King Robert II – the first monarch of the House of Stuart, ruled the ancient kingdom of Scotland from 1371 to 1384. He was the nephew of Robert the Bruce, a warrior knight, who had earlier won the Scots their independence from constant English invasion. Robert II inherited a kingdom whose wealth had been weakened by these wars of independence. Although he was a warrior knight and great leader, Robert II ruled with wisdom and astuteness which resulted in Scotland becoming a much more stable and prosperous nation.