James IV
| James IV | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| King of Scotland | |
| Reign | 11 June 1488 – 9 September 1513 |
| Coronation | 24 June 1488 |
| Predecessor | James III |
| Successor | James V |
| Born |
17 March 1473 Stirling Castle, Stirling, Scotland |
| Died | 9 September 1513 (aged 40) Battle of Flodden, Northumberland, England |
| Spouse | Margaret Tudor |
| Issue more... |
James V |
| House | Stewart |
| Father | James III of Scots |
| Mother | Margaret of Denmark |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was the King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 to his death. He assumed the throne following the death of his father, James III, after the Battle of Sauchieburn, a rebellion in which the younger James played an indirect role. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended in a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden, where he became the last monarch not only from Scotland, but from all of Great Britain, to be killed in battle.
James was the son of James III and Margaret of Denmark, probably born in Stirling Castle. As heir apparent to the Scottish crown, he became Duke of Rothesay. In 1474, his father arranged his betrothal to Princess Cecily of England. His father was not a popular king and faced two major rebellions during his reign. The marriage negotiations and dowry payments led to the invasion of Scotland and capture of Berwick in 1482 by his uncle Alexander, Duke of Albany and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, while James remained at Stirling. James III's army rebelled against him and the English army reached Edinburgh.
During the second rebellion, the rebels set up the 15-year-old James as their nominal leader. They fought James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn on 11 June 1488, where the king was killed. The younger James took the throne and was crowned at Scone on 24 June. When he realised the indirect role which he had played in the death of his father, he decided to do penance for his sin. From then on, he wore a heavy iron chain cilice around his waist, next to the skin, each Lent as penance, adding extra ounces every year.
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