James the Fat
| James Mór Stewart | |||||
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| Coat of Arms of the Albany Stewarts | |||||
| Born | circa 1400 Scotland. Possibly Stirling, Stirlingshire. |
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| Died | 1429. Some sources say 1449. Antrim, Ireland |
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| Spouse | Unknown member of Clan MacDonald | ||||
| Issue |
James "Beg" Stewart (born c. 1424–1470) Murdoch Stewart Arthur Stewart Robert Stewart Matilda Stewart Alexander Stewart Andrew Stewart, 1st Lord Avondale |
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| House | House of Stuart | ||||
| Father | Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany | ||||
| Mother | Isabella of Lennox | ||||
| Full name | |
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| James Mór Stewart (Scottish Gaelic: Seamas Mór) |
James Mor Stewart, called James the Fat, (Scottish Gaelic: Seamas Mór) (c. 1400–1429 or 1449) was the youngest son of Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany and Isabella of Lennox. When his father and brothers were executed by King James I for treason in 1425, James led a rebellion against the king, taking the town of Dumbarton and killing the keeper of Dumbarton Castle. His success was short lived and he soon fled to Ireland, where he would spend the remainder of his life in exile. A second attempt at rebellion in 1429 saw a fleet sail to Ireland to collect James "to convey him home that he might be king", but he died before the attempt could be made.
James's eldest son James "Beg" Stewart was able to secure a royal pardon and return to Scotland, and was the ancestor of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich on Lochearnside, whose family history is recounted by Sir Walter Scott in A Legend of Montrose. James Mor's brother Walter (executed 1425) left a son, Andrew Stewart, 1st Lord Avondale, who became Lord Chancellor of Scotland in 1459, and was one of the leading servants of King James III of Scotland.
Little is known of James's life before the arrest of his father, the Duke of Albany, and his eldest son Alexander, for treason by King James I of Scotland on 21 March 1425, on the 9th day of the March parliament. The family properties of Doune Castle and Falkland Palace were captured, and Duke Murdoch and two of his sons were imprisoned and held pending trial. James soon became a rallying point for enemies of the King, raising a large rebellion against the crown. Initially at least, events moved in his favour. He received the support of his mother's supporters in the Lennox, and also from Fionnlagh MacCailein, Bishop of Argyll, a long-standing supporter of the Albany Stewarts. James marched on the town of Dumbarton, burned it, and killed the keeper of the royal castle there, Sir John Stewart of Dundonald, who was the King's uncle. However, the castle itself, commanded by John Colquhoun, successfully held out against James's men.
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