King of Scotland from 1488. He came to the throne after his followers murdered his father, James III, at Sauchieburn. His reign was internally peaceful, but he allied himself with France against England, invaded in 1513, and was defeated and killed at the Battle of
Flodden. James IV was a patron of poets and architects as well as a military leader.
In 1503 he married Margaret Tudor ((14891541), daughter of Henry VII), which eventually led to his descendants succeeding to the English crown. He was succeeded by his son James V.
© RM 2009. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.