General Notes

James III (1451-88), king of Scotland (1460-88), son of King James II, born
in Stirling. He was crowned king in 1460 after the death of his father. A
regency ruled until 1469, when he began his personal rule. Through his
marriage to Margaret of Denmark (1457?-86) in the same year, James gained
control of the Orkney and Shetland islands. James was unpopular with the
Scottish nobles, who were led by his brother Alexander Stewart, duke of
Albany (1454?-85). The nobles seized the king and kept him prisoner in the
castle at Edinburgh. Under the duke of Albany, English forces took Berwick
and advanced to Edinburgh. In 1487, James made peace with the English,
thereby further alienating his turbulent nobles, who rose in rebellion and
induced James's son, later James IV, to become their nominal head. In the
ensuing battle at Sauchieburn between the nobles and the Royalists, James
was defeated, and he was murdered after the battle by one of the rebels. He
was succeeded by James IV.