View source for James IV

Born the eldest son of [[James III]] of [[Scotland]] and his wife, Margaret, [[princess]] of [[Denmark]], '''James IV''' came to the [[throne]] at the age of 15, in [[becoming king|succession]] to his father, who was [[murder]]ed in the course of a rebellion by Scots [[noble]]s.

The younger James felt responsibility for his father's death, given that he had been the rebels' figurehead -- thereafter, throughout his life, he is said to have worn an [[iron]] [[chain]] round his waist, adding a weight to it each year on the anniversary.

Under James IV Scotland was driven forward into an age of progress.  A [[navy]] was founded, [[printing]] introduced, a third [[university]] founded, and the [[science]] of [[architecture]] was developed.  James himself was said to be fluent in no less than five [[language]]s, without including the [[Scots Gaelic]] of most of his people, not to mention possessing the skill (or art) of [[dentistry]], at a level which allowed him to charge for his services.

James suppressed the most violent among his [[nobility]], notably the MacDonalds, from whom he removed the [[Lord of the Isles|Lordship of the Isles]], as well as parts of their lands.  He also sought to regularise relations with Scotland's oldest foe, [[England]].  The [[Tudor]]s had just seized the [[throne]] there, but James was persuaded that the [[pretender]] [[Perkin Warbeck]] was the true [[monarch]], and supported him until Warbecks's death, although not with [[military]] force.  Thereafter the two nations agreed a 7-year truce from hostilities, and negotiations were opened for a longer peace.  In this regard, after the mysterious [[death]], by [[poison]], of his mistress Margaret Drummond (together with both her sisters), James became betrothed to, and finally [[marriage|married]], Margaret, daughter of England's [[king]] [[Henry VII]].  He was 28; she was 12.  A declaration of lasting peace was made which lasted for all of 10 years until England went to [[war]] with [[France]], who had a pre-existing [[treaty]] with Scotland which required James to support them.  [It was this marriage, Tudor to Stewart, that, on the death of [[Elizabeth I]], led to the accession, to the [[England|English]] [[throne]], of James VI of Scotland as James I of England.]

The English countered by attacking Scottish [[ship]]ping and, regretfully, James felt compelled to launch an invasion, and at Flodden on September 9, 1513 James was killed in [[battle]].  His infant son, [[James V]], succeeded him.


{{Scottish Monarch | ruler = James IV | predecessor = [[James III]] | successor = [[James V]] | reign = 1488-1513}}

''This page was based on a variety of on-line sources.''
[[category:Monarchs_(medieval)]]