Stewart Questions

[Gaveston]

Just doing some cleanup to my Scots files and was hoping for some
guidance on a few points.

Many sources seem to cite that James III and Margaret of Denmark had 2
sons named James, both who survived. The first, of course became
James IV was born 1473 and lived to 1513, and the second was born
1476, became Duke of Ross and lived until 1504.

So my question is, are they both indeed sons of Margaret of Denmark?
Was it at all common to name sons identically? Has there ever been
any discussion that Ross might have been illegitimate?


Second Question - Next Generation.

James IV's mistress with whom he had Janet Stewart (m. Fleming).
Have seen records showing mistress being either Isabel Stewart (d. of
Buchan and Oglivie) or Agnes Stewart (ilg. d. of Buchan and Murray)
Is there known to be a consensus as to which one was the mother of
Janet (nee Stewart) Lady Fleming?

Many thanks from a Greenhorn,

[Gjest]

On Feb 5, 1:35 am, Gaveston <[email protected]> wrote:

Just doing some cleanup to my Scots files and was hoping for some
guidance on a few points.

Many sources seem to cite that James III and Margaret of Denmark had 2
sons named James, both who survived.  The first, of course became
James IV was born 1473 and lived to 1513, and the second was born
1476, became Duke of Ross and lived until 1504.

So my question is, are they both indeed sons of Margaret of Denmark?
Was it at all common to name sons identically?  Has there ever been
any discussion that Ross might have been illegitimate?

Yep, two sons named James and both the issue of his wife Margaret.

Although strange to the modern mind, it was not uncommon in the
mediaeval period for full siblings to be given the same name. Many
other examples can be cited, down to at least the late Tudor period
(in England). Sometimes this was more common in royal families,
perhaps because of a desire to perpetuate dynastic names (take a look
at the Reuss family sometime!) - although it is not clear that this
was the case here.

Both James IV and James, Duke of Ross have detailed entries in the
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Additionally, in the entry
for their father (by Norman Macdougall), James III, it is stated that
he is not known to have had any illegitimate children at all.

Regards, Michael

[Gjest]

On Feb 5, 1:35 am, Gaveston <[email protected]> wrote:

James IV's  mistress with whom he had Janet Stewart (m. Fleming).
Have seen records showing mistress being either Isabel Stewart (d. of
Buchan and Oglivie) or Agnes Stewart  (ilg. d. of Buchan and Murray)
Is there known to be a consensus as to which one was the mother of
Janet (nee Stewart) Lady Fleming?

FWIW, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states (biography of
James IV by T.G. Chalmers) that Janet was his daughter by "Isabel
Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Buchan" who is said to be the only
identifiable mistress of James IV, other than Janet Kennedy (mother of
James, Earl of Moray).

MA-R