Famous Scottish Historical Personalities

Mary, Queen of Scots was the ruler of Scotland till 24 July 1567. After an uprising against her, Mary sought protection from her first cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. However, the Queen perceived her as a threat and kept Mary in confinement for eighteen and a half years. Ultimately Mary was beheaded for plotting to assassinate the Queen.

Mary II of England was Queen of England, Ireland, and Scotland from 1689 to 1694. Although she co-reigned along with her husband William III of England, she also took major decisions by herself whenever William was abroad. Mary has been portrayed in films, such as Orlando and England, My England.

Robert II of Scotland had been an heir presumptive for over 5 decades before he finally became the king of Scotland in 1371. He was a grandson of the legendary Robert the Bruce, through his mother, Marjorie. The first Stewart monarch, he had minimal impact on his kingdom’s administration.

James II of Scotland reigned as the king of Scotland from 1437 to 1460. One of the most popular kings of Scotland, James socialized often with the commoners. Renowned for his restless energy, he traveled around the country and proved to be an active king. Thanks to his popularity, James is often depicted in historical novels, plays, and short stories.

David II of Scotland reigned as the king of Scotland from 1329 to 1371. He is credited with putting the Scottish monarchy in a strong position despite having to spend long periods in captivity or exile. Over the years, David II of Scotland has been depicted in several historical novels, such as Vagabond.

James III of Scotland reigned as the king of Scotland from 1460 until his death in 1488. Remembered as an ineffective and unpopular monarch, James was criticized for pursuing the so-called unmanly interests, such as music. He was also criticized for leading the Kingdom of Scotland into war. Over the years, he has been depicted in several historical novels.

David I of Scotland was the king of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. Prior to this, he was the prince of the Cumbrians from 1113 to 1124. He was the son of Malcolm III and Margaret of Wessex. He implemented many reforms in Scotland during his reign, in what came to be known as the "Davidian Revolution" in later centuries. 

James IV of Scotland reigned as the king of Scotland from 1488 until his death in 1513. Although his reign ended at the Battle of Flodden, where he was defeated, James is widely considered the most successful monarch of Scotland from the House of Stewart. 

Saint Margaret of Scotland, the Queen consort of Scotland, was a devout Christian reputed for her compassion for the poor of Scotland, for her charitable works and for promoting the interests of the church. She died shortly after receiving news of her husband, King of Scotland Malcolm III’s death in a battle. She was later canonized by Pope Innocent IV. 

Elizabeth de Burgh was the wife of Robert the Bruce and the queen consort of Scotland. Born to an advisor of Edward I of England, she spent most of her childhood at the English court. After the Scots were defeated by the English at Methven, she spent her days under house arrest.

Son of King Robert III, James I, the king of Scotland, is remembered for his authority over the Scottish lords. He was immensely popular for his administrative efficiency but was eventually killed by Walter, Earl of Atholl’s men. James is credited as the author of The King’s Book.

Mary, Princess Royal was the eldest-daughter of English King Charles I and became Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau through her marriage with William II of Orange. Her son William III of Orange, born 8 days after her husband's death, became the King of England, Scotland and Ireland. Mary acted as the regent for her minor son for the principality of Orange

Malcolm III of Scotland, also known as Canmore, was the son of King Duncan I. He remained in exile during the reign of Macbeth, who had killed his father, and then killed Macbeth and seized the throne. He was a significant character in William Shakespeare's iconic play Macbeth.

Mary of Guelders was crowned Queen of Scotland following her marriage with King James II of Scotland. She founded the Trinity College Church in her husband’s memory. She led the government of Scotland as regent during early years of her son James III's reign and emerged as a competent ruler following a pragmatic foreign policy during the Wars of the Roses.

Margaret of Scotland was the Queen of Norway, as the wife of King Eric II of Norway. The daughter of Scottish king Alexander III, she was married off to Eric II to strengthen political ties between Norway and Scotland. She was known to have taught Eric French and English.