Mary's+Family

The Stewarts became rulers of Scotland in 1371. This note about the Stewart monarchs after James I will show the sort of problems that Mary faced when she began to rule Scotland in 1561. Three weeks later, James V died, only six days after the birth of his daughter, Mary, who then became Queen of Scots.
 * [[image:Jameses.JPG align="right"]]MARY’S FAMILY **
 * JAMES I (1406-1424-1437). ** He became King in 1406, aged 12. That year, the English captured him on his way to safety in France. They kept him prisoner until 1424. When he returned to Scotland, he tried to control the nobles and to regain royal property. Some nobles murdered him at Perth.
 * JAMES II (1437-1444-1460). ** He became King aged 7. During his minority (his childhood), the nobles who ruled his kingdom helped themselves to his wealth and reduced his power. When he became old enough to rule himself in 1444, James II tried to regain his losses that upset these nobles. He was killed in an accident when one of his own cannon blew up.
 * JAMES III (1460-1466-1488). ** He became King aged 8 in 1460. There was another minority and nobles misgoverned his kingdom. Until 1466, James III found it difficult to enforce his authority and the nobles often rebelled. After a battle with some of them, he was murdered at Sauchieburn, near Stirling.
 * JAMES IV (1488-1513). ** He became King aged 15 and ruled his kingdom by himself. He ‘managed’ the nobles sensibly and made a peace treaty with England by marrying an English Princess (Margaret Tudor). Nevertheless, when France went to war with England, James supported the French and invaded England. He was defeated and killed by the English at Flodden in 1513.
 * JAMES V (1513-1528-1542). ** He became King aged one in 1513. During his minority, pro-English and pro-French nobles argued about who would rule for him. James V first married Madeleine, a French Princess, and then Mary of Guise. James solved his money problems by obtaining money from the church and by taking money from the nobles. This upset many of them so they refused to support his war against England. His army was defeated by the English at Solway Moss.