james scotland james late july february king scotland son king sons time elder brothers dead robert died infancy david duke died castle detained uncle robert duke albany parliament albany fears james safety grew winter plans send france february james accompanying nobles close father clashed supporters 4th earl douglas forcing prince refuge castle bass rock small remained mid march boarded vessel bound france march english coast pirates captured ship delivered james henry england weeks later april ailing died year old began year detention james given good education developed respect english methods governance henry extent served english army french scottish king cousin albany son captive england traded earl northumberland years passed james time succeeded father governorship scotland james married daughter earl somerset february shortly release april scotland altogether popular entry scottish affairs james fought behalf times scottish forces france noble families pay increased taxes cover ransom provide hostages security despite james held qualities admired contemporary described james sport literature music unlike father grandfather children consort king strong desire impose law order subjects applied times bolster authority secure position crown james launched pre attacks nobles beginning close resulting execution sons james detained alexander lord isles attending parliament 5th earl douglas arrested followed george earl march plight ransom hostages held england ignored money diverted construction palace schemes august james failed siege english held faced ineffective attempt sir arrest general council james murdered perth night february failed coup uncle ally earl wounded managed evade attackers eventually reunited son prince steward scotland james probably born late july abbey years marriage parents mother care james spent early childhood prince seven years old mother died year later elder brother david duke probably murdered uncle duke albany held albany castle heir throne transfer royal line albany close ally 4th earl douglas involvement death clearing way albany appointed king lieutenant albany rewarded douglas support allowing resume hostilities england albany douglas affinity received reversal september large army defeated english numerous prominent nobles followers captured included douglas albany son angus year death earl ross lord died void created events inevitably filled lesser men previously politically active years northern ross adult leadership territory north forth prisoner england albany found reluctantly having form alliance brother earl son called alexander hold ambitions lord isles douglas absence power base scottish marches encouraged king robert close allies earl sir advantage principal political force region december king granted royal stewart lands west james protecting outside interference providing prince territorial centre need arise james protection bishop henry country east coast douglas animosity intensifying activities continued expand involvement border politics foreign relations england decision send young prince france albany reach taken winter james departure scotland february bishop released james large force adherents proceeded hostile douglas east james giving demonstration royal approval interests douglas country provoked fierce response supporters place called engaged killed james escaped comparative safety bass rock endured month boarding france bound ship danzig march ship taken english pirates james hostage king henry england castle learned son capture died soon april buried stewart foundation abbey king captivity james king scots began proved year period hostage time albany transitioned position lieutenant governor albany took james lands control king income position referred records son late king king small household scots included earl nephew sir brother following earl return scotland time james household paid english changed high ranking individuals notable men treated young james providing good education james placed observe henry methods political control having probably admitted royal household reaching adulthood james personal visits nobles coupled letters individuals maintain visibility kingdom henry died son immediately ended james comparative freedom initially holding tower london scottish prisoners prisoners james cousin albany son captured battle hill initially held apart release tower windsor castle james standing court improved greatly ceased regarded hostage guest james value henry apparent accompanied english king france presence scots fighting following english success siege town southeast paris contingent scots hanged treason king return england james attended queen catherine coronation february receiving honoured position sitting immediately queen left coronation banquet march henry began circuit important towns england strength tour james day july kings campaigning france james evidently approving henry methods content endorse english king desire french crown henry appointed duke james joint commanders siege july august received surrender garrison henry died august september james escort taking english king body london regency council infant king inclined james released soon possible early months attempts resolve issue met little response scots clearly influenced adherents earl douglas power influence eclipsed despite james brother death albany castle douglas able engage king douglas regular contact james formed alliance prove pivotal douglas pre eminent scottish magnate position borders forcibly retake designated warden likely threat angus march return james endorsement douglas position kingdom earl able deliver affinity cause king home coming relationship duke albany following father death strain evidence influential grouping odds stance pressure advocates king certainly compelled agree general council august agreed mission sent england negotiate james release james relationship changed february married cousin niece thomas duke exeter henry bishop winchester ransom treaty sterling marks agreed durham march james attached seal king queen escorted english scottish nobles reached april met albany relinquished governor seal office personal rule acts 15th century scottish kings suffered lack crown revenue james reign exception albany regency constrained owed fees governorship nobility royal patronage ceased entirely following james capture irregular forms political emerged albany allowing nobles earl douglas brother james remove funds customs backdrop james coronation took place coronation parliament estates witnessed king perform ceremony eighteen prominent nobles including son event probably intended foster loyalty crown political community called primarily discuss issues surrounding finance ransom payments parliament heard james position authority monarch ensured passing legislation designed substantially improve crown income patronage royal predecessors guardians douglas immediately affected ability remove large sums customs blocked despite james dependent nobility especially douglas support initially adopted stance early exception albany son walter heir open revolt father giving way younger brother alexander title disagreed father return james scotland james walter arrested imprisoned bass rock time probably interests james probable king felt unable rest brother earl earl douglas fighting english cause france leader international reputation commanded large scottish army douglas fell august scottish army routed loss brother large fighting force left politically exposed ruthless king douglas death weaken position son 5th earl october king met ostensibly agree appointment monk meeting intended official acceptance douglas signalled change crown nobles allies died france heirs realigned rival nobles blood ties time douglas experienced loss command served improve james position james continued retain support allowing begin campaign political albany family king directed roots past responsible brother david death robert exerted negotiating james release left king suspicion held aspirations throne lands fall crown albany father law duncan earl imprisoned december duke main ally earl settled differences king sitting parliament march precipitated arrest isabella wife son alexander albany sons walter prison james youngest known escaped led men open rebellion crown king needed bring charge treason sons walter alexander duncan earl castle trial specially convened parliament seven fourteen lesser nobles appointed hear evidence linked prisoners rebellion men condemned walter immediately beheaded castle james demonstrated ruthless nature destruction close family yielded set james dispersal crown estates reign robert exposed legal defects number transactions march found problematic march respectively earl death heir meant reverted crown james sought boost income taxation succeeded getting parliament pass legislation tax paying ransom raised james sent england james stopped ransom payments completely remainder taxation buying cannons luxury goods flanders following fire castle funds diverted building palace continued james death absorbed estimated tenth royal income relations church james asserted authority nobility church lamented king david church proved costly successors james considered monastic institutions particular needed improvement return strictly ordered communities james solution create assembly overseeing followed establishing perth provide religious houses example internal conduct sought influence church attitudes policies having appointed glasgow march james parliament directed bishops offer prayers king family year later parliament insisting prayers given mass fine severe parliament person scotland governed king laws statutes realm laws enacted restrict actions regulate need travel ability purchase additional ecclesiastical positions james parliament july evident statute enacted purpose reducing powers church jurisdiction july general council church convened initial meeting place december time pope council complete disagreement council pope requested james send representatives scottish church known delegates canon servant king attendance november december james time response summons pope appointed bishops attend council scottish attended intervals majority higher ranking sent attendees bishops glasgow attended person midst general council pope instructed bishop meet james raise issue king controversial anti laws arrived scotland december apparently reconciliation james papal taken place middle february events february james assassinated prevented completing commission highland problem july king convened general council perth aimed obtaining finance expedition highlands semi autonomous lord isles council initially resisted granting james funds royal support powerful eventually gave king wishes attack north king intention james resolved use degree force strengthen royal authority told assembly leaders north west summoned james ostensibly sitting parliament assembled king arrested including alexander lord isles mother mary ross august executed remainder exception alexander mother quickly released alexander captivity james attempted split alexander uncle approached agent king clan leadership refusal dealings king nephew held prisoner led attempted arrest death king need allies west north led approach lord isles hoping alexander loyal servant crown given freedom alexander probably pressure close son led rebellion attacking castle spring crisis deepened fleet dispatched bring convey home king intention form alliance english scottish king motives tried bring active player died suddenly releasing james prepare decisive action armies met june alexander suffering heavily defeated alexander escaped probably james continued assault taking strongholds castles july king pushed home advantage army reinforced artillery dispatched isles alexander probably realised position hopeless tried negotiate terms surrender james demanded received total submission august king delegated royal authority earl keeping peace north west rose september inflicted important defeats king men army beaten angus fierce battle near tongue setback james credibility adversely affected september uprising king arrested earl douglas possibly result conflict john uncle douglas involved douglas arrest raised tensions country james acted reduce unrest freeing earl september likely king earl release support forthcoming parliament perth james intended push funding campaign parliament mood allow james backing allowed tax fund highland campaign parliament retained control levy rules parliament attached taxation indicated robust stand conflict north probably led turnaround took place october king offence earl douglas ross alexander douglas formal having freed weeks earlier alexander total reversal crown policy summer campaigns officially end james wishes having effectively blocked parliament foreign policy james release herald new scottish relationship southern neighbour didn king english council hoped instead emerged confident independently minded european monarch substantive matters contention kingdoms payments terms james release renewal truce setbacks battlefield france sent ambassador scotland persuade james renew alliance terms include marriage princess margaret louis france gift province james ratification treaty charles took place october james intended marriage daughter french royal family possession french lands political importance europe boosted effectiveness alliance france virtually ceased renewal alter james adopted non aligned position england france time opening diplomatic contacts austria denmark milan naples vatican generally english relations relatively extension truce helped english cause france promises scottish army help marriage james eldest daughter french king son louis james balance european responses carefully england ally duke possessions included scotland major trading partners low countries ensured support france muted truce england expired james perception anglo french conflict changed following realignment combatants breakdown talks england france precipitated alliance france request france scottish involvement war promised marriage princess margaret spring princess margaret sailed france august scotland entered war james leading large army lay siege english campaign prove pivotal book describes split difference arising scottish camp historian explains contemporary source james appointing young inexperienced cousin constable host ahead experienced march douglas angus brown explains possessed considerable local interests effects large army living land created considerable resentment hostility area militant york durham took forces marches relieve fortress scots swiftly retreated chronicle written year later said scots fled effects manner defeat loss expensive artillery major reversal james terms foreign policy internal authority assassination background youngest sons provided father lifetime walter brother david earl died march daughter recorded walter ward niece administered decade half time aided brother guardian scotland enforcing law order brother alexander lord supported robert duke albany nephew david duke albany likely engineered marriage affinity ended walter involvement possibly loss fruits lord graham killed quarrel principal servant close earl renewed involvement ward graham son despite strong opposition albany hint possible party murder bad blood existing albany led james return scotland ally uncle participated sat tried found prominent members guilty rebellion executions followed swiftly james granted positions sheriff perth significantly life rent acts confirmed given albany effective grip elder son david hostages sent england condition james release died younger son died king service battle david son robert heir line throne young prince james james continued favour appointed grandson robert personal chamberlain series setbacks hands james earl robert probably viewed king actions prelude acquisitions expense hold rich weak robert realised earl death reverted crown meant robert holdings relatively impoverished amounted possession years retreat exposed king questions control subjects military diplomatic abilities remained determined continue war england months james called general council october finance hostilities taxation estates firmly resisted opposition articulated speaker sir albany attendant servant council witnessed unsuccessful attempt graham arrest king resulting knight imprisonment followed james graham actions extended threat january received james overturned chapter nominee replaced king nephew firm supporter conspiracy reaction king general council shown james foot political standing received huge set convinced earl james death viable course action seen action brothers different times allowed control kingdom james nearest adult relative earl considered decisive intervention time prove equally successful destruction appears played significant conspiracy king judicial killing lands impacted servants administered depended estates living vacuum left filled employment albany men appear included sir months earlier attempted arrest king perth council brothers christopher