Britain's Royal Families

by Alison Weir

  6 James II ( see here).

  7 Mary

  She was designated Countess of Buchan, either at birth or upon her marriage. She married Wolfert van Borssele, Count of Grandpré and Lord of Campveere in Zeeland (d.1487), in 1444 at ter Veere, Zeeland, and had issue:

  1 Unnamed son (d. young).

  2 Unnamed son (d. young).

  Mary died on 20 March, 1465, and was buried at Sandenburg-ter-Veere, Zeeland.

  8 Annabella or Jean

  She married firstly Louis of Savoy, Count of Geneva, afterwards King of Cyprus (d.1482), on 14 December, 1447 (or possibly 1455), at Stirling Castle. They divorced in 1458. Annabella married secondly George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly (d.1501), before 10 March, 1459/60, and had issue:

  1 Isabella (d. by 1485); she married William Hay, 3rd Earl of Erroll (d.1507).

  Annabella was also possibly, but improbably, the mother of the following:

  2 Janet (d.1559); she married Alexander Lindsay, Master of Crawford (d.1489), and had issue. She married secondly Patrick Grey, 3rd Lord Grey (d.1541); they were later divorced. She married thirdly Patrick Butler of Gormock, and fourthly James Halkerstoun of Southwood.

  3 Elizabeth (d. after 1525); she married William Keith, 2nd Earl Marischal (d.1527), and had issue.

  4 Margaret; she married Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell (d.1508), and had issue.

  5 Agnes; she married Sir Gilbert Hay of Kilmalamak.

  6 (Highly improbable) Alexander, Earl of Huntly (d.1524); he married firstly Janet (d.1510), daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl, and had issue. He married secondly Elizabeth (d.1529/30), daughter of Andrew, 2nd Lord Hay.

  Annabella was divorced from her second husband on 24 July, 1471, on grounds of consanguinity.

  JAMES I

  He was assassinated on 21 February, 1437, in the monastery of the Friars Preachers at Perth (or at Edinburgh), and was buried at Perth, either in the monastery of the Carthusians, or the monastery of the Black Friars, or the monastery of the Dominican Friars.

  He was succeeded by his son James.

  James II

  * * *

  FATHER: James I ( see here).

  MOTHER: Joan Beaufort ( see here, under James I).

  SIBLINGS: ( see here, under James I).

  JAMES II

  He was born on 16 October, 1430, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, the younger of twins. He succeeded his brother Alexander as Duke of Rothesay, probably in 1430, being first so styled on 22 April, 1431. He succeeded his father as King of Scotland on 21 February, 1437, and was crowned on 25 March, 1437, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.

  James II married, on 3 July, 1449, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh:

  Mary

  She was the daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gueldres, by Katherine, daughter of Adolf, Duke of Cleves, and she was born in 1433. She was crowned Queen Consort on 3 July, 1449, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh. She died on 16 November or 1 December, 1463, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Edinburgh.

  Issue of marriage:

  1 Unnamed child

  It was born on 19 May, 1450, and died the same day.

  2 Mary

  She was probably born in the summer of 1451 (?), certainly before 16 May, 1452. She married firstly Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran (d.1473/4), before 26 April, 1467/8, and had issue:

  1 James, 2nd Lord Boyd (killed 1484).

  2 Margaret or Grizelda (1468/73–after 1516); she married Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Forbes (d. by 1491). She married secondly David Kennedy, 1st Earl of Cassilis (killed at Flodden, 1513).

  Mary’s marriage to Arran was declared null and void in c.February/March, 1473/4 (or, much less probably, in 1469). She married secondly James, 1st Lord Hamilton (1398?–1479), in c.February/March, and before April, 1474, and had issue:

  1 James, Earl of Arran (1475?–1529); he married firstly Elizabeth (d.1544), daughter of Alexander, 2nd Lord Home; they were later divorced. He married secondly Janet (d.1522), daughter of Sir David Beaton of Creich, and had issue.

  2 Robert, Seigneur d’Aubigny (d.1543).

  3 Elizabeth (d. after 1531); she married Matthew Stewart, 2nd Earl of Lennox (killed at Flodden, 1513), and had issue.

  Mary died in c.May, 1488 (?).

  3 James III ( see here).

  4 Alexander

  He was born in c.1454/5, certainly before 8 July, 1455. He was created Baron of Annandale and styled Earl of March before 4 August (on 8 July?), 1455, and was created Duke of Albany between 4 July, 1457, and 3 July, 1458. His titles and estates were all declared forfeit on 4 October, 1479, but he was restored in blood between June and December, 1482, and was created Earl of Mar and Garioch between 29 September and 10 October, 1482. His titles and estates were again declared forfeit on 27 June, 1483. He was killed in 1485 (?) in France at a tournament, and was buried in the Church of the Celestines, Paris.

  Alexander married firstly, in c.1475 (although no evidence exists as to where):

  Katherine

  She was the daughter of William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney and Caithness, by Elizabeth, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, by Margaret, daughter of Robert III. She was divorced on 2 or 9 March, 1478, on grounds of propinquity, and her issue declared illegitimate. The divorce was ratified by Act of Parliament on 15 November, 1516.

  Issue of marriage:

  (i) Margaret

  She married Sir Patrick Hamilton of Kincavil (d.1520), and was said to have had issue, but this is improbable. She died after 5 July, 1542.

  (ii) Andrew

  Nothing is known of him.

  (iii) Son (name not known)

  He was born in 1477, and died before 1479.

  (iv) Alexander

  He was born in the late 1470s. He took Holy Orders, and was appointed Prior of Whitehorn. He later became Abbot of Inchaffray. He was nominated Bishop of Moray on 31 May, 1528, and consecrated on 16 April, 1532. He died on 19 December, 1537, and was buried in Scone Abbey, Perthshire.

  Alexander had the following illegitimate issue:

  1 Alexander; he was legitimated in 1550.

  2 Alexander.

  3 Margaret; she married first Patrick Graham of Inchbrakie (d.1536), and had issue. She married secondly Colin Campbell of Glenurchy.

  Alexander married secondly, between 16 January and 4 December, 1479 (and not on 10 February, 1480, as is sometimes stated), in France:

  Anne

  She was the daughter of Bertrand de la Tour, Count of Auvergne, by Louise, daughter of George de la Trémouille, Seigneur of Trémouille in Poitou. After the death of Alexander, she married secondly Louis, Count of La Chambre in Savoy (d.1517), on 17 February, 1487. She died on 13 October, 1512, at La Rochette Castle, Savoy, and was buried in the Carmelite monastery at La Rochette.

  Issue of marriage:

  (i) John

  He was born around 1481/5. He was first styled Duke of Albany in June, 1505, and was formally restored to the duchy between 8 April, 1514, and May, 1515. He died on 2 June, 1536, at Mirefleur in the Auvergne, France, and was buried in the chapel of the Palace of Vic-le-Comte, France.

  John had the following illegitimate issue:

  By Jean Abernethy:

  1 Eleanor; she married John de l’Hôpital, Comte de Choisy, and had issue.

  John married, after 13 July, 1505 (date of dispensation) (although no evidence exists as to where):

  Anne

  She was the daughter of John de la Tour, Count of Auvergne and Lauraguais, by Joan, daughter of John of Bourbon, Count of Vendôme, and she was born after 1495. She became Countess of Auvergne and Boulogne in her own right. She died in June, 1524, at the Castle of St Saturnin, France.

  5 David

  He was born after 1454 and before 12 February, 1456. He was created Earl of Moray on 12 February, 1456, and died before 18 July, 1457.

  6 John

  He was born after October, 1456, perhaps in c.July, 1457, or in 1459 (?). He was created Earl of Mar and Garioch between 21 June, 1458, and 25 June,
1459. He forfeited all his estates in 1479/80, and died, or was murdered, either on 9 July, 1479, or – more probably – some time in 1480, at Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh.

