Guardian – Lieutenant – Governor: Absentee Monarchy and Proxy Power in Scotland’s Long Fourteenth Century

Citation

Reid N & Penman MA (2017) Guardian – Lieutenant – Governor: Absentee Monarchy and Proxy Power in Scotland’s Long Fourteenth Century. In: Lachaud F & Penman M (eds.) Absentee Authority Across Medieval Europe. Woodbridge, England: Boydell and Brewer, pp. 191-218. https://boydellandbrewer.com/absentee-authority-across-medieval-europe-hb.html

Abstract
This co-authored paper surveys the experience of the Scotish political community through the crises of royal succession, invasion, royal minority/captivity and periods of infirmity which afflicted the Scottish kingdom between 1286 and c.1424: it compares the various modes of response to the king's absence through Guardianship, Lieutenancy and Regency, considering the patchy evidence for differences between these offices and their powers.

Keywords
Absentee; Authority; Succession; Scotland; Guardianship; Lieutenancy; Bruce; Stewart; Regency; Parliament; Council; Seal; Minority

People

Dr Michael Penman

Senior Lecturer, History