David II was King of Scotland in the 14th Century, at a time of great unrest. He was on the throne, off and on, for 46 years.

He was born on March 5, 1324, at Dunfermline, Fife. His father was Scotland's king,Robert the Bruce, the famed victor at the Battle of Bannockburn, which gave Scotland its freedom from England. David became king technically in 1329, when his father died. He was crowned on Nov. 24, 1331, at Scone Abbey, Perthshire, when he was but 7. At the ceremony, he held a small scepter made just for him.

As was the custom of the time, David was married very early in his life. He was 4 when he became the husband of 7-year-old Joan, daughter of England's King Edward II. (David's mother, Elizabeth de Burgh, had died the year before.)

Running the country until David could come of age was Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray. Just a year after his crowning, David faced an uprising led by Edward Balliol, a son of John Balliol, who was king briefly in the 1290s. David had support from his nephew, Robert Stewart, and from other nobles. Young Balliol was victorious at the Battle of Dupplin Moor, and David was overthrown. Balliol was crowned, but not all of Scotland recognized him as king and young David regained his throne the following year. He lost it again, after Balliol returned in 1333, allied with an army led by England's Edward III won at the Battle of Halidon Hill. David and Joan fled to France, where they were welcomed by King Philip VI. Back in Scotland, David's nephew Robert and John Randolph served as Guardians of Scotland.

In 1341, David, by this time a teenager, returned from exile. An army loyal to him defeated forces loyal to Balliol and deposed that king once and for all.

In 1346, during the Hundred Years War, France activated the Auld Alliance, calling for Scotland to join in the fight against England. David obliged, leading an invasion force into northern England. English forces defeated Scottish forces at Neville's Cross, and David was captured. King Edward III kept him captive, first in the Tower of London and then in more comfortable surroundings, for 11 years. After paying a huge ransom, he returned home in 1357 and resumed his reign.

David's wife, Joan, died in 1362, as the Black Death raged across Europe. He got married again, two years later, to Margaret Drummond. Neither marriage resulted in children.

David II of Scotland died unexpectedly in 1371; his nephew, Robert Stewart, succeeded him, as King Robert II.