James, Duke of Rothesay (born 1540) facts for kids

James, Duke of Rothesay (born 22 May 1540 – died 21 April 1541) was a Scottish prince. He was the first son of King James V of Scotland and his wife, Mary of Guise. From the moment he was born, James was the Duke of Rothesay. This meant he was the next in line to become King of Scotland.

Early Life of Prince James

James, Duke of Rothesay, was born in St Andrews, Scotland, on 22 May 1540. As the first legal child of King James V, he automatically received many important titles. These included Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. These titles showed he was the heir to the Scottish throne.

A Royal Baptism Ceremony

The baby prince was baptized in a grand ceremony in St Andrews on 26 May 1540. His godparents were important people. They included his grandmother, Queen Dowager Margaret Tudor, Cardinal David Beaton, and Archbishop Gavin Dunbar.

The ceremony was very fancy. Special white fabric was used for holding torches. The prince received a beautiful cradle carved by a French artist. A special canopy was made for his bed. Important nobles were asked to attend, and their family symbols were painted. Even some of the king's silver was brought from Edinburgh for the event. King James V also sent messages to inform King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France about his son's birth.

Celebrations and Fireworks

The baptism might have included a fireworks show. Records from June 1540 show that two French gunners were paid for making "fire work" designed by the King. The materials for these fireworks included mercury, a strong liquid called aqua vitae, walnut oil, and brimstone.

Royal Silverware for the Prince

In August 1540, a man named James Hamilton of Finnart was executed. His silver items, used in his chapel, were taken from Craignethan Castle to Edinburgh. There, a goldsmith named John Mosman engraved them with the symbols of James, Duke of Rothesay. This re-purposed silverware was then sent to the prince's household in St Andrews.

Prince James's Household Staff

By January 1541, Prince James had many servants. This included two servants who also worked for his half-sister, Lady Jean Stewart. The young prince had four ladies whose job was to rock his cradle. He also had his own master cook. A woman named Jean Sinclair was his nurse, caring for him daily.

The Prince's Early Death

Sadly, James, Duke of Rothesay, died in St Andrews on 21 April 1541. He was less than one year old. He was buried in Holyrood Abbey. His younger brother, Robert, Duke of Albany, had died just the day before, at only nine days old.

Grief of the Royal Family

Prince James's grandmother, Margaret Tudor, wrote to her brother, King Henry VIII, on 12 May. She told him about the deaths of her two grandsons and how sad their parents were. She said she tried her best to comfort them and was "never from them."

An English messenger, Henry Ray, saw King James V at Stirling Castle. He reported that the King was "very pensive and sorrowful" because both his sons had died so suddenly, within 14 hours of each other. Scottish writers like John Knox and George Buchanan later shared a story. They said King James V had a dream at Linlithgow Palace that seemed to predict his sons' deaths. In the dream, James Hamilton of Finnart (the man whose silver was re-purposed) came to him and threatened to cut off his arms.