Albany, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of (c. 1340–1420)

Scottish noble and governor of Scotland 1402–20. His brother, Robert III of Scotland, was an invalid and so deemed unable to rule. Albany vied with Robert's elder son, David, Duke of Rothesay, for dominance and became de facto ruler after Rothesay's disgrace and death in 1402. He increased his power after the capture by the English of Robert's second son, the future James I, and Robert's subsequent death in 1406, ruling as governor of Scotland until his death in 1420 when he was succeeded by his son, Murdoch.