James I, King of Scotland (1394-1437)

In 1406 James was sent to France but was captured by the English and remained a prisoner for eighteen years.  He married the daughter of the Earl of Somerset, and on his return to Scotland in 1424, he beheaded his principal enemies, and seized all the important Highland chiefs who had to acknowledge his sovereignty.  The picture shows the Lord of the Isles submitting to the King.  James introduced many reforms, appointed judges in every county, built schools, encouraged education, trade and manufacture, but his efforts to restrict the power of the nobles led to his assassination by Sir Robert Graham in Perth in 1437.  He is the reputed author of the “Kingis Quair,”