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Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we travel back to March 20, 1438, a day that marked a new beginning for Scotland but also heralded a turbulent period in its history. On this day, James II was crowned King of Scotland at Holyrood Abbey following the brutal assassination of his father, James I. His reign would be one of political intrigue, noble rivalries, and groundbreaking military advancements. And if you’re interested in exploring more moments like this, don’t forget to check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!

To understand the significance of James II’s coronation, we need to go back just a few weeks to one of the most shocking assassinations in Scottish history. On the night of February 21, 1437, James I was murdered in a grisly plot orchestrated by Sir Robert Graham and a faction of nobles who opposed the king’s centralization of power. The attack, which took place at the Dominican Friary in Perth, left Scotland in a precarious situation. James I had ruled with an iron grip, enforcing his authority over the nobles, many of whom resented his reforms and financial demands. His sudden and violent death created a power vacuum—and at its center was his young son, just six years old.

James II was hastily crowned at Holyrood Abbey, rather than the traditional site of Scone, likely for security reasons. The young king inherited not just the throne, but a deeply fractured kingdom. Scotland was effectively ruled by regents and powerful noble families who vied for control over the young monarch. The most dominant of these were the Black Douglases, a family whose influence spanned vast territories and whose ambitions frequently brought them into conflict with the crown.

For much of his early reign, James was little more than a figurehead, as rival factions, including the Livingston and Crichton families, fought for control over his person and the government. One of the most infamous episodes of this period was the so-called “Black Dinner” of 1440, an event that showcased the ruthless nature of Scottish politics. The young Earl of Douglas and his brother were invited to dine with James at Edinburgh Castle, only to be accused of treason, subjected to a mock trial, and then executed. Though James was likely too young to fully understand what was happening, this event sent a clear message—the crown would not tolerate rival power centers.

As James grew older, he took a more active role in his kingdom’s affairs. By the 1450s, he was determined to break the power of the Black Douglases once and for all. His opportunity came in 1452 when he personally stabbed William Douglas, the 8th Earl, at Stirling Castle after an argument. This shocking act set off a brutal conflict between the king and the Douglas family. After years of fighting, James finally crushed the Black Douglases at the Battle of Arkinholm in 1455, bringing an end to their dominance and cementing royal authority.

Beyond his struggles with the nobility, James II is remembered for his keen interest in military innovation. He recognized the growing importance of artillery in warfare and invested heavily in cannons, earning him the nickname “Fiery Face” due to a distinctive birthmark, but also, symbolically, for his passion for gunpowder weaponry. His most famous deployment of artillery came during the siege of Roxburgh Castle in 1460, one of the last English-held strongholds in Scotland. Tragically, James was killed in battle when one of his cannons exploded, cutting his life short at just 29 years old.

Despite the chaos and bloodshed of his reign, James II left Scotland a stronger and more centralized kingdom than he had inherited. His aggressive policies against the nobility ensured that future Scottish monarchs would not be as easily dominated by powerful families.

Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. James II’s reign was one of ambition, conflict, and transformation—proving that even a boy king could grow into a formidable ruler. Don’t forget to check out my blog for more historical events at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Tune in tomorrow for another journey through Scotland’s remarkable past. I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!

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