biography
| name: |
James I (of Scotland)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1394–1437)
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| biography:
| King of Scots (1424–37), born in Dunfermline, Fife, E Scotland, UK, the second son of Robert III. After his elder brother David was murdered at Falkland (1402), allegedly by his uncle, the Duke of Albany, James was sent for safety to France, but was captured by the English, and remained a prisoner for 18 years. Albany meanwhile ruled Scotland as governor until his death in 1420, when his son, Murdoch, assumed the regency, and the country rapidly fell into disorder. Once released (1424), James dealt ruthlessly with potential rivals to his authority, executing Murdoch and his family. He brought state finance under his direct control and curtailed the power of the nobles. He improved the administration of justice for the common people, raising his popularity, but he was assassinated by a small group of dissidents led by Sir Robert Stewart. James was the first of many Stewart kings to act as a patron of the arts, and almost certainly wrote the tender, passionate collection of poems, The Kingis Quair (‘The King's Quire’ or book), c.1423–4. |
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