James IV
Born on 17th of March 1473
Died on 9th of September 1513
James IV was born on the 17th March 1473 at Stirling Castle in Scotland, heir to the Scottish Throne, and Stewart Dynasty. His father was James III, and his mother was Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII, and sister to Henry VIII. He had an excellent education, and his thirst for knowledge took him on a voyage of discovery of languages, where he mastered English, Latin, German, French, and Gaelic, his interest in science later led him to grant a Royal Charter to the College of Surgeons at Edinburgh .
He was just fifteen years of age when he accompanied his father James III, who was an unpopular King with some, to the rebel uprising at the Battle Sauchieburn in 1488, his father was mysteriously murdered and James blamed himself, his father's death played heavily on his conscience, and he was to wear an iron belt around his waist, by way of self imposed penance for the rest of his life. James ascended to the throne in 1488, and his Coronation took place at Scone, in the same year. He proved to be a popular and energetic king, he decided to enrich Anglo Scottish relations by marrying Margaret Tudor the ceremony took place at Holyrood Abbey in 1503, and both he and Henry VII signed the Treaty Of Perpetual Peace at Glasgow Cathedral. They had six children, but only one of which was to survive. His abilities grew stronger as he travelled around Scotland to meter out justice, he was an avid patron of The Arts, his love of architecture secured fortification and improvements at Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, he also grew his Navy ordering the building of two Royal Naval Dockyards, which was to see the creation of the largest ship ever to have been built in Scotland, The Great Michael. The agreement of peace, was broken when he decided to invade England after Henry VIII joined the Holy Alliance and invaded France. A dramatic bloody battle ensued, with the loss of thousands, James was also killed as he led his army from the front at the Battle of Flodden Field near Branxton in Northumberland. He was succeeded by his infant son James, who was to rule as James V.
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