, king of Scots (d.1165) | M | 2 | Predecessor |
| 23266 | Robert Erskine, chamberlain | M | 1 | Bachelor |
| 23547 | Roger Pingle | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 23203 | Thomas of Lindby | M | 1 | Enemy |
| 23515 | Walter Moygne, knight | M | 1 | Bachelor |
| 23841 | William de Calabre, queen's chamberlain | M | 1 | Associate/companion |
| 1 | William I, king of Scots (d.1214) | M | 5 | Predecessor |
| 23467 | William of Dissington, knight | M | 1 | Bachelor |
| 23963 | William, son of John, neyf of Tannandice | M | 1 | Serf/Neyf |
Employment relationships
In this sociogram, the types of employment relationship is colour-coded and labelled. The thickness of the lines reflects the number of times an assertion was made about that relationship. The graph reveals five chancellors (pink) and four chamberlains (brown), as well as five armour-bearers (light green), a mace-bearer (grey), and a bannerman (dark green).
You can explore the interactive Gephi sociogram of David II's employment relationships on the PoMS website.
| Person ID | Person Name | Gender | Count | Relationship Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23574 | Adam Cossour, king's mace-bearer | M | 1 | Mace-bearer |
| 23120 | Adam Murray, master, bishop of Brechin, chancellor (d. 1349/50) | M | 5 | Chancellor |
| 23194 | Adam of Carruthers | M | 1 | Baillie |
| 23311 | Adam of Lanark, king's confessor | M | 1 | Confessor |
| 23668 | Adam Page | M | 1 | Serviens (servant/sergeant) |
| 23680 | Adam, perpetual vicar of Linlithgow, king's chaplain | M | 1 | Chaplain (king's) |
| 23533 | Alexander Bur, master, bishop of Moray (d. 1397) | M | 1 | Clerk |
| 23533 | Alexander Bur, master, bishop of Moray (d. 1397) | M | 1 | Procurator |
| 23491 | Alexander Cockburn, king's armour-bearer | M | 1 | Armour-bearer/Esquire |
| 23482 | Alexander Scrymgeour, king's bannerman (TD2) | M | 1 | Bannerman |
| 23217 | Alexander Stewart, lord of Cruikston and Darnley | M | 1 | Baillie |
| 23774 | Andrew Murray, king's armour-bearer | M | 1 | Armour-bearer/Esquire |
| 41 | Arbroath Abbey (fd.1178) | I | 3 | Chaplain |
| 22963 | Archibald Douglas, guardian of Scotland (d. 1333) | M | 1 | Guardian (custos) |
| 23713 | Brice Wyche | M | 1 | Familiars/domestics |
| 23713 | Brice Wyche | M | 1 | Serviens (servant/sergeant) |
| 23156 | David Hay, constable of Scotland | M | 4 | Constable |
| 23936 | Donald Bannerman, king's physician | M | 1 | Physician (medicus) |
| 23700 | Gilbert Armstrong, master | M | 1 | Messenger (nuncius) |
| 23592 | Hugh of Dunbar, canon of Aberdeen | M | 1 | Clerk |
| 23494 | Hugh of Eglinton, knight | M | 1 | Justiciar |
| 23552 | James Douglas, lord of Dalkeith (d. 1420) | M | 1 | Armour-bearer/Esquire |
| 23212 | James of Sandilands, king's armour-bearer (d. 1354x58) | M | 2 | Armour-bearer/Esquire |
| 23933 | John Burnard, king's claviger | M | 1 | Key-bearer |
| 23542 | John de Burgh, king's mace-bearer | M | 1 | Mace-bearer |
| 23468 | John of Ancrum, king's clerk | M | 1 | Clerk |
| 23878 | John of Carrick, master | M | 7 | Chancellor |
| 23878 | John of Carrick, master | M | 1 | Secretary |
| 23200 | John of Carruthers, chancellor of Annandale | M | 1 | Chancellor |
| 23204 | John of Roxburgh, chamberlain | M | 1 | Chamberlain |
| 23201 | John of Tundergarth, chamberlain of Annandale | M | 1 | Chamberlain |
| 23193 | John Tunson | M | 1 | Baillie |
| 75 | Melrose Abbey (fd.1136) | I | 3 | Chaplain |
| 23284 | Patrick of Leuchars, bishop of Brechin (d. 1383) | M | 217 | Chancellor |
| 23029 | Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390) | M | 8 | Lieutenant |
| 23029 | Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390) | M | 15 | Steward |
| 23266 | Robert Erskine, chamberlain | M | 24 | Chamberlain |
| 23266 | Robert Erskine, chamberlain | M | 3 | Confederate |
| 23266 | Robert Erskine, chamberlain | M | 2 | Justiciar |
| 23266 | Robert Erskine, chamberlain | M | 1 | Messenger (nuncius) |
| 16138 | Robert Keith, marischal (d.1343) | M | 6 | Marischal |
| 23271 | Robert of Dumbarton, king's clerk | M | 6 | Clerk |
| 22813 | Robert of Lauder, justiciar of Lothian | M | 1 | Justiciar |
| 29 | Scone Abbey (fd.c.1120) | I | 1 | Chaplain |
| 22919 | Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) | M | 50 | Chancellor |
| 23511 | Thomas Hill, king's armour bearer | M | 1 | Armour-bearer/Esquire |
| 23303 | Thomas Murray, pantler of Scotland | M | 4 | Pantler |
| 13771 | Thomas Randolph (d.1332), earl of Moray | M | 1 | Lieutenant |
| 23268 | Thomas, earl of Mar (d. 1373x74) | M | 1 | Chamberlain |
| 23914 | Walter of Biggar, rector of Errol | M | 4 | Chamberlain |
| 23332 | Walter of Halliburton, knight | M | 1 | Sheriff |
| 23532 | Walter of Wardlaw, bishop of Glasgow (d. 1387) | M | 1 | Messenger (nuncius) |
| 23532 | Walter of Wardlaw, bishop of Glasgow (d. 1387) | M | 3 | Secretary |
| 23270 | William Caldwell, chancellor | M | 6 | Chancellor |
| 23841 | William de Calabre, queen's chamberlain | M | 1 | Chaplain (king's) |
| 23300 | William Keith, marischal of Scotland | M | 31 | Marischal |
| 23181 | William Landellis, bishop of St Andrews (d. 1385) | M | 1 | Messenger (nuncius) |
| 23655 | William Summer | M | 1 | Familiars/domestics |
| 23314 | William Trussell, warden of Odiham Castle | M | 1 | Guardian (custos) |
| 23655 | William Summer | M | 1 | Familiars/domestics |
| 23314 | William Trussell, warden of Odiham Castle | M | 1 | Guardian (custos) |