This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Scotland, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.
It may be noted that although the Crown could pass through the female line (for example to the House of Dunkeld in 1034), in the High Middle Ages it is doubtful whether a queen regnant would have been accepted as ruler.
Significant breaks in the succession, where the designated heir did not in fact succeed (due to usurpation, conquest, revolution, or lack of heirs) are shown as breaks in the table below.
1124 to 1290
Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Monarch Henry, Earl of Huntingdon Heir apparent Son 23 April 1124 Father became king 12 June 1152 Died David I Malcolm Heir apparent Grandson 12 June 1152 Father died 24 May 1153 Became king William, Earl of Northumbria Heir presumptive Younger brother 24 May 1153 Brother became king 9 December 1165 Became king Malcolm IV David, Earl of Huntingdon Heir presumptive Younger brother 9 December 1165 Brother became king 1193 Daughter born to king William I Margaret Heir presumptive Eldest daughter 1193 Born 24 August 1198 Brother born Alexander Heir apparent Son 24 August 1198 Born 4 December 1214 Became king Margaret, Countess of Kent Heir presumptive Elder sister 4 December 1214 Brother became king 4 September 1241 Son born to king Alexander II Alexander Heir apparent Son 4 September 1241 Born 8 July 1249 Became king Margaret, Countess of Kent Heir presumptive Aunt 8 July 1249 Nephew became king 25 November 1259 Died Alexander III Isabella, Countess of Norfolk Heir presumptive Aunt 25 November 1259 Sister died 28 February 1261 Daughter born to king Margaret Heir presumptive Daughter 28 February 1261 Born 21 January 1264 Brother born Alexander Heir apparent Eldest son 21 January 1264 Born 28 January 1284 Died Margaret Heir presumptive Granddaughter 28 January 1284 Uncle died 19 March 1286 Became lady and queen No recognised heir 1286–1290 Margaret
1292 to 1296 Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Monarch Edward Heir apparent Eldest son 17 November 1292 Father became king 10 July 1296 Father abdicated John
1306 to 1371 Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heirReason Ceased to be heirReason MonarchNo recognised heir 1306–1315Robert I Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick Brother 27 April 1315Proclaimed heir 14 October 1318DiedNo recognised heir Oct–Dec 1318 Robert Stewart Heir presumptive Grandson 3 December 1318Proclaimed heir 5 March 1324 David Bruce, Earl of Carrick Heir apparent Son 5 March 1324Born7 June 1329Became king Heir presumptive 7 June 132922 February 1371Became king David II
1371 to 1707 Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heirReason Ceased to be heirReason Next in successionRelation to heir MonarchNo recognised heir Feb–Mar 1371Robert IIJohn Stewart, Earl of CarrickHeir apparentSon27 March 1371Proclaimed heir19 April 1390Became king None1371–1373 Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife1373–1378, Brother David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay1378–1390, SonDavid Stewart, Duke of RothesayHeir apparentSon19 April 1390Father became king26 March 1402Died in captivity Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife1390–1394, UncleRobert III James Stewart1394–1402, Brother James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 26 March 1402Brother died4 April 1406Became king Robert Stewart, Duke of AlbanyUncle Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany Uncle 4 April 1406Nephew became king 3 September 1420Died Murdoch StewartSonJames IMurdoch Stewart, Duke of AlbanyHeir presumptiveFirst cousin3 September 1420Father died25 May 1425Executed, son executed on same day Robert Stewart1420–1421, Son Walter Stewart1421–1425, Son Alexander Stewart1425, Son Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl Heir presumptive Half-uncle 25 May 1425Half-nephew executed 16 October 1430Twin sons born to king Alan Stewart, Earl of CaithnessSon Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 16 October 1430Born 1430Died James StewartBrother James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 1430Brother died21 February 1437Father assassinated, became king Walter Stewart, Earl of AthollHalf-granduncle Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl Heir presumptive Half-granduncle 21 February 1437Half-grandnephew became king 26 March 1437Executed, grandson executed on same day Robert Stewart, Master of AthollGrandsonJames IINo recognised heir 1437–1451James Stewart, Duke of RothesayHeir apparentSon10 July 1451Born3 August 1460Became king None1451–1454 Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany1454–1460, Brother Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany Heir presumptive Brother 3 August 1460Brother became king 17 March 1473Son born to king John Stewart, Earl of MarBrotherJames IIIJames Stewart, Duke of RothesayHeir apparentSon17 March 1473Born11 June 1488 Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany1473–1476, Uncle James Stewart, Duke of Ross1476–1488, BrotherJames Stewart, Duke of RossHeir presumptiveBrother11 June 1488Brother became kingJanuary 1504Died John Stewart, Earl of Mar1488–1503, BrotherJames IV John Stewart, Duke of Albany1503–1504, First cousin John Stewart, Duke of Albany Heir presumptive First cousin January 1504First cousin died 21 February 1507Son born to king James Hamilton, 1st Earl of ArranFirst cousin James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 21 February 1507Born 27 February 1508Died John Stewart, Duke