James III

James III of Scotland reigned from 1460 to 1488. Succeeding his father, James II, at a young age, his rule was initially overseen by regents, and his reign was marked by internal discord and challenges to royal authority. While James III was a patron of the arts and showed interest in Renaissance culture, his preference for artists and musicians over traditional nobility often alienated powerful factions within his kingdom. Diplomatically, he pursued alliances with England and continental Europe, sometimes at the expense of traditional Scottish interests. Tensions with the nobility reached a climax when James faced a rebellion led by his own son, the future James IV, resulting in his defeat and death at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. While his reign had periods of stability, James III is often remembered for his conflicts with the nobility and his tragic end.