List of heirs to the Scottish throne

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Scotland, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.

It may be noted that although the Crown could pass through the female line (for example to the House of Dunkeld in 1034), in the High Middle Ages it is doubtful whether a queen regnant would have been accepted as ruler.

Significant breaks in the succession, where the designated heir did not in fact succeed (due to usurpation, conquest, revolution, or lack of heirs) are shown as breaks in the table below.

The symbols +1, +2, etc. are to be read "once (twice, etc.) removed in descendancy", i.e., the child or grandchild (etc.) of a cousin of the degree specified. The symbols -1, -2, etc. indicate the converse relationship, i.e., the cousin of a parent or grandparent (etc.).

1124 to 1290

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Henry, Earl of Huntingdon	Heir apparent	Son	23 April 1124	Father became king	12 June 1152	Died	David I
Malcolm	Heir apparent	Grandson	12 June 1152	Father died	24 May 1153	Became king	David I
William, Earl of Northumbria	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	24 May 1153	Brother became king	9 December 1165	Became king	Malcolm IV
David, Earl of Huntingdon	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	9 December 1165	Brother became king	1193	Daughter born to king	William I
Margaret	Heiress presumptive	Eldest daughter	1193	Born	24 August 1198	Brother born
Alexander	Heir apparent	Son	24 August 1198	Born	4 December 1214	Became king
Margaret, Countess of Kent	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	4 December 1214	Brother became king	4 September 1241	Son born to king	Alexander II
Alexander	Heir apparent	Son	4 September 1241	Born	8 July 1249	Became king	Alexander II
Margaret, Countess of Kent	Heiress presumptive	Aunt	8 July 1249	Nephew became king	25 November 1259	Died	Alexander III
Isabella, Countess of Norfolk	Heiress presumptive	Aunt	25 November 1259	Sister died	28 February 1261	Daughter born to king
Margaret	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	28 February 1261	Born	21 January 1264	Brother born
Alexander	Heir apparent	Eldest son	21 January 1264	Born	28 January 1284	Died
Margaret	Heiress presumptive	Granddaughter	28 January 1284	Uncle died	19 March 1286	Became lady and queen
No recognised heir 1286–1290							Margaret

1292 to 1296

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Edward	Heir apparent	Eldest son	17 November 1292	Father became king	10 July 1296	Father abdicated	John

1306 to 1371

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
No recognised heir 1306–1315							Robert I
Edward, Earl of Carrick	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	27 April 1315	Proclaimed heir	14 October 1318	Died
No recognised heir Oct–Dec 1318
Robert	Heir presumptive	Grandson	3 December 1318	Proclaimed heir	5 March 1324	Son born to king
David, Earl of Carrick	Heir apparent	Eldest son	5 March 1324	Born	7 June 1329	Became king
Robert, High Steward of Scotland	Heir presumptive	Nephew	7 June 1329	Uncle became king	22 February 1371	Became king	David II

