Scottish Monarch. Son of James IV and Margaret Tudor. Crowned on September 21, 1513 at Stirling at the age of one year. James IV's cousin, the Duke of Albany, ruled as regent until James came of age. In 1528, the king began ruling on his own, savagely pursuing his opponents in the nobility while striving to be a man of the people, often traveling anonymously among them. The king was highly strung, intelligent, and alternated between bouts of depression and feverish energy. Seeking to strengthen the "auld alliance" with France, he married Princess Madeleine of France on January 1, 1537. Suffering from tuberculosis, the young queen died in the king's arms a mere 7 months after her arrival in Edinburgh. James married another Frenchwoman, the widowed Mary of Guise, on June 12, 1538. James' uncle, Henry VIII, had split with the Church of Rome and dissolved the monasteries, and tried to convince James to do the same. James refused, and failed to attend a planned meeting with Henry in York. Angered, Henry launched an invasion into Scotland. Although already ill, James marched his armies south, where they were defeated at the Battle of Solway Moss. James suffered a total nervous collapse, and retired to Falkland Castle, taking to his bed with a high fever. He died there six days later at the age of 31. He was succeeded by his only surviving child, the six-day-old Mary, Queen of Scots.

Scottish Monarch. Son of James IV and Margaret Tudor. Crowned on September 21, 1513 at Stirling at the age of one year. James IV's cousin, the Duke of Albany, ruled as regent until James came of age. In 1528, the king began ruling on his own, savagely pursuing his opponents in the nobility while striving to be a man of the people, often traveling anonymously among them. The king was highly strung, intelligent, and alternated between bouts of depression and feverish energy. Seeking to strengthen the "auld alliance" with France, he married Princess Madeleine of France on January 1, 1537. Suffering from tuberculosis, the young queen died in the king's arms a mere 7 months after her arrival in Edinburgh. James married another Frenchwoman, the widowed Mary of Guise, on June 12, 1538. James' uncle, Henry VIII, had split with the Church of Rome and dissolved the monasteries, and tried to convince James to do the same. James refused, and failed to attend a planned meeting with Henry in York. Angered, Henry launched an invasion into Scotland. Although already ill, James marched his armies south, where they were defeated at the Battle of Solway Moss. James suffered a total nervous collapse, and retired to Falkland Castle, taking to his bed with a high fever. He died there six days later at the age of 31. He was succeeded by his only surviving child, the six-day-old Mary, Queen of Scots.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad