Livingston was a relatively minor figure for most of his life, enjoying local importance in
Stirlingshire. His links with the powerful
Douglas family had given him the office of
bailie of
Herbertshire Castle by 1423.
Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, as
Governor of Scotland, probably gave Livingston custody of
Stirling Castle before 1424. After this display of loyalty, James I confirmed Livingston's position as custodian of Stirling. His younger brother, John, became
provost of
Edinburgh, while his cousin, Robert Livingston, was employed by James I as
master of works at
Linlithgow Palace. Livingston and his family developed a close bond with
William Crichton, a fellow royal servant and the custodian of
Edinburgh Castle, during these years. According to the contemporary
Auchinleck chronicle, Livingston ordered Joan to be imprisoned in a room in the castle, while Stewart of Lorn and his brother were shackled in a
dungeon. Livingston received the support of various noblemen, including James Douglas, Earl of Avandale, and
William Crichton, for his arrest of the queen mother and her husband. Joan's arrest ended her attempts to govern Scotland on behalf of her nine-year-old son,
James II. Livingston's coup against the queen mother culminated in a
general council, held at Stirling the following month, that named him as guardian of James II for the duration of the king's legal minority. Livingston also gained custody of the king's sisters, all of whom were minors except for
Margaret, the eldest. Despite this setback, Livingston was able to negotiate with Crichton for the king's return to his custody. By the autumn of 1439, Livingston was serving on the regency council alongside Crichton, James Douglas, Earl of Avandale, and Avandale's great-nephew,
William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas. Livingston's political patron, the Earl of Avandale, took primary responsibility for arranging the executions, and inherited his great-nephew's
earldom in the wake of the Black Dinner. The execution of Malcolm Fleming, a member of the
Douglas affinity, at the Black Dinner was a particular source of controversy. Conflict ensued between
Clan Fleming and the immediate family of Livington's ally, William Crichton, who was considered to be most responsible for Fleming's death. After the death of
James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas, in March 1443, Livingston abandoned his political alliance with Crichton, instead seeking an accommodation with
William, the new Earl of Douglas. Livingston's new enemy, Crichton, and his relatives were then officially
outlawed at a
general council held at Stirling Castle. Livingston's support, entailing custody of James II, was crucial to the Earl of Douglas during the ensuing conflict. Livingston continued to act as guardian of James II after Douglas, who was seeking to strengthen the legitimacy of his faction, declared the formal end of the king's minority in November 1444. A period of civil war followed the ascendancy of the Douglas-Livingston faction in 1443. Crichton sought the support of a group of Livingston's enemies, including
Joan Beaufort and her second husband - whom Livingston had both imprisoned - along with
James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus. Crichton's faction was quickly defeated in the civil war. Douglas besieged and captured
Methven Castle, which was held for the queen mother, and awarded it to Livingston's second son, Alexander of Filde. The civil war reached its climax later that year, when Crichton himself was besieged in Edinburgh Castle and forced to surrender. '', published in the 1440s, has been proposed as a
satirical attack on Livingston and his family. Livingston acquired the important judicial role of
Justiciar of Scotland in 1444, during the civil war. Possibly to consolidate his family's power, he had transferred his office of custodian of Stirling Castle to his eldest son, James, before 1445. Livingston's cousin, Robert, who had previously supervised building work at
Linlithgow Palace, became
Comptroller of Scotland at around the same time, while Livingston's younger brother, John, was made custodian of
Doune Castle. By 1449, the Livingston kinsmen formed one of the most wealthy and influential noble families in
Scotland. Elizabeth's wedding to the earl was celebrated in 1449. This was a prestigious marriage for the Livingston family. The contemporary satirical poem, the
Buke of the Howlat, may have been directed against Livingston and his relatives for the aggrandizement represented by Elizabeth's marriage. ==Downfall of family==