< Back Kings, Poets and Writers King James II of Scotland James II of Scotland (1430 - 1460) was king of Scotland from 1437 until his death. Crowned in 1437 at just seven years old, he was constantly in battle just like his father, to oppose the power of the Scottish nobles who had taken sides against the power of the monarchy. This led him to take part in the War of the Roses for the Lancasters, but he died at the siege of Roxburgh. He married Mary of Gueldres and was succeeded on his death by his first-born child James III.