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James IV (1488 - 1513) |
James IV at prayer.
Taken from a contemporary Book of Hours. |
James IV is generally considered
to be one of the better kings during this period, he spoke
several languages including Gaelic. Although he ignored the
death of his father, James III, for eight years James eventually
found a way to make the death work to his advantage. To continually
remind himself of his sin he wore a heavy iron chain around
his waist. The chain was worn outside his clothes so that
the world could see his penance. To prove his credentials
as a true Christian he advocated a crusade against the Turks.
In addition to spectacular physical feats, such as riding
from Stirling to Elgin in 24 hours, he was also a builder,
he built palaces at Falkland and Holyrood.
Although James may have remained a bachelor until he was
30 it is also possible that he married Margaret Drummond.
Both she and her two sisters were murdered in 1500 by poison.
Nobody was caught for commiting the crime and for a time James
was distraught with grief.
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Henry VII of England had been trying
to arrange a union between the Houses of Tudor and Stewart
for some time as a means of securing peace between England
and Scotland. Eventually James agreed and in 1502 James married
the 13-year-old Margaret Tudor. The marriage produced six
children although only one survived into adulthood. From
the beginning James showed a real interest in the running
of his kingdom, it began with revenge against James III's
supporters and the elevation of his own - chief among them
being the Homes and Hepburns. There was never a formal minority
and within two years, at the age of seventeen, James was ruling
on his own. After 1509 there were no more Parliament's with
James preferring to rule through the council and the court.
It was during this reign that the Court of Session became
a permanent court with professional judges, and he used a
firm hand towards the highlands, including the forfeiture
of the lordship of the Isles and the establishment of additional
sheriffs and justices in the west. He built up a navy with
the 'Great Michael' at pride of place. James patronised several
organisations and institutions including Aberdeen University
(1512-13), a College of Surgeons (1505-06) and Scotland's
first printing press in 1507. |
Portrait thought to be of James IV |
Model of the Great Michael |
In 1509 the
ruthless Henry VIII came to the English throne and by 1513 he
was at war with France. This put James in an awkward position,
whom should he support? He made overtures to Henry but was brusquely
told that Henry 'owned' Scotland, James immediatley assembled
his army and headed south. The Earl of Surrey was leading the
English army and James arranged to meet him in battle on 9th
September 1513. The Scots took up a good position on Flodden
Edge where James refused to move from before the appointed time
for battle, even though he could have attacked the English as
they moved to cut off his supply line. In terms of numbers both
sides were about equal but the English cannon and equipment
was better than the Scots equivalent. The English teased James
into giving up his position and charging down the hill they
occupied into a boggy area. There the Scots army was badly defeated,
James and his son Alexander died as well as nine earls and 13
barons. |
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History Books on James IV:
| Author |
Title |
Published |
Price |
Order
Now From: |
| Barr, Niall |
Flodden 1513 |
2001 |
£14.99
or
$39.99 |
Amazon.co.uk
or
Amazon.com |
This infamous battle between the invading Scottish army
of James IV and Henry VIII's England was fought on the
cusp of the 'military revolution' and saw the first artillery
duel and last use of the longbow in a British battle.
Flodden is one of the most infamous battles between the
Scots and the English, and the one at which Scotland suffered
its greatest defeat - King James IV slain on the battlefield
together with the cream of the country's nobility.
There has been much debate over the reasons for the Scottish
disaster but until now there has been no modern work which
brings together the important new scholarship on the diplomatic
background to Flodden and a fresh understanding of the
Renaissance military revolution. At the same time, accounts
of the battle have been distorted by misunderstandings
about the military realities of the time and lack of a
detailed knowledge of the ground. This book, written by
a professional military historian who possesses an in-depth
knowledge of the battlefield, combines the crucial diplomatic
history with an appreciation of the new weapons of war
that saw their baptism of fire at Flodden, in a fresh,
detailed and vivid account of this compelling battle. |
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| Macdougall, N. |
Stewart Dynasty in Scotland
- James IV |
1997 |
£16.99 |
Amazon.co.uk |
James IV is the best-known of all the late medieval
Scottish rulers. Widely praised by his contemporaries,
he combined the qualities of successful medieval monarch
with a wide interest in the arts and sciences while acutely
conscious of the need to enhance the prestige of his dynasty
throughout Europe.
Dr Macdougall's excellent, scholarly study examines all
aspects of James IV's reign; explains his popularity and
his highly successful kingship; and assesses reasons for
the disastrous end to the reign when the king and a large
proportion of the Scottish nobility were eliminated in
a single afternoon in 1513 at Flodden.
This book represents Scottish historical research at its
very best. James IV is meticulously researched
and sensitively written. |
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History Books on this time period:
| Author |
Title |
Published |
Price |
Order
Now From: |
| 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. |
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| 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. |
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Historical Fiction Books on James IV and this time period
| Author |
Title |
Published |
Price |
Order
Now From: |
| Tranter, Nigel |
A Flame for the Fire |
1998 |
£5.99 |
Amazon.co.uk |
| David, Master of Kennedy, who through his association
with King James IV, possibly Scotland's best ever monarch,
found himself propelled from a quiet family life in Carrick
to a leading role in the protection of his country against
the English Tudors. |
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| Tranter, Nigel |
Chain of Destiny |
1996 |
£5.99 |
Amazon.co.uk |
| James IV was crowned as a 15 year old following his
father's murder, but he went on to become one of Scotland's
finest kings before tragically dying at Flodden. |
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