Rothesay, David Stewart, 1st Duke of Rothesay (1378–1402)

Scottish prince. He was the son of Robert II of Scotland, and succeeded to his father's original title of the Earl of Carrick. Owing to the king's defects of character, the management of the affairs of the kingdom devolved on his brother, the Earl of Fife. The estates, however, decided that David, as heir to the throne, should assume sovereign powers, and at the same time David was created Duke of Rothesay and his uncle, Fife, was made Duke of Albany, these being the first examples of the ducal title in the history of Scotland.