James V of Scotland Facts & Worksheets

James V of Scotland facts and information plus worksheet packs and fact file. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 years old (GCSE). Great for home study or to use within the classroom environment.

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James V of Scotland Worksheets

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Fact File

James V of Scotland Resource 1
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Student Activities

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Table of Contents
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    Summary

    • Background and minority rule
    • Personal rule and marriages
    • Conflict with England and death

    Key Facts And Information

    Let’s find out more about James V of Scotland!

    At age one, James V of Scotland succeeded to the throne following the death of his father in 1513. A series of regents governed the kingdom during his minority, with the pro-English and pro-French factions struggling for power. His personal rule began in 1528, and two years later, he was able to establish a stronghold in Scotland. James V’s refusal to follow Henry VIII of England’s lead in breaking with the Roman Catholic Church led to a war between the two in 1542, which ended in English victory. James V died of illness in 1542 and was succeeded by his infant child, Mary, Queen of Scots.

    Portrait of James V of Scotland
    Portrait of James V of Scotland

    Background and minority rule

    • Born on 10 April 1512 at Linlithgow Palace, James was the only child of James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor to survive infancy. His father was descended from the Stewart dynasty, while his mother was the eldest daughter of Henry VII of England. He was baptised a day after he was born, subsequently being named the Duke of Rothesay. At just 17 months old, he succeeded to the Scottish throne following his father’s death at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513. 
    • James V was immediately crowned in the Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle. His father’s will declared that his mother would act and retain the position of Regent of Scotland during his minority, so long as Margaret remained a widow.
    • The young king’s minority would last for almost 15 years.
    • Whilst power struggle between pro-French and pro-English factions soon emerged, Margaret was initially successful in reconciling the rival parties. Also in July 1514, peace was concluded between Scotland, France and England.
    • However, Margaret turned more and more to the influential Douglases, and in August, secretly married Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. This alienated the other noble houses and quickly solidified the pro-French faction on the Privy Council.
    • By the terms of James IV’s will, Margaret’s position of Regent was compromised because of her remarriage and she was compelled to consent to the appointment of the French-born John Stewart, Duke of Albany, who was the third-in-line to the throne. 
    • In September, the Privy Council also concluded that Margaret sacrificed her rights to the supervision of her sons. This led Margaret and her allies to take James V and his younger brother, Alexander, Duke of Ross, to Stirling Castle.
    • Albany arrived in Scotland in early 1515 and was formally installed as Regent in July. 
    • Albany had to secure the custody of James V and Alexander, and so besieged Stirling Castle. Margaret surrendered and relinquished possession of his sons to the Regent in August. James V would not be able to see his mother for the succeeding years.
    • By 1516, Margaret was forced to flee to England, fearing for her life under the rule of the Privy Council. By this time, she had given birth to her child by Angus, and her son Alexander had died. Angus and Albany also made peace later that year.
    • Albany was now the sole regent. The young king was well-guarded under Albany’s custody. When Albany stayed in France between 1517 and 1520, he ruled Scotland through his lieutenants.
    • In August 1517, the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France was renewed by the Treaty of Rouen, which also promised a French royal bride for James V.
    • Margaret continued her attempts to regain the regency but failed. She was also unsuccessful in regaining the custody of James V.
    • In 1521, she shifted her allegiance from Angus to Albany when the latter returned to Scotland. This further complicated the events and allowed Albany to maintain an upper hand in the struggle for regency.
    • Albany put Angus under charges of high treason in December and subsequently sent him essentially a prisoner to France.
    • In 1524, Albany’s regency finally ended while he was in France after a coup d’etat orchestrated by Margaret, with the aid of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran and his followers, took place.
    • Parliament announced the end of the regency in August and that James V, now 12 years old, was prematurely erected to full kingly powers. This was followed by the formal acknowledgement of Margaret as the chief councillor to the king.
    • Margaret’s close relationship with the Hamiltons alienated other noble houses. The situation in Scotland further deteriorated with the return of Angus, who was now allied to the Earl of Lennox, an opponent of Margaret and Arran.
    • Angus turned up in Edinburgh with a huge group of armed men and asserted his right to attend Parliament. Margaret responded to this by directing the firing of cannons from Edinburgh Castle. Afterwards, Parliament elevated Angus to the rank of Lord of the Articles and a member of the regency council.
    • It was decided that the rival factions would each be allowed to serve as hosts to the young king. This scheme, however, unravelled when Angus declined to give up the king at the end of his period of custody.
    • Between 1525 and 1528, James V was practically a prisoner of the Douglases and was spoiled with lavish gifts in an attempt to gain the king’s favour.
    • During this period, Angus assumed key offices and rewarded his followers with lucrative posts in the royal household. Whilst James V appeared to have enjoyed certain aspects of his confinement, he developed animosity towards his captors.
    • A few failed attempts to free the king were made. James V successfully escaped from Angus’ clutches when he fled to Stirling in disguise in May 1528. He returned to Edinburgh with a huge force. Angus, who was summoned for treason, agreed to surrender his castles in exchange for his exile in England.

    Personal rule and marriages of James V of Scotland

    • James V began his personal rule and immediately removed Angus from his position, as well as forced the Douglas family into exile. He also managed to subjugate the Border rebels and the chiefs of the Western Isles. He had the support of the nobility, the services of Albany, and the guidance of a team of professional lawyers and diplomats. By 1530, James V was able to establish a stronghold in Scotland. As early as 1517, several women were considered to be James V’s bride. The king would only marry in 1536.
    • In 1536, James V decided to make the journey to France, with his supporters and several troops, in order to personally meet his potential bride. He intended to fulfil a clause in the Treaty of Rouen, which sought to renew the Auld Alliance. 
    • He appointed six vicegerents to take over the kingdom while he was away from Scotland for many months. It was suggested that James V marry Mary of Bourbon, but the king was unimpressed with the daughter of a French duke.
    • James V met Madeleine of Valois, the eldest daughter of Francis I of France, and subsequently pressed the French king for her hand in marriage. Francis I initially declined, but was later convinced to give his permission. 
    • In January 1537, James V married Madeleine at Notre-Dame de Paris. After a few months of festivities and celebrations, the royal couple sailed for Scotland. However, the new queen, who had poor health, died of tuberculosis at Holyrood Palace in July.
    Portrait of Mary of Guise
    Portrait of Mary of Guise
    • After the death of his wife, James V considered a remarriage to another French bride, with the intention of preserving the interests of the Franco-Scottish alliance. 
    • Francis I offered the French noblewoman, Mary of Guise, who had been recently widowed. The union was finalised in January 1538 and the wedding ceremony took place in June. 
    • If James V were to die first, it was customary that Mary would keep for her lifetime her jointure houses of Falkland Palace, Stirling Castle, Dingwall Castle and Threave Castle, along with the tenancies of the earldoms of Fife, Strathearn, Ross and Orkney, and the lordships of Galloway, Ardmannoch and the Isles.
    • James V and Mary of Guise had three children, but only their youngest, the future Mary, Queen of Scots, survived to adulthood.
    • During his personal rule, James V was able to raise his income from the profits of justice, customs and feudal rights, by tightening his control over royal estates and by heavily taxing the church. Such financial exactions did not endear him to his subjects.
    • His illegitimate sons were also bestowed with lucrative benefices, which diverted considerable church wealth into the king’s coffers. 
    • James V also embarked on costly projects such as collecting tapestries from those inherited from his father, and more importantly, the extensive renovation of all the major residences and several minor ones and the construction of new structures. 
    • The largest of the king’s building projects was the construction of the Royal Palace at Stirling Castle.

    Conflict with England and death of James V of Scotland

    • The reign of James V coincided with the Reformation in England and witnessed its beginnings in his own kingdom. Unlike his uncle, Henry VIII of England, the Scottish king decided against embarking on major structural and theological changes to the church and remained loyal to Rome. Nevertheless, his domestic and international policy was impacted by the English king and the Reformation. 
    • James V was against heresy and so persecuted numerous outspoken Protestants. He also opposed the idea of closing the abbeys and monasteries, which was suggested by an English ambassador.
    • In 1536, James V and Henry VIII corresponded about meeting personally, with the persecution of Protestants on their agenda, as well as the Reformation in Scotland.
    • The pope advised James V against coming to England. It appeared that the Scottish king listened to the pope, as he chose not to go and meet Henry VIII. 
    • This insulted Henry VIII, who also took James V’s actions as an indication that Scotland was completely aligned with France and Catholicism. The death of James V’s mother, Margaret, in 1541 eliminated any pressure for peace with England. War soon broke out.
    • Henry VIII despatched his troops against Scotland in 1542. James V also raised an army in defence of his kingdom against the massive English raid. The Scottish army won a victory at the Battle of Haddon Rig in August.
    • James V was keen on invading England, which was resisted by some of his nobles. There remained considerable support for his war policy, so he proceeded to cross into England, but his small army was easily defeated near the border at Solway Moss in November.
    • James V was determined to renew the conflict with England in early December. However, he fell ill with cholera or dysentery.
    • When news of the birth of his daughter with Mary of Guise reached him, he was already on his deathbed at Falkland Palace.
    • At age 30, he died on 14 December and was buried at Holyrood Abbey the following year. His infant daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, succeeded him.

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    Frequently Asked Questions About James V of Scotland

    • Who was James V of Scotland?

      James V, the son of King James IV and Margaret Tudor, was the king of Scotland from 1513 until his death in 1542.

    • When did James V become king?

      James V became king at the age of 17 months following the death of his father at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He was crowned on 21 September 1513.

    • What was James V’s reign like?

      James V’s reign was marked by attempts to strengthen royal authority and consolidate power. Still, it was also characterised by political instability, conflicts with England, and struggles with the Scottish nobility.