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James I of Scotland, 1406-1437

For the first 18 years of his tenure as King of Scotland James was a prisoner of the English. In his absence Robert Duke of Albany was appointed Governor of Scotland with his son replacing him for the final four years of James' imprisonment.

The English were in no mood to let the young King free as the Scots were allied to the French in a series of battles against Henry V in France. They were amongst the army defeated by the excellent archery and strong English yew at the Battle of Agincourt.

He was released in 1424 with the threat of Scotland under James not being seen as too great by his captors.

It may well be that all that time in an English prison had had a terrible effect on him for when he returned north he had the Duke of Albany and three male members of his family executed for treason. Their lack of success in gaining his freedom being seen as avaricious apathy on their part. It was not only close to home where his decisions were found to be cruel. The Highlanders suffered greatly at the hands of James. He was, unsurprisingly perhaps, murdered through an act of revenge in 1437 at the age of 42.

He had been married upon his release from London. His bride, Joan Beaufort gifted him with nine children; Margaret, Alexander, James, Isabella, Joan, Eleanora, Mary and Annabella.

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