Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany (7 August 1485), was a Scottish prince and the second surviving son of
King James II of Scotland. He fell out with his older brother,
King James III, and fled to France, where he unsuccessfully sought help. In 1482 he invaded Scotland with the army of
King Edward IV of England and assumed control of the country. Scottish lords turned against him in 1483 and he fled after King Edward died. The second invasion, in 1484, was not supported by the new English king,
King Richard III, and failed. He died in a duel with
Louis XII of France, Duke of Orléans, by a splinter from Louis' lance.
Rise
Alexander was the second surviving son of King
James II of Scotland and his wife,
Mary of Gueldres. Created
Duke of Albany before 1458, Alexander also received the
earldom of March, and lordships of
Annandale and the
Isle of Man. In 1460 he travelled to the continent, and to
Guelders, the land of his maternal family. On his return in 1464 he was captured by the
English. He was soon released, and as he matured began to take part in the government and defence of
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
, being appointed in quick succession
Lord High Admiral of Scotland and
Warden of the Marches. Some of his actions on the
marches aroused suspicion, suggesting sharp practice and a policy of border violence and truce breaking against England that contravened