Scottish History - The House of Stewart
James III of Scotland

• Robert II (1371-1390) & Robert III (1390-1406)
• James I (1406-1437)
• James II (1437-1460)
• James III (1460-1488)
• James IV (1488-1513)
• James V (1513-1542)
• Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
• James VI (1567-1603)

James III (1460-88)

James III was born in 1451 and so was a child of 9 years when he came to the throne. He was crowned at Kelso Abbey. His mother, Marie of Gueldres, after his father's death, ruled as Regent until her death.

Bishop Kennedy was Guardian of Scotland. He apparently managed the business of governing much better than James did when he reached his majority. The government of the time dealt with the outside threat of England by signing a truce with Edward IV.

When Marie died, the Boyd family, a powerful family in Scotland, became advisors to James III and took control of his person. Thomas, the son of Lord Boyd, was married to the King's sister, Mary, and was instrumental in arranging the King's marriage. James married Margaret of Denmark in 1469, whose father was the King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Part of her dowry consisted of Orkney and Shetland. They were given as security for part payment of her dowry since here father was impoverished. Her dowry was never forthcoming and, therefore, Orkney and Shetland became a permanent part of Scotland. When Thomas returned with James' new bride, he was in danger of being arrested, because he was a Boyd.

However, his wife, Mary, met the ship bringing them to Scotland and warned her husband. They both fled to Denmark. After the marriage James was strong enough to destroy the Boyds. However, his internal problems were not over. His brothers, Alexander, the Duke of Albany, and John, the Earl of Mar were serious conspirators towards obtaining the crown from James. They were arrested on suspicion of conspiring against the crown.

Mary died under suspicious circumstances, leading the nobles to wonder what could happen to them if a prince of the realm could be killed. Albany was able to escape from Edinburgh Castle to England where he was received by Edward IV. James tried to reconcile with his brother but Albany again tried to win the kingdom and was, therefore, exiled to France. It was during the reign of James III that a written record of Parliament came into being to be kept in a book, which has provided historians with much information. A third university was established during his reign also.

James was interested in many things, trade, currency, ships and artillery, music and building, and could have brought about a new age within Scotland but he was lacking one basic thing, and that was any element of force in his personality.

James met another challenge to the throne that may have been more serious than that of his brothers. The Scottish lords were totally appalled about James's bisexuality. James became unpopular with his nobles because of the favorites he had at court. He lavished money and gifts, including land, on these favorites to the detriment of others. This may have been the excuse the nobles needed, not that they were so enraged about his sexual preferences, but that of his ineffectual control of law and order.

Seeing a way to exact vengeance, the nobles called a meeting in a nearby church when the army was camped at Lauder. There was a loud knocking on the door during this clandestine meeting and in came Robert Cochrane, the King's favorite, lavishly dressed. The nobles were irate. One grabbed Cochrane's gold necklace, while others grabbed his jacket and tied him up. At first he thought it as a joke but then came to realize that the nobles were indeed intent on doing him harm.

Some of the Scottish lords went to the King's tent, captured the King and other favorites of James. Ropes were tied around their necks. The story is that when Cochrane realized they were serious, he begged them to use a silken rope. No mercy was shown and all but the King were dragged to Lauder Bridge and hanged beneath. James was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle for three months. He was released when peace was made. However, he soon reverted to his former ways and gathered his favorites around him.

Not being able to tolerate this any longer, the nobles declared war on James. They declared him unfit to rule. He had a new friend, John Ramsay, and conferred an earldom upon him, much to the aversion and displeasure of the Scottish lords. The lords pressed the cause of young Prince James who was only 15 at the time. The young James agreed to support their cause as long as his father was not harmed. A battle resulted near Stirling and James III was thrown from his horse. He was not a very good rider. Somewhat injured, he was carried into a nearby mill.

When he regained consciousness, the people at the mill asked who he was. He replied, 'I was your king this morning.' The miller's wife rushed out of the building shouting for a priest for the king. A man claiming to be a priest entered the building and bent over the King. He asked the King if his wounds were mortal. The King replied that they were not but he wished to confess his sins and receive pardon. The stranger, stabbed the King in the heart, yelling, 'This then will give you your pardon.' He escaped before anyone could identify him.

James was buried in Cambuskenneth Abbey, not having reached his 37th year. His son, James IV never quite escaped the guilt for the part that he had played in his father's death.