member royal household old albany ties stronger general council held perth february conspirators king queen remained town monastery evening february king queen rooms separated servants grandson heir king chamberlain allowed conspirators thought number thirty led chambers brothers access building james alerted men presence giving king time hide sewer tunnel exit recently blocked prevent tennis balls getting lost james trapped killed aftermath assassins achieved priority killing king queen wounded escaped importantly year old king control removal earl associate role james vanished records following allocation positions lands immediately following murder indicate plot chaos following murder appeared queen attempt position regent guaranteed surviving documentation exists suggest general feeling horror condemnation aimed murderers possible attempt killing queen succeeded taken control young king attempted coup succeeded queen small group loyal supporters included earl angus ensured continued hold james greatly reinforced situation followers week march pope envoy called council pursue peaceful outcome despite middle march probable angus equally likely gathered forces resist march queen council perth resist forces position circle close supporters collapsed heir captured account confessed crime walter taken prisoner angus held edinburgh tried beheaded march day coronation young sir leader band assassins captured allies tried session council sitting castle subsequently executed shortly april queen joan pursuit regency ended probably council june 5th earl douglas appointed act lieutenant general kingdom king james heart taken pilgrimage holy land following rolls scotland note payment cover costs knight order john returned island rhodes historiography james figure prisoner england received good education developed individual poet accomplished musician skilled sports abbot lists james qualities musician enthusiastic amateur master mastery included organ drum flute james sporting abilities wrestling hammer throwing listed described james possessing literary composition writing best known love poem characterised king tower lion light jewel pillar leader law king ended conduct described king capable stabbing near relative hand creating disturbance court abbot generally supportive james regretted demise james greed territory wealth didn length negative aspects james character alluded dismay close king harsh regime account events leading james murder work provided accurate narrative politics scotland depended witnesses describes james actions motivated revenge agrees far concerned wrote people land sore writing nearly century later relied extensively narratives described james embodiment good monarchy eulogy james excelled far virtue father grandfather great grandfather precedence james similar vein calls prince days late 16th century early historians opposite ends religious spectrum looked favourably james reign enduring aggressive history king 20th century history james written continued theme james strong law order describing albany trial execution writes king proved high rank defence crown enriched revenues views james reformer legislation aimed increasing position king parliament describes james positive reputation began immediately death kissed james wounds declared martyr suggests praise pro james scottish modern historians find strong king diminish extent parliament ability king confrontation took place james self assured parliament takes view time death james succeeded breaking constraints exercise royal authority rooted settlement kingdom describes opposing views result competing propaganda murder glad king dead james reason aggressively nobility imposing estates failed deliver justice people provides opposite viewpoint king seen giving strong leadership magnate murder disaster scottish people leaving endure instability years consequent faction fighting continues james example stewart kings follow putting scotland firmly european context describes james able aggressive politician chief aim establish monarchy stature free confrontations father reign capable highly effective short term failed achieve position authority brown writes james come power years kings looked like acted like kings succeeded completely changing outlook objectives monarchy policy reducing power influence continued son led subordinate nobility james reputation law explains nearly king legislation laws laid previous monarchs concludes idea james return marks turning point development scots law james death predominant houses left according grant reduction far reaching change nobility far important consequence james reign marriage issue february married london daughter 1st earl somerset children august married louis future france tours june october march married francis duke brittany october aft october deaf dumb known dumb lady married 1st earl duke born died october elder twin scotland october august november married austria february march married married firstly december count geneva secondly 2nd earl ancestry fictional portrayals james depicted plays historical novels short stories include novel depicts captivity james main events taking place friendly relationship prominently featured catherine prominent secondary characters king tragedy novel depicts events years action leads assassination douglas characters featured lion let loose covers life james death royal poet author greatness james excursion windsor castle mentioning poems christ green key lock production trio history plays play stands vision country past future play focuses personal development james release marriage joan struggles noble families order establish authority scotland explanatory notes
James I of Scotland