Scotland, James I King of

Scotland, James I King of

Male 1394 - 1437  (42 years)

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  • Name Scotland, James I King of 
    Born Dec 1394 
    Gender Male 
    Buried 1437  Charter House, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 21 Feb 1437 
    Person ID I3480  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 

    Father Stewart, John,   b. Abt 1337, Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Apr 1406, Rothsay Castle, Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Drummond, Annabella,   b. Abt 1350, Of, Stobhall, Cargill, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1401, Scone, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 51 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Married 13 Mar 1365  Dispensation, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1445  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Beaufort, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND Joan 
    Married 2 Feb 1424 
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 
    Family ID F1451  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 1437 - Charter House, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 


    • Biographical Text:

      Robert III's 11 (12)-year old second son James had been captured by the English on his way to France where his father had sent him for safety to protect him from his uncle, the Duke of Albany. He was a prisoner of the English for the next 18 years but was well educated by the English at the English court. At his father' s death in 1406, he was recognized by the Scottish parliament and was finally released for a ransom of 60,000 merks payable over six years (the Treaty of London) and allowed to return home at the age of 21.

      During his reign, he restored respect for the monarchy. When he returned home he found that corruption prevailed, the country was in decline and taxes were not being paid. He set out to restore order to the Kingdom. He beheaded the Duke of Albany's son, Murdoch, his sons and the Earl of Lennox, the first state executions in over 100 years.

      Being brought up at the English court, he tried to reform the Scottish parliament in the style of the English but he endeavored to weld these into existing Scottish practice. The nobles opposed him but he passed restrictive laws curbing their power and bringing them back into line. These laws were passed without the approval of the King's Council and broke all the rules of law in Scotland. His attempts at innovation were not immediately successful but his reign is a landmark in the constitutional history of Scotland. He tried to make parliament more efficient not because he wanted to share his authority but because he wanted to ensure that his subjects should be obedient and enjoy good laws, justly administered. After James had brought the nobles into line, he turned his attention to the Church which had also fallen into disrepute and forced the Church to exercise more control over its clergy. A group of nobles who were resentful of the laws James had passed conspired together to put an end to his rule. The conspirators hoped to win the throne for Walter, a son of Robert II by his second marriage. The King gave a party at Blackfriars in Perth. When all the guests had arrived, the dissenting nobles showed up even though they had not been invited. The servants warned the king and he, fearing for his life, went to a secret stone in the floor to escape. He went down the steps to an underground room that he thought would lead him to safety outside of the building. However, a week before the party the exit had been blocked off, the story being that croquet balls were always running through the exit and getting lost. The nobles, under the leadership of Sir Robert Graham, searched the castle but could not find the king. They soon discovered the stone and the king in hiding. James begged for mercy but was told that he had had no mercy on others and was stabbed with a dagger. The murderers did not have the support of the country and Queen Joan was determined to bring them to justice. She had them captured and tortured mercilessly for two days. They were killed or died of their torture. James is buried at Perth where he was murdered.