of AlbanyFirst cousin once-removed John Stewart, Duke of Albany Heir presumptive First cousin 27 February 1508First cousin once-removed died 20 October 1509Son born to king James Hamilton, 1st Earl of ArranFirst cousin Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 20 October 1509Born 14 July 1510Died John Stewart, Duke of AlbanyFirst cousin once-removed John Stewart, Duke of Albany Heir presumptive First cousin 14 July 1510First cousin once-removed died 10 April 1512Son born to king James Hamilton, 1st Earl of ArranFirst cousin James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 10 April 1512Born9 September 1513Father killed in battle, became king John Stewart, Duke of AlbanyFirst cousin once-removed John Stewart, Duke of Albany Heir presumptive First cousin once-removed 9 September 1513First cousin once-removed became king 30 April 1514Posthumous son born to James IV James Hamilton, 1st Earl of ArranFirst cousinJames V Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross Heir presumptive Brother 30 April 1514Born posthumously 18 December 1515Died John Stewart, Duke of AlbanyFirst cousin once-removedJohn Stewart, Duke of AlbanyHeir presumptiveFirst cousin once-removed18 December 1515First cousin once-removed died2 June 1536Died James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran1515–1529, First cousin James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran1529–1536, First cousin once-removedJames Hamilton, 2nd Earl of ArranHeir presumptiveSecond cousin2 June 1536First cousin once-removed died22 May 1540Son born to king Helen Campbell, Countess of Argyll1536–1537, Sister James Hamilton1537–1540, SonJames Stewart, Duke of RothesayHeir apparentSon22 May 1540Born21 April 1541Died James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran1540–1541, Second cousin once-removed Arthur Stewart, Duke of Albany1541, Brother James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran1541, Second cousin once-removed James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran Heir presumptive Second cousin 21 April 1541Second cousin once-removed died 8 December 1542Daughter born to king James HamiltonSon Mary Stewart Daughter 8 December 1542Born14 December 1542Became queen James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of ArranSecond cousin once-removed James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran Heir presumptive Second cousin once-removed 14 December 1542 19 June 1566Son born to queen James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of ArranSonMary I James Stuart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 19 June 1566Born24 July 1567Mother abdicated, became king James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of ArranSecond cousin twice-removed James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran Heir presumptive 24 July 1567Second cousin twice-removed became king 22 January 1575Died James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of ArranSonJames VI James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran Heir presumptive Third cousin once-removed 22 January 1575Father died 19 February 1594Son born to king John HamiltonBrotherHenry Frederick Stuart, Duke of RothesayHeir apparentSon19 February 1594Born6 November 1612Died James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran1594–1596, Third cousin twice-removed Elizabeth Stuart1596–1600, Sister Charles Stuart, Duke of Albany1600–1612, Brother Charles Stuart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 6 November 1612Brother died27 March 1625Became king Elizabeth, Electress PalatineSisterElizabeth, Electress PalatineHeir presumptiveSister27 March 1625Brother became king13 May 1629Son born to king Charles I Electoral Prince Charles Louis of the Palatinate1629, Son Heir apparent Son 13 May 1629Born 13 May 1629Died Elizabeth, Electress PalatineAunt Elizabeth, Electress Palatine Heir presumptive Sister 13 May 1629Nephew died 29 May 1630Son born to king Prince Charles Louis of the PalatinateSonCharles Stuart, Duke of RothesayHeir apparentSon29 May 1630Born30 January 1649Proclaimed king Elizabeth, Electress Palatine1630–1631, Aunt Mary Stuart1631–1633, Sister James Stuart1633–1649, BrotherJames Stuart, Duke of AlbanyHeir presumptiveBrother30 January 1649Brother proclaimed king6 February 1685Became king Henry Stuart1649–1660, BrotherCharles II Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange1660, Sister Charles Stuart1660–1661, Son William III, Prince of Orange1661–1662, Nephew Mary Stuart1662–1663, Daughter James Stuart1663–1667, Son Mary Stuart1667, Daughter Edgar Stuart1667–1671, Son Mary, Princess of Orange1671–1677, Daughter Charles Stuart1677, Son Mary, Princess of Orange1677–1685, Daughter Mary, Princess of Orange Heir presumptive Daughter 6 February 1685Father became king 10 June 1688Son born to king Princess Anne of DenmarkSister James Stuart, Duke of Rothesay Heir apparent Son 10 June 1688Born 11 May 1689Father deposed, excluded from succeeding Mary, Princess of OrangeSisterPrincess Anne of DenmarkHeiress presumptive11 May 1689Sister and brother-in-law became joint monarchs8 March 1702Became queen NoneMay-Jul 1689&Mary IIPrince William of Denmark1689–1700, SonHeiress apparent None1700–1702No recognised heir 1702–1707Act of Security 1704 Anne
See also Family tree of Scottish monarchs List of heirs to the British throne List of heirs to the English throne
References
http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/roking.aspx http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/strathearn.html