James II

James II (1430-1460) was king of Scotland from 1437 to 1460, son of James I. During his minority the country was torn by rival factions amongst the nobility, the chief point of contest being the wardship of the young king. An attempt on the part of the conspirators who had murdered James I to place their leader, the Earl of Athole, on the throne, was frustrated. In 1449 James assumed the duties of his kingship, and in the same year married Mary, the daughter of the Duke of Gueldres. An English war then being waged on the Borders was brought to a close, and the young king entered vigorously upon administrative reforms. In these efforts he was hampered by the opposition of the nobility, and his fiery temper led him to participate in the murder of the chief obstructionist, the Earl of Douglas. Protection given to the exiled Douglases by the Yorkists led James to support the claims of Henry VI in England. He was killed by the bursting of a cannon at the siege of Roxburgh Castle.

Nearby pages
James II of England and VII of Scotland, James III, James IV, James Keith, James Knox Polk, James Legge