Who was James II of Scotland? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 29

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Mary of Guelders (m. 1449)

mother: Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots

children: Alexander Stewart; Duke of Albany, David Stewart; Earl of Moray, James III of Scotland, John Stewart; Earl of Mar, Margaret Stewart, Mary Stewart; Countess of Arran

Leaders Emperors & Kings

Died on: August 3, 1460

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Early Life & Childhood

James II of Scotland was born on October 16, 1430, at ‘Holyrood Abbey,’ to James I and Joan Beaufort. He also had an older twin brother, Alexander, who died, leaving James II as the only heir to the throne.

He also had six sisters. He was given the title of the ‘Duke of Rothesay’ after he was named the heir to the throne.

He was only 6 when he succeeded his father, after the latter was murdered on February 21, 1437.

He was crowned as the king on March 23, 1437.

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Early Career

After his father’s death, the strong central authority collapsed quickly. James II was not allowed to take control of the government until he turned 18. Thus, from 1437 to 1439, James’s cousin Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, ruled as the lieutenant-general.

During this time, there was constant rivalry among the Crichtons, the Livingstons, and the Douglases. That all of them were fighting to keep James II under their control became a known fact.

Sir Alexander Livingston of Callender got the possession of the young king as a warden of ‘Stirling Castle.’ In 1440, the infamous ‘Black Dinner’ took place at ‘Edinburgh Castle.’

The 6th Earl of Douglas and his younger brother, David, were invited to visit ‘Edinburgh Castle’ to meet the king.

The earl and his brother were beheaded in the castle yard on that fateful night. It was said that James had continuously pleaded for their lives. He was only 10 years old at that time, and it is highly unlikely that he had been involved in whatever had happened that night

Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld was also executed 3 days later. The Livingstons were considered responsible for the execution of James II’s cousins.

Career

In 1449, James II finally rose to power and gained control of his kingdom. At that time, the Douglases and the Crichtons were still fighting to gain power over the kingdom.

James II struggled hard for the next few years to throw away the rule of the Douglases. In order to succeed in his mission, he continued to maintain his relationship with the Douglases and seized the Livingston estates.

His disapproval of the Douglases became evident around 1450, and in 1452, he stabbed William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, over an argument about breaking bonds with John Macdonald, 11th Earl of Ross.

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There was a bloodbath after James threw his body out of the window. This, however, did not end his struggle.

From 1452 to 1455, there was a civil war, with soldiers covering mainly Brodick, on the Isle of Arran; Inverkip in Renfrew; and the Battle of Arkinholm. James’s tireless efforts finally resulted in throwing the Douglases out of power.

The Douglases were finally defeated in the Battle of Arkinholm. The Douglas castle and their properties were confiscated by James. James finally set up a strong government with all the revenue that came from their lands.

Additionally, the ‘Parliament of Scotland’ also forfeited many of the Douglas lands and permanently took away their power to keep the crown. Their other finances, lands, and castles were also taken away by the government.

This led the earl to flee to an English exile. James II finally had what he wanted, and he used his authority to full use.

For the next 10 years, James II worked indefatigably for his kingdom, government, and administration. He set up the ‘University of Glasgow’ and improved the justice system and the administration of Scotland

He was criticized for introducing the practice of raising money by offering remissions for serious crimes. An ‘Act of Parliament’ was also passed as a warning to James to check his behavior.

The English had also renewed their claims to rule Scotland. In 1456 and 1460, the king attacked the English settlements in Scotland.

James II remains to be one of the most popular and successful rulers of Scotland.

Family, Personal Life & Legacy

James II married Mary of Guelders, daughter of the duke of Gelderland, on July 3, 1449. James and Mary were 19 and 15, respectively, at the time of their marriage.

They had seven children, of which six reached adulthood. James planned to besiege ‘Roxburgh Castle,’ which was held by the English, in 1460.

Thus, he decided to use modern warfare and a good number of cannons. One of these cannons exploded near him and killed him instantly.

The siege was then carried forward by George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus. The castle was captured in a few days, and later destroyed, on the orders of Mary of Guelders.

James’s son, James III, ascended to the throne after the death of his father, while Mary acted as a regent until her death. James II’s life has inspired a number of plays, novels, short stories, and other fictional media.

A few of them are ‘The Captain of the Guard’ (1862) by James Grant, ‘The Black Douglas’ (1899) by Samuel Rutherford Crockett, and its sequel, ‘Maid Margaret’ (1905). James’s life was also showcased in the play ‘James II: Day of The Innocents’ (2014) and the novel ‘Niccolò Rising’ by Dorothy Dunnett.

James II of Scotland Biography