General Notes

REFN: 5221AN
REFN: P2883
James Stewart was born 30 December 1394 at Dunfermline, Fife, Scot land.
He was one of the younger sons of Robert (John) III, King of Scotland,
and his wife, Anabella Drummond.
James was born into a time of disorder in S cotland. His father, King
Robert III, was a weak sovereign and as one contemp orary observed: "In
those days there was no law in Scotland, but he who was t he stronger
oppressed him who was weaker, and the whole kingdom was a den of thieves."
Young James Stewart's father, John, had become King in 1390 but due to
his frailty, had handed over authority to his brother, Robert Stewart,
E arl of Fife. Robert was an ambitious man and more concerned with his own
adva ncement than the rule of the Kingdom. Recognizing this, Robert III
(John) aga in took control of Scotland just before young James Stewart's
birth.
But Kin g Robert's talents at running the Kingdom proved abysmal, and in
1399 the gov erning of the Kingdom was passed to David Stewart, James'
older brother. Davi d was titled Duke of Rothesay, and settled down to run
the Kingdom. David's U ncle Robert, the Earl of Fife, who expected to
again rule in the King's place , was given the title of Duke of Albany in
compensation.
David proved to be irresponsible and wild, and in 1401, after two short
years of running the cou ntry, Robert III asked him to step down. He
refused, thus forcing the King to have his own son arrested. David was
placed in the custody of his uncle, Rob ert, the Duke of Albany and
imprisoned at Falkland. About this time, the moth er of James and David,
Anabella Drummond died.
Within a year, another loss b efell the royal family when David Stewart
died while in his Uncle Robert's ca ptivity. Although there were no
external marks on the young man, it appeared as though he died of
starvation. Many suspected his brothers' ambitions to th e throne were the
cause and Robert, the Duke of Albany, faced a judicial inqu iry.
The power of the Duke was great, and this led many to believe that the
results of the inquiry were predetermined, as he was very quickly
exonerated of the charge. The King's health was fading, and his remaining
son James was only eleven years old, so it was decided to send James to
France for his prot ection. Very early in 1406, young James Stewart was
loaded on to a ship of Da nzig named the Maryenknycht.
The ship never made it to France, however, as it was captured by English
'pirates' and young James was sent to the court of He nry IV of England.
Apparently, this was too much for James father, as he died on the 4th of
April 1406; at about the time the news of his son's kidnapping would have
reached him.
The Scottish Parliament immediately pronounced youn g James Stewart as
King of Scotland. But since the King was in the captivity of the English,
his Uncle Robert assumed the title as Governor of Scotland fo r the second
time. It is then that Robert Stewart's true intentions became ob vious, as
he quickly ransomed his son, Murdoch, who had been captured by the
English at the Battle of Homildon in 1402. No attempt was made to ransom
th e young King James and Murdoch Stewart returned to help his father
govern Sco tland.
The young King James I of Scotland, remained in captivity in England,
serving time in the tower, the English court and at other English
stronghold s for his 'safety'. The martial sports of jousting,
swordmanship and archery delighted him, but his captivity prevented much
of this activity. In response , he turned to his energies to the arts of
the mind. He became a linguist, mu sician, singer and an accomplished poet
.
On the 3rd of September 1420, the Gov ernor of Scotland, Robert Stewart,
Duke of Albany died. His son Murdoch Stewa rt became the new Duke of
Albany and assumed the role as Governor of Scotland . It quickly became
apparent that Murdoch did not even possess the mediocre s kills of his
father. Many of the nobles of Sco