Biography
Biography
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460)

 Born16 October 1430   Born At
 Died3 August 1460  Buried At
 FatherJames (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437)  MotherBeaufort, Joan
 Born16 October 1430 / 
 Died3 August 1460 / 
James was the son of Joan Beaufort and King James I of Scotland, who was murdered when young James was only 6 years old. James was crowned King of Scotland in 1437 at Holyrood Abbey. While James was too young to rule Scotland unaided the country was governed by the Earls who quarreled amongst themselves. Chief amongst them were the Douglases who assisted James in finally taking full control as king. But the Douglases were rebellious and in 1452 James personally killed the 8th Earl of Douglas at Stirling before confiscating the 9th Earl's lands. James was accidentally killed when a cannon exploded at the siege of Roxburgh Castle in August of 1460.

Parents

Fantasy image of James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437)
James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437)
Fantasy image of Beaufort, Joan
Beaufort, Joan

Contemporary People/Rulers

Fantasy image of Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483)
Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483)

 

Family Tree Details

Father:James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437) (b.1394 - d.1437)
Mother:Beaufort, Joan (b.1404? - d.1445)
Show Graphical Tree
 James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)
    +Mary (of Guelders) (b.1433 - d.1463)
        = James (III, King of Scotland 1460-1488) (b.1452? - d.1488)
        |   +Margaret (of Denmark) (b.1456 - d.1486)
        |       = James (IV King of Scotland 1488-1513) (b.1473 - d.1513)
        |           +Tudor, Margaret (Queen of Scotland) (b.1489 - d.1541)
        |               = James (V, King of Scotland 1513-1542) (b.1512 - d.1542)
        = Stewart, Alexander (Duke of Albany) (b.1454? - d.1485)
 James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)
    +Mary (of Guelders) (b.1433 - d.1463)
        = James (III, King of Scotland 1460-1488) (b.1452? - d.1488)
        |   +Margaret (of Denmark) (b.1456 - d.1486)
        |       = James (IV King of Scotland 1488-1513) (b.1473 - d.1513)
        |           +Tudor, Margaret (Queen of Scotland) (b.1489 - d.1541)
        |               = James (V, King of Scotland 1513-1542) (b.1512 - d.1542)
        = Stewart, Alexander (Duke of Albany) (b.1454? - d.1485)

See Also

Places

Timeline

1430

Joan Beaufort, the wife of King James I of Scotland gave birth to twins, James and Alexander at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Alexander did not survive long.

1437(Age: 7yrs)

After the death of his father, James II became the King of the Scots. [1]

1452(Age: 22yrs)

During a meeting at Stirling Castle between the Earl of Douglas and King James II the 8th Earl refused to meet the King's demands. Angered by the refusal James stabbed the Earl and killed him.

1460(Age: 30yrs)

Whilst besieging Roxburgh Castle, James II, King of the Scots was killed by one of his own army's bombards. He was succeeded to the throne by his son James III.

On this day in history:

TimeRef Shield Designer

Use this medieval shield designer to create your coat of arms. Click the image below to start your design.

TimeRef Shield Designer

Use this medieval shield designer to create your coat of arms. Click the image below to start your design.

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

More medieval people

Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

Page Navigation

Selection of references used:

  • 1: Susan Ross, The Castles of Scotland, ISBN:0-85097-184-5

    See Also

    Places

    3D/VR

    Virtual Buildings

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.