In 1388, John, Earl of Carrick, was kicked by a horse and received an injury which left him lame for life. When Robert II died in April 1390, he was succeeded by a semi-invalid who was already over fifty. Carrick took the name of Robert III as John appeared to have been an unlucky name for kings. 

Between Robert III's accession and his coronation occurred one of the most notorious outrages ever committed against the royal authority. On 17 June 1390, the king's brother, Alexander, "The Wolf of Badenoch", in pursuit of a feud with the Bishop of Moray, burned the Cathedral and the town of Elgin with the parish church and the Maison Dieu Hospital. Robert III and his councillors made Alexander submit and promise reparations to the bishop of Moray. 

Robert III acknowledged his incapacity by delegating his authority to his next brother, Robert, Earl of Fife, who possessed both ability and ambition. However, while they acted together against their brother, Alexander, there was rivalry between the King and Robert, Earl of Fife. After a period, Robert III ousted Fife but, under his personal rule, law and order deteriorated sharply. As a result, he 
appointed his son-and-heir, David, as his deputy. However, despite a successful beginning, David made powerful enemies, including his own brother-in-law. David was captured by his brother-in-law and his uncle, the latter imprisoning him in Falkland castle where he died, according to a parliamentary enquiry, 'through Divine providence and not otherwise'. However, it seems more likely that he was killed on his uncle's orders. 

In 1406, in order to keep him safe from his uncle, Robert III sent James, his 12-year-old son and heir, to France. However, James's ship was captured by English pirates and he spent the next 18 years in captivity. This news killed Robert III. He had once said, 'Bury me in the midden, and write: "Here lies the worst of kings and the most wretched of men".

Source: Leo van de Pas