James I of Scotland Is Murdered

James I, King of Scots (Jul 1394 - 21 February 1437), was the youngest of three sons of King Robert III and Annabella Drummond and was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline. By the time James was eight years of age both of his elder brothers were dead–Robert had died in infancy, but David Stewart, died under suspicious circumstances in Falkland Castle while being detained by his uncle Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. Although parliament exonerated Albany, fears for Jamess safety grew during the winter of 1405-6 and plans were made to send him to France. When on board a vessel bound for France, English pirates captured the ship on 22 March and delivered James to Henry IV of England.

A few days following his capture enroute to France, King Robert III died, and his 12 year-old son, the now uncrowned king of Scots began his 18-year detention in the Tower of London from 1406 to 1424. It wasnt until 1423 that he was released for a ransom of 60,000 merks and crowned at Scone. In his absence his uncle Robert of Albany ruled Scotland and had done little to secure James release hoping that he or his son Murdoch would assume the throne. James I, King of Scots would reign would last from 1406 until 1437.

Once released in 1424, James dealt ruthlessly with potential rivals to his authority, executing Murdoch and his family.

James was 30 when he took over as king, Scotland was in a deep economic recession. He set about restoring the prestige of the monarchy and forfeited the lands of the rebellious nobles including the Dukes of Albany. In the 13 years he strengthened the machinery of government and justice, replacing the barons law with the kings law, and restoring the crown to a respect it had not received since Bruces heart was taken from his rib cage. He also founded the Scottish Court of Session. During this time James made many enemies.

In February 1437 James lodged at the Blackfriars monastery on the outskirts of Perth accompanied by the queen but separated from most of their servants. The kings cousin Sir Robert Stewart, heir to his grandfather Walter, Earl of Atholl, was chamberlain of the royal household and used his privileged position to allow a small band of former Albany adherents led by Robert Graham to enter the building.

James was alerted to the mens presence after servants discovered their approach giving the king time to hide in a sewer tunnel but with its exit recently blocked off James was trapped and killed. Although wounded, the queen managed to escape and sent a directive ahead to Edinburgh for the now James II to be shielded from any widening of the conspiracy and had the boy kings custodian, the pro-Atholl John Spens, removed from his post and replaced by the trusted John Balfour.

The regicide of James I came so unexpectedly that a period of disorder took hold before James II was crowned at Holyrood Abbey on 25 March 1437 but it was not until early May that the main conspirators, Walter Lord of Atholl, his grandson Robert Stewart (son of Robert IIIs second marriage) and Robert Graham were gruesomely executed.