David Stewart, Earl of Moray

## David Stewart

Earl of Moray

**David Stewart** (March 18, 1158 - April 12, 1172) was 5th child of Alexander I of Scotland and his Queen, Margaret of England, David Stewart (Often nicknamed "Davie") was raised along with his older and younger brother's in Edinburgh, and was beloved by his parents, when Davie was only 12, his father died, and his older brother David Stewart became King, his older brother granted David the Earldom of Moray, and David's twin brother Alexander of Scotland was granted the Earldom of Fife, David was put in the custody of his mother, until her murder in 1171, when he was moved to Edinburgh with his older brother Alexander. But when he was 14, his older sister Mary Stewart who was plotting with her husband William Boyd to invade Scotland, kidnapped David, and strangled him to death, a servent who was cleaning bed sheets in the same room he was murdered described it scene to Geoffrey of Monmouth, she said "His Grace and her Highness, blind folded the boy, and led him to a room where the strangled him to death, he screamed for mercy, my heart go's out to that innocent sole." His sister was executed 3 year's after his murder. and he was buried in Holyrood abbey.

## Early Life

David "Davie" Stewart was born in Edinburgh Castle in 1158 to Alexander I of England, and his Queen, Margaret of England. Davie may have been a twin brother to Alexander, 1st Earl of Fife, though some records show Davie may have been born 9 months later. Davie's mother before his birth expressed her desire for Davie to be born in France as she had, but Davie's father refused as he wanted all of his sons to be Scottish, in an event that Davie would be the heir, Scotland would not stand for a French born Scottish king. Davie was never meant to be King of Scotland though, nor did he ever succeed, but his father was always weary of it. He was educated by a cruel tutor from Ireland who often beat the boys with a stick to get them to learn.

## Earl of Moray

When Davie was only 12, his father died after suffering likely brain damage during a Crusade, Davie was in London with his uncle King John on tour, and he was pulled back to Scotland as soon as he was informed. He was put in the custody of his mother in Edinburgh, and his older brother now King David I of Scotland granted Davie the title of Earl of Moray and his mother was made regent, but Margaret soon fled with Davie's younger brother John Stewart to Ross, Davie on his own and no regents, recklessley ruled Moray on his own, famously making foolish laws, and ordering loads of chocolates and candies in Moray Castle, but he did good by abolishing the death penalty, because when he was 8, his father took Davie to a public execution, and he famously puked after seeing the criminals decapitated head. His mother was murdered a year later by a group of nobles who had always plotted against her, he and John Stewart were but in the care of there kingly brother, and there older brother acted as regent for Moray, and John's Earldom of Mar.

## Scottish Court

Davie entered the Scottish court when he was 13, he was not influencial as he was anti-social and clumsy, but he was very good looking which Davie did acknowledge, he was still not done with school, so his older brother enrolled him in Royal Edinburgh Castle School and was sorted in the Lance house with 291 other nobles. Davie was betrothed that year to Elizabeth de Nouvelles, and French aristocrat.

## Murder

While Davie was in Edinburgh Castle, his older sister Mary Stewart along with her husband William Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran where plotting against Davie's older brother to cease the Scottish throne, but the first wanted to kill Davie, and then his older brother, so while Davie was in his dormitory in Edinburgh Castle School, they kidnapped him, and stabbed a few teachers who tried to save him, he was imprisoned in Arran, 7 months into his imprisonment, his sister and brother-in-law strangled him to death, Davie's screams could be heard throughout the castle, but no one heard him, his sister and brother-in-law where later tried for murder, and executed. Davie was buried in Holyrood abbey.