Anabella Drummond (c. 1350–1401) was Queen of Scots by marriage to King Robert III of Scotland. Queen of Scotland from 1390 - 1401, she is praised for her management of state affairs during the latter end of Robert III's reign, and gave birth to future King James I of Scotland in 1394.

Life

Early life

She was the daughter of Sir John Drummond, of Stobhall, near Perth, 11th Thane of Lennox and Chief of Clan Drummond, and Mary Montifex, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir William de Montifex, Justiciar of Scotland. It has been erroneously postulated that her father was the same John Drummond that was a brother to Margaret Drummond, Queen of Scotland but as this does not align with any historical dates, the latter John was probably a close ancestor. She married John Stewart (the future Robert III of Scotland) before 31 May 1367, after they obtained a papal dispensation allowing their marriage on 13 March 1366. Soon, she was enveloped in a power struggle with her husband's brother, Robert Stewart. Since Anabella and John did have two daughters, but no sons for several years, he was a supporter of a law that would bar women from inheriting the throne. Anabella gave birth to a son and heir, David Stewart, later duke of Rothesay, on 24 October 1378.

Queen

Anabella was crowned with Robert at Scone Palace when he came to the throne in 1390, succeeding Annabella's father-in-law who had become king as Robert II. A parliament at Scone assigned Annabella an annuity of 2500 merks from the great customs of several Scottish burghs to support her royal household, in 1891. She continued bearing children until she was past forty and had her last child, the future James I of Scotland, in 1394. King Robert, an invalid since 1384 as a result of a riding accident, grew increasingly despondent and incompetent throughout his reign and was not capable of governing. During this time he is said to have said to her that he should be buried in a dung heap with the epitaph "Here lies the worst of kings and the most miserable of men". Because the king was not able to rule, Anabella was prompted to manage state affairs as de facto ruler. The chronicles of Scotland generally praise queen Anabella and her conduct as queen. Protecting the interests of her oldest son, David, she arranged a great tournament in 1398 in Edinburgh, where her oldest son was knighted. In April of that year she also called a council where he was created Duke of Rothesay and Lieutenant of the Realm in the same year. Shortly after his mother's death he would be imprisoned by his uncle Robert, Duke of Albany, and died in mysterious circumstances at his castle of Falkland. David was described as debauched, self-indulgent and erratic, and the Duke of Albany did not have to fight hard to control him. The Fife burgh of Inverkeithing was a favourite residence of the queen. Her presence is still recalled in the sandstone font, decorated with angels and heraldry, which she presented to the parish church of the town, one of Scotland's finest surviving pieces of late medieval sculpture. Anabella died in Scone Palace in October 1401, and was buried at her birthplace of Dunfermline. With the loss of her protection, her eldest son David would become the prey of his uncle, Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, dying shortly after.

Issue

Anabella had several children with Robert III: