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Reign of James III of Scotland

Type Event Region Scotland Time 1460–1470

After James II died at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460, his son James III acceded as a child, passing a turbulent 1460s under regencies and Boyd family…

Timeline

  1. 1460–1466Scotland · ScotlandJames II was killed by cannon fire at Roxburgh, and nine-year-old James III succeeded him. His mother Mary of Guelders and Bishop James Kennedy of St Andrews successively served as regents, maintaining royal authority and handling border and patronage policy related to the Wars of the Roses in England.
  2. 1466–1469Edinburgh · LothianThe Boyd brothers Robert and Thomas seized control of the court and army; Robert was created Lord Boyd and married the king's aunt, while Thomas served as regent. The Boyds' growing power angered other magnates, laying the groundwork for the coup of 1469.
  3. 1469–1470Edinburgh · LothianWith noble support James III overthrew the Boyds; Robert was executed and Thomas went into exile. That same year he married the Danish princess Margaret, receiving Orkney and Shetland as her dowry, and began governing personally, introducing coinage reform and court cultural policies, though relations with the magnates remained tense.

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