1371 to 1707

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Monarch
No recognised heir Feb–Mar 1371								Robert II
John, Earl of Carrick	Heir apparent	Eldest son	27 March 1371	Proclaimed heir	19 April 1390	Became king	None 1371–1373
							Robert, Earl of Fife 1373–1378, younger brother
							David 1378–1390, son
David, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	19 April 1390	Father became king	26 March 1402	Died	Robert, Earl of Fife 1390–1394, uncle	Robert III
David, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	19 April 1390	Father became king	26 March 1402	Died	James 1394–1402, younger brother
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	26 March 1402	Brother died	4 April 1406	Became king	Robert, Duke of Albany, uncle
Robert, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	Uncle	4 April 1406	Nephew became king	3 September 1420	Died	Murdoch, eldest son	James I
Murdoch, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	3 September 1420	Father died	25 May 1425	Died	Robert 1420–1421, eldest son
							Walter 1421–1425, son
							Alexander 1425, son
Walter, Earl of Atholl	Heir presumptive	Uncle	25 May 1425	Nephew died	16 October 1430	Son born to king	Alan, Earl of Caithness, eldest son
Alexander, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	16 October 1430	Born	1430	Died	James, younger brother
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	1430	Brother died	21 February 1437	Became king	Walter, Earl of Atholl, granduncle
Walter, Earl of Atholl	Heir presumptive	Granduncle	21 February 1437	Grandnephew became king	26 March 1437	Died	Robert, Master of Atholl, grandson	James II
No recognised heir 1437–1451
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	10 July 1451	Born	3 August 1460	Became king	None 1451–1454
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	10 July 1451	Born	3 August 1460	Became king	Alexander, Duke of Albany 1454–1460, younger brother
Alexander, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	3 August 1460	Brother became king	17 March 1473	Son born to king	John, Earl of Mar, younger brother	James III
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	17 March 1473	born	11 June 1488	Became king	Alexander, Duke of Albany 1473–1476, uncle
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	17 March 1473	born	11 June 1488	Became king	James 1476–1488, younger brother
James, Duke of Ross	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	11 June 1488	Brother became king	12 January 1504	Died	John, Earl of Mar 1488–1503, younger brother	James IV
James, Duke of Ross	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	11 June 1488	Brother became king	12 January 1504	Died	John, Duke of Albany 1503–1504, 1st cousin
John, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	12 January 1504	Cousin died	21 February 1507	Son born to king	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, 1st cousin
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	21 February 1507	Born	27 February 1508	Died	John, Duke of Albany, 1st cousin −1
John, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	27 February 1508	King's son died	20 October 1509	Son born to king	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, 1st cousin
Arthur, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	20 October 1509	Born	14 July 1510	Died	John, Duke of Albany, 1st cousin −1
John, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	14 July 1510	King's son died	10 April 1512	Son born to king	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, 1st cousin
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	10 April 1512	Born	9 September 1513	Became king	John, Duke of Albany, 1st cousin −1
John, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin −1	9 September 1513	Cousin became king	30 April 1514	King's brother born	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, 1st cousin	James V
Alexander, Duke of Ross	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	30 April 1514	Born	18 December 1515	Died	John, Duke of Albany, 1st cousin −1
John, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin −1	18 December 1515	Cousin died	2 July 1536	Died	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran 1515–1529, 1st cousin
John, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin −1	18 December 1515	Cousin died	2 July 1536	Died	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran 1529–1536, 1st cousin −1
James Hamilton, Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin	2 July 1536	Cousin died	22 May 1540	son born to king	Helen Hamilton, Countess of Argyll 1536–1537, elder sister
James Hamilton, Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin	2 July 1536	Cousin died	22 May 1540	son born to king	James Hamilton 1537–1540, eldest son
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	22 May 1540	Born	21 April 1541	Died	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran 1540–1541, 2nd cousin −1
							Arthur, Duke of Albany 1541, younger brother
							James Hamilton, Earl of Arran 1541, 2nd cousin −1
James Hamilton, Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin	21 April 1541	King's son died	8 December 1542	Daughter born to king	James Hamilton, eldest son
Mary	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	8 December 1542	Born	14 December 1542	Became queen	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, 2nd cousin −1
James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin −1	14 December 1542	Cousin became queen	19 June 1566	Son born to queen	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, eldest son	Mary I
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	19 June 1566	Born	24 July 1567	Became king	James Hamilton, 2nd cousin −2	Mary I
James Hamilton, Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin −2	24 July 1567	Cousin became king	22 January 1575	Died	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, eldest son	James VI
James Hamilton, Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	3rd cousin −1	22 January 1575	Father died	19 February 1594	Son born to king	John Hamilton, younger brother
Henry Frederick, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	19 February 1594	Born	6 November 1612	Died	James Hamilton, Earl of Arran 1594–1596, 3rd cousin −2
							Elizabeth 1596–1600, younger sister
							Charles, Duke of Albany 1600–1612, younger brother
Charles, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	6 November 1612	Brother died	27 March 1625	Became king	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine, elder sister
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	27 March 1625	Brother became king	29 May 1630	Son born to king	Frederick Henry 1625–1629, eldest son	Charles I
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	27 March 1625	Brother became king	29 May 1630	Son born to king	Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine 1629–1630, son
Charles, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Eldest son	29 May 1630	Born	30 January 1649	Became king	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1630–1631, aunt
							Mary, Princess Royal 1631–1633, younger sister
							James 1633–1649, younger brother
James, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	30 January 1649	Brother became king	6 February 1685	Became king	Henry 1649–1660, younger brother	Charles II
							Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange 1660, elder sister
							Charles 1660–1661, son
							Prince William of Orange 1661–1662, nephew
							Princess Mary 1662–1663, daughter
							James 1663–1667, son
							Princess Mary 1667, daughter
							Edgar 1667–1669, son
							Princess Mary 1669–1677, daughter
							Charles 1677, son
							Mary, Princess of Orange 1677–1685, daughter
Mary, Princess of Orange	Heiress presumptive	Elder daughter	6 February 1685	Father became king	10 June 1688	Brother born	Princess Anne of Denmark, younger sister	James VII
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	10 June 1688	Born	11 April 1689	father deposed	Mary, Princess of Orange, elder sister	James VII
William II	Mutual heirs	Husband	11 May 1689	Claim of Right Act 1689	28 December 1694	Became sole monarch	Princess Anne of Denmark, sister(-in-law),	Mary II
Mary II	Mutual heirs	Wife	11 May 1689	Claim of Right Act 1689	28 December 1694	Died	Princess Anne of Denmark, sister(-in-law),	William II
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress apparent	Sister-in-law and 1st cousin	28 December 1694	Sister's death	8 March 1702	Became queen	William 1694–1700, son
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress apparent	Sister-in-law and 1st cousin	28 December 1694	Sister's death	8 March 1702	Became queen	none 1700–1702
No recognised heir 1702–1707 (see Act of Security 1704)								Anne

