James IV

James IV (1472-1513) was king of Scotland from 1488 to 1513, participated in the rebellion which overthrew his father, James III, and succeeded him. However, in remorse for his unfilial conduct wore an iron belt all his life. During his youth his supporters carried on the government in their own interests, and despoiled the nobles who had been loyal to the late king. Nevertheless, when he came of age he showed his independence in choosing good advisers, among them Sir Andrew Wood. His reign was marked by resistance to the claims of the Roman pontiff, by the firm and wise administration of law, the fostering of agriculture, of shipbuilding, and other industries.

In 1503, James married Margaret, daughter of Henry VII, but that king's death relations between the two countries became strained. Two English men-of-war captured Andrew Barton's privateers. The jewels which the queen inherited from her father were retained by Henry VIII, and James maintained an alliance with Henry's enemy, France. At the solicitation of the French queen, against the advice of his own queen and nobles, he invaded England in 1513, but the invasion ended in disaster at Flodden, where he and the flower of his army perished. He was an able but a headstrong, a pleasure-loving, and an extravagant man.

Nearby pages
James Joyce, James Keith, James Knox Polk, James Lawrence, James Legge