Scottish Monarch. The son of James II and Mary of Guelders, he succeeded his father and was crowned at Kelso Abbey on August 10, 1460 at the age of 8. His mother, elder brother Alexander, and Lord Boyd served as regents. In the power vacuum following Queen Mary's death in 1463, the young king was kidnapped by his brother and Lord Boyd and imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. The Boyds arranged his marriage to Margaret of Denmark, which took place on July 13, 1469. Shortly after his marriage, James asserted his own power, executing Lord Boyd and exiling his brother. His reign was weak, undermined by internal power struggles. His demands for taxes, debasement of the currency, and quest for peace with England made him unpopular. An English army invaded in 1482, in support of the king's exiled brother, Alexander. A group of Scottish nobles including the Boyds murdered some of the king's favorites, and imprisoned James in Edinburgh Castle. James survived and was released through skillful negotiation with the English. But following a series of conflicts with Border lairds, the nobles encouraged the 15 year old Prince James to lead a rebellion. The armies, both flying the lion rampant, met at the battle of Sauchieburn on June 11, 1488. The 37 year old king was wounded and left the field, where he was murdered by a man pretending to be a priest. His son James IV assumed the throne, but was forever plagued by guilt over his part in the death of his father.

Scottish Monarch. The son of James II and Mary of Guelders, he succeeded his father and was crowned at Kelso Abbey on August 10, 1460 at the age of 8. His mother, elder brother Alexander, and Lord Boyd served as regents. In the power vacuum following Queen Mary's death in 1463, the young king was kidnapped by his brother and Lord Boyd and imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. The Boyds arranged his marriage to Margaret of Denmark, which took place on July 13, 1469. Shortly after his marriage, James asserted his own power, executing Lord Boyd and exiling his brother. His reign was weak, undermined by internal power struggles. His demands for taxes, debasement of the currency, and quest for peace with England made him unpopular. An English army invaded in 1482, in support of the king's exiled brother, Alexander. A group of Scottish nobles including the Boyds murdered some of the king's favorites, and imprisoned James in Edinburgh Castle. James survived and was released through skillful negotiation with the English. But following a series of conflicts with Border lairds, the nobles encouraged the 15 year old Prince James to lead a rebellion. The armies, both flying the lion rampant, met at the battle of Sauchieburn on June 11, 1488. The 37 year old king was wounded and left the field, where he was murdered by a man pretending to be a priest. His son James IV assumed the throne, but was forever plagued by guilt over his part in the death of his father.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad