-

Robert Stewart was his second son ad died in where he spent most of his early child-hood.
infancy. The Prince was seven years old when his
James I of Scotland was his third and only mother Died, and by the time he was eight years
surviving son, he was born 1394 married Joan old, both of his brothers were dead. Robert had
Beaufort and was assassinated in 1437. died in infancy, and David Duke of Rothesay
Margaret Stewart was his first daughter born died suspiciously in Falkland Castle, while
1379 and married Archibald 4th Earl of Douglas being detained by his uncle, Robert Duke of
Margaret Stewart, died 1450. Albany, who was cleared of any involvement.
Mary Countess of Douglas was his second This cleared the way for the Albany's being rea-
daughter and she was born in 1380 and married ppointed as the King's Lieutenant. Albany rew-
George douglas 1st Earl of Angus. arded Douglas for his support by allowing him
Elizabeth Stewart was his third daughter. to resume hostilities in England. In 1402 when
Elgida Stewart was his fourth daughter died in there large army was defeated by the Eng-lish
infancy. Homildon hill and numerous prominent nobles
James l King of Scotland were captured. These included Douglas himself,
Albany's son Murdock Stewart, and the Earl of
James l King of Scotland was born in late July Moray, Angus and Orkney. That same year, as
1394, and was king of Scots from 1406 till his well as the death of Rothesay, Alexander Leslie,
death in 1437. He was the last of three sons of Earl of Ross and Malcolm Macdonald, Lord of
King Robert lll of Scotland, and Annabella Dru- Mar had also died. In the years between 1402-
mmond, and was born at Dunfermline Castle 1406 the northern Earl-doms of Ross, Moray
and Mar were all without adult leadership, and
as Murdock Stewart as Justicar of the north of
the forth, who was a prisoner in England.
Albany Found himself reluctantly with his
bro=ther Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan,
and Buchan's son was also called Alexander, to
hold back the the ambitions of the Lord of the
Isles. Douglas's absence from his power base in
the Lothians and Scottish marches encouraged
King Robert's close allies, Henry Sinclare, Earl
of Orkney and David Fleming, to take full
advantage to become the principle political
force in the region. In December 1404 the King
granted the royal Stewart lands in the west
Ayrshire, and around the Forth of the Clyde, to
James in protecting them from outside inter-
ference and providing the prince with a
territorial center should the need arise. Because
of the activities of Orkney and Fleming who
continued their involvement in the borders and
political and foreign relations with England.
James now heir to the throne, so he was the only
in impediment to the transfer of the royal line to
the Albany Stewart's. Fears for James's Safety
grew during the Winter of 1406, and plans were
made to sent him to France. In 1406 James were
accompanied by noble close to his father, when
they clashed with supporters of Archibald
Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas.

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