Jacobite succession, 1689–1807

The following are the heirs of the Jacobite pretenders to the throne to the death of the last Stuart pretender. For other persons in this lineage, see Jacobite succession.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Pretender	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession	Pretender
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	11 April 1689	Father deposed	16 September 1701	Became pretender	Mary, Princess of Orange 1689–1694, elder sister	James VII
James, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	11 April 1689	Father deposed	16 September 1701	Became pretender	Princess Anne of Denmark 1694–1701, elder sister	James VII
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	16 September 1701	Father died, brother became pretender	1 August 1714	Died	Louisa Maria, Princess Royal 1701–1712, younger sister	James VIII "The Old Pretender"
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	16 September 1701	Father died, brother became pretender	1 August 1714	Died	Anne Marie, Queen of Sicily 1712–1714, 1st cousin
Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia	Heiress presumptive	1st cousin	1 August 1714	Cousin died	31 December 1720	Son born to pretender	Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont 1714–1715, son
Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia	Heiress presumptive	1st cousin	1 August 1714	Cousin died	31 December 1720	Son born to pretender	Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1715–1720, son
Charles, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	31 December 1720	Born	1 January 1766	Became pretender	Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia 1720–1725, 1st cousin -1
Charles, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	31 December 1720	Born	1 January 1766	Became pretender	Henry 1725–1766, younger brother
Henry	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	1 January 1766	Brother became pretender	31 January 1788	Became pretender	Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia 1766–1773, 2nd cousin	Charles III "The Young Pretender"
Henry	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	1 January 1766	Brother became pretender	31 January 1788	Became pretender	Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia 1773–1788, 2nd cousin +1	Charles III "The Young Pretender"
Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin +1	31 January 1788	Cousin became pretender	14 October 1796	Died	Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1788–1796, son	Henry I "Cardinal York"
Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin +2	14 October 1796	Father died	13 July 1807	Death of last Stuart pretender	Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia 1796–1807, younger brother	Henry I "Cardinal York"

References