James III (1460 - 1488)

Groat showing the fleur-de-lys

From the beginning it was apparent that James III was not interested in matters of state, he was far more at home with his friends who were largely artists, craftsmen and intellectuals. Indeed, he even excluded the baronial class from the decisions he did make, prefering advice to come from 'secreit servandis' - those same artists, craftsmen and intellectuals. He had no practical sense, at a time of high prices, periodic famine and depression he still coveted valuables and the magnates rightly criticised him for this. At the same time he was criticising them for their lack of appreciation of the finer things in life.

During his minority authority was exercised by his mother, until her death in 1463, and Bishop Kennedy, until his death in 1465. Following these deaths there was a coup and James was seized at Linlithgow by the Boyd family who took him to Edinburgh. Lord Boyd then convinced James that the coup had been in accordance with his wishes and this left Boyd of Kilmarnock to dominate the government until 1469.

James married Margaret of Denmark in 1469. Margaret was the daughter of King Christian of Denmark and this allowed negociations over the northern isles to proceed. By 1472 Orkney and Shetland were officially a part of Scotland. In this year also James began to govern in his own name and he immediately drove out the Boyds. The Lord of the Isles had, in 1462, made an agreement with Edward IV of England and the exiled Earl of Douglas that Scotland was to shared out amongst themselves, as English vassels. Now James moved against MacDonald, the fourth Lord of the Isles, removing him from his Earldom of Ross. This still left some trouble in the north, however, Angus Og, MacDonald's illegitamate son, was still free.

Groat showing James III in half-profile

Portrait of James III

Although James was not involved in it himself he was well pleased when the see of St Andrews was elevated to archepiscopal status in 1472. James appointed his protege, William Scheves, to the new archdiocese. By 1479 James's reign was in trouble. He had arrested two of his brothers, the Duke of Albany and the Earl of Mar because he was afraid of their ambitions and jealous of their popularity. Albany quickly escaped but Mar was not so fortunate, he bled to death under suspicious circumstances. Things got worse with full scale war against England breaking out in 1482, with Albany and an English army marching north. James marched to meet the invaders but his barons lynched six of his favourites and led James back to Edinburgh. Albany immediately changed his attitude and became a staunch supporter of James and the English army retook Berwick on their way home. Albany's support was short lived, however, in 1483 he left the country formed an alliance with Douglas and attacked James again. The plan failed and Albany fled to France where he was killed in 1484 while watching a tournament. Unfortunately James did not learn from his mistakes, he still failed to uphold the law and he debased the coinage - introducing the 'blak pennyis', a cheap copper coin. The barons were still aggrieved about his reliance on his favourites. In 1488 the Home's, the Earls of Angus and Argyll and the Bishop of Glasgow rose in open revolt with Prince James as their figurehead. James rallied an army and he met his opponents at Sauchieburn, near Bannockburn, where the royal army was badly beaten. James had fled the field before the end but his body was found, stabbed through the heart, a day or so later.

History Books on this time period:

Author	Title	Published	Price	Order Now From:
Grant, A.	Independence & Nationhood: Scotland 1306-1469	1991	£9.95 or $20.00	Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Under Robert Bruce and his successors, Scotland's independence from England was maintained and its sense of nationhood developed. Alexander Grant shows how this had a profound effect upon domestic as well as foreign affairs, and how it led to the evolution of a distinctive Scottish government, nobility, Church and economy. At the same time he puts Scottish history into the international context of the 100 Years War, the economic and demographic upheaval caused by the bubonic plague, and the Christianity of the pre-reformation era. Challenging traditional assumptions of general late-medieval decline, Independence and Nationhood demonstrates how the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a crucially important period of change and growth for Scotland.
Wormald, J.	Court, King & Community: Scotland 1470-1625	1991	£9.95	Amazon.co.uk
The last period of Scotland's existence as an independent kingdom with the focus on the events and consequences of the Reformation.
Nicholson, R.	The Edinburgh History of Scotland: Vol 2 The Later Middle Ages	1974	£16.99	Amazon.co.uk
The four-volume Edinburgh History of Scotland is the most important project in Scottish historical writing for more than half a century; each volume is written by an expert on the period who brings to his work the direct acquaintance with original sources on which authoritative historical writing can alone be based. This, the second volume, covers the period from the close of the 13th century to the Battle of Flodden. It presents a sophisticated analysis of the facts and a comprehensive description of all the varied and intricate aspects of Scottish Medieval life. Although the book is detailed enough to serve as a work of reference, the historical development of the emergence of, possibly, the first self-conscious nation of Europe into what was perhaps the first 'new monarchy' of Europe may here be read as a continuous narrative of events. Professor Nicholson presents a precise picture of the economy, society and politics of medieval Scotland.

Historical Fiction Books on this time period:

Author	Title	Published	Price	Order Now From:
Tranter, Nigel	The Mary Stewart Omnibus		£9.99	Amazon.co.uk
The 15th century stories of Princess Mary - sister of James III - and John, Lord of Douglas.
Tranter, Nigel	Price of a Princess	1995	£5.99	Amazon.co.uk
The story of Mary Stewart, eldest sister of the young James III, who went to Denmark with her husband the Earl of Arran and negotiated the transfer of Orkney and Shetland to Scottish control - but at great cost to herself.