  7 Margaret

  Some sources state that she became the wife of William, Lord Crichton (d.1493), but this is almost certainly a fabrication. He abducted and seduced her to spite her brother, James III; there is no contemporary evidence for their marriage. Their clandestine union produced the following illegitimate issue:

  1 Margaret Crichton (d. by 1546); she married firstly William Todrik of Edinburgh (d. by 1507), and secondly George Halkerstoun (killed at Flodden, 1513), and had issue. She married thirdly George Leslie, 2nd Earl of Rothes (d.1513), and had issue.

  James II also had the following illegitimate issue:

  1 John Stewart of Sticks and Ballechin; he married and had issue.

  JAMES II

  He was killed on 3 August, 1460, when a cannon burst at the siege of Roxburgh; he was buried in Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.

  He was succeeded by his son James.

  James III

  * * *

  FATHER: James II ( see here).

  MOTHER: Mary of Gueldres ( see here, under James II).

  SIBLINGS: ( see here, under James II).

  JAMES III

  He was born either in May, or on 10 July, 1452 (or, less probably, on 20 July, 1451), either at the Castle of St Andrews, Fife, or at Stirling Castle. He was Duke of Rothesay from birth. He succeeded his father as King of Scotland on 3 August, 1460, and was crowned on 10 August, 1460, at Kelso Abbey, Roxburghshire.

  James III married, on 10 or 13 July, 1469, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh:

  Margaret

  She was the daughter of Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, by Dorothea, daughter of John III, Margrave and Elector of Brandenburg, and she was born in c.1456/7. She died on 14 July, 1486, at Stirling Castle, and was buried in Cambuskenneth Abbey, Stirlingshire.

  Issue of marriage:

  1 James IV ( see here).

  2 James

  He was born in March, 1476 (?), and is said to have been created Marquess of Ormonde at his baptism that year. He was created Duke of Ross on 23 January, 1481, or 29 January, 1488. He was created Earl of Ardmannoch and Baron of Brechin and Nevar, and perhaps Duke of Ross, on 29 January, 1488. He was nominated Archbishop of St Andrews on 20 September, 1497, but was never consecrated. He died around 12/17 January, 1504, in Edinburgh, and was buried in St Andrews Cathedral, Fife.

  3 John

  He was born between 16 July, 1479, and 12 July, 1480, perhaps in December, 1479. He was created Earl of Mar on 2 March, 1486. He died unmarried on 11 March, 1503.

  JAMES III

  He was assassinated on 11 June, 1488, in a cottage at Milltown, near Bannockburn, and was buried in Cambuskenneth Abbey, Stirlingshire.

  He was succeeded by his son James.

  James IV

  * * *

  FATHER: James III ( see here)

  MOTHER: Margaret of Denmark ( see here, under James III).

  SIBLINGS: ( see here, under James III).

  JAMES IV

  He was born on 17 March, 1473, and was Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Lord of Cunningham probably from birth. He succeeded his father as King of Scotland on 11 June, 1488, and was crowned on 26 June, 1488, at Scone Abbey, Perthshire.

  James IV married, by proxy on 25 January, 1502, at Richmond Palace, Surrey, and in person on 8 August, 1503, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh:

  Margaret

  She was the daughter of Henry VII, King of England, by Elizabeth of York, and she was born on 28, 29 or 30 November, 1489, at the Palace of Westminster. She was crowned Queen Consort on 8 August, 1503, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh. After the death of James, she married secondly Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (1490?–1557), on 4, 5 or 6 August, 1514, at Kinnoul Church, and had issue:

  1 Margaret (1515–1578); she married firstly Lord Thomas Howard (d.1537). She married secondly Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516–murdered 1571), and had issue, including Henry, Lord Darnley, who married Mary, Queen of Scots.

  Margaret divorced her second husband on 11 March, 1527/8. She married thirdly Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven (1495/1500?–1552), before 2 April, perhaps in March, 1528, and may have had issue (although this is improbable):

  1 Dorothea (?); (d. young).

  Margaret died on 8 or 18 October, or on 24 November, 1541, at Methven Castle, Perthshire, of ‘palsy’, and was buried in the Carthusian Abbey of St John, Perth.

  Issue of marriage:

  1 James

  He was born on 21 February, 1507, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, and was Duke of Rothesay from birth. He died on 27 February, 1508, at Stirling Castle.

