James I, King of Scots was the son of King Robert III. He was the last of three sons and by the time he was eight both of his elder brothers were dead. Fears for James's safety grew and plans were made to send him to France. But while off the English coast, pirates captured the ship and delivered James to Henry IV of England. Two weeks later, the ailing Robert III died, and the 12-year-old uncrowned King of Scots began his 18-year detention. James was ransomed only in 1423 and noble families would now not only have to pay increased taxes to cover the £40,000 ransom repayments but would also have to provide hostages as security.

James was given a good education at the English court. The contemporary Scotichronicon by Walter Bower described James as excelling at sport and appreciative of literature and music. The king had a strong desire to impose law and order on his subjects. To bolster his authority and secure the position of the crown, James launched pre-emptive attacks on some of his nobles.

King organized expedition to the Highlands against the semi-autonomous Lord of the Isles, but failed to control them. In August 1436, James failed humiliatingly in his siege of the English held Roxburgh Castle and then faced an ineffective attempt by Sir Robert Graham to arrest him at a general council. James was murdered at Perth on the night of 20/21 February 1437 in a failed coup by his uncle and former ally Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl.