| Notes |
James II was born on October 16, 1430, one of twins. The other twin die d i n i n f a ncy leaving James as heir. There may have been other problems w i th t h e b i rth because James had a vermilion birthmark on his face which l e d c o n t emporaries to call him “Fiery Face". This reference to the verm i l i o n b irthmark covering the left side of his face, which was deemed by c o n t e m poraries as an outward sign of a fiery temper.
Was King of Scots from 1437 until his death in 1460. The eldest survivi n g s o n o f J ames I of Scotland, he succeeded to the Scottish throne at t h e a g e o f s ix, following the assassination of his father. The first Sco t t i s h m onarch not to be crowned at Scone, James II's coronation took pl a c e a t H o lyrood Abbey in March 1437. James II was known as Fiery Face, a r e f e r e nce to the vermilion birthmark covering the left side of his face, w h i c h w a s deemed by contemporaries as an outward sign of a fiery temper.
James was a politic and singularly successful king. He was popular with t h e c o m m oners, with whom, like most of the Stewarts, he socialised often , i n t i m e s of peace and war. His legislation has a markedly popular cha ra ct e r . H e does not appear to have inherited his father's taste for lit e r a t u re, which was shared by at least two of his sisters; but the found a t i o n o f the University of Glasgow during his reign, by Bishop Turnbull , s h o w s t hat he encouraged learning; and there are also traces of his e nd o w m e nts to St. Salvator's, the new college of Archbishop Kennedy at S t A n d r e ws. He possessed much of his father's restless energy. However, h i s m u r d er of the earl of Douglas leaves a stain on his reign.
Killed by a bursting piece of ordnance at the siege of Roxburgh castle
|
1430 - 1460 (29 years)