  2 Daughter (name not known)

  She was born on 15 July, 1508, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, where she died the same day.

  3 Arthur

  He was born on 20/21 October, 1509, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, and was Duke of Albany from birth. He died on 14/15 July, 1510, at Edinburgh Castle, and was buried in Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.

  4 James V ( see here).

  5 Daughter (name not known)

  She was born in November, 1512, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, and died the same month.

  6 Alexander

  His father’s posthumous son, he was born on 12 or 30 April, 1514, at Stirling Castle, and was styled Duke from birth: perhaps Duke of Ross. He died on 18 December, 1515, at Stirling Castle, and was buried in Cambuskenneth Abbey, Stirlingshire.

  James IV also had the following illegitimate issue:

  By Marion Boyd of Bonshaw:

  1 Alexander Stewart, Archbishop of St Andrews (1493?–1513); he was killed at Flodden.

  2 Katherine (d. after 1554); she married James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton (d.1548), and had issue.

  By Janet Kennedy:

  3 James Stewart, Earl of Moray (1499?–1544/5); he married Elizabeth, daughter of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll, and had issue.

  4 Unnamed child (d. young).

  5 Unnamed child (d. young).

  By Margaret (murdered by poison, 1502), daughter of John, Lord Drummond:

  6 Margaret (b.1497?); she married firstly John, Lord Gordon, Master of Huntly (d.1517), and had issue. She married secondly Sir John Drummond of Innerpeffray, and had issue.

  By Isabella (d.1557), daughter of James Stewart, Earl of Buchan:

  7 Janet or Joan (d.1560/63); she married Malcolm, 3rd Lord Fleming, and had issue.

  JAMES IV

  He was killed on 9 September, 1513, at the Battle of Flodden Field, Northumberland. He was perhaps buried in Sheen Abbey, Surrey, and his head may be interred in the Church of St Michael, Wood Street, City of London. A body said to be his was found at Hume Castle, but the identification is dubious. The only certain evidence of the fate of the King’s body is the report that it was kept in a lumber room at Richmond Palace, Surrey, during the reign of Henry VIII. Reports that James IV was seen alive on the evening after Flodden and thereafter went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, whence he never returned, are not to be trusted, although in 1527 Queen Margaret petitioned for a divorce from her second husband on the grounds that James was still alive in 1514 when her second marriage took place. James was succeeded by his son James.

  James V

  * * *

  FATHER: James IV ( see here)

  MOTHER: Margaret Tudor ( see here, under James IV).

  SIBLINGS: ( see here, under James IV).

  JAMES V

  He was born on 10, 11 or 15 April, 1512, at Linlithgow Palace, Fife, and was Duke of Rothesay from birth. He succeeded his father as King of Scotland on 9 September, 1513, and was crowned on 21 September, 1513, at the Chapel Royal, Stirling Castle. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 20 January, 1535.

  James V married firstly, on 1 January, 1537, at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris:

  Madeleine

  She was the daughter of Francis I, King of France, by
Claude, daughter of Louis XII, King of France, and she was born on 10 August, 1520, at the Château of St Germain-en-Laye, Paris. She died on 2 or 7 July, 1537, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, and was buried in Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh. There was no issue of the marriage.

  James V married secondly, by proxy in May, 1538, and in person on 12 June, 1538, at St Andrews Cathedral, Fife:

  Mary

  She was the daughter of Claude I, Duke of Guise-Lorraine, by Antoinette, daughter of Francis de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, and she was born on 22 November, 1515, at Bar-le-Duc, France. She married firstly Louis II, Duke of Longueville (d.1537), on 4 August, 1534, and had issue:

  1 Francis, Duke of Longueville (1535–1551).

  2 Louis (b.&d.1537).

  Mary was crowned Queen Consort on 22 February, 1540, at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh. She died on 11 June, 1560, at Edinburgh Castle, and was buried in Rheims Cathedral, France.

  Issue of marriage:

  1 James

  He was born on 22 May, 1540, at St Andrews, Fife, and was Duke of Rothesay from birth. He died in April, 1541, at St Andrews, and was buried in Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.