riginally called John, he used the name Robert when he came to the throne when his father Robert II died in 1390. Robert had been injured by a horse's kick a few years earlier and suffered from a permanent injury. This injury meant Robert was unable to rule unaided and so he was helped by his younger brother also called Robert. This younger brother became duke of Albany and is usually known under this name. In 1398, Robert's eldest son David was proclaimed 'Lieutenant of the Realm' in order to assist him rule the country, but both the King and his son ruled so poorly that when the English invaded in 1400 they met no resistance. After the death of Robert's wife, Annabella in 1401, Albany took control of the country and had David locked up in Falkland Palace where he died in 1402 after being starved to death. In 1406 the King attempted to have James, his next son, transported to France away from Albany's reach but James' ship was attacked by pirates and the boy was captured. James was handed over to the English where he was held a prisoner. The capture of James left King Robert without hope and he died the same year. James was the rightful heir to the Scottish throne but he would not be crowned until his release from the English in 1423.

 Robert (III, King of Scotland 1390-1406) ( - d.1406)
    +Drummond, Annabella (b.1350? - d.1401)
        = Stewart, David (Duke of Rothesay) ( - d.1402)
        = James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437) (b.1394 - d.1437)
            +Beaufort, Joan
                = Margaret (Stewart) ( - d.1445)
                |   +Louis (XI, King of France 1461-1483)
                = Isabella (Stewart) ( - d.1494)
                = Eleanor (Stewart) ( - d.1480)
                = James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)
                |   +Mary (of Guelders) (b.1433 - d.1463)
                |       = James (III, King of Scotland 1460-1488) ( - d.1488)
                = Joan (Stewart) ( - d.1480)