20 Historical Rulers Who Murdered Members Of Their Own Family

1. James I of Scotland, as part of a brutal campaign to assert authority over his domain, executed most of his cousin’s family to augment his own power

James I, King of the Scots from 1406 until his death in 1437, endured the first eighteen years of his reign as a captive of Henry IV of England. Eventually ransomed to the tune of £40,000 in 1424, his return to Scotland was largely unpopular among the nobility, who had grown accustomed to his absence and unhappy with tax rises to pay for his release. In an effort to bolster his position, James began preemptive military strikes against disloyal nobles starting in 1425. Remaining persistently unpopular, after suffering a humiliating defeat at Roxburgh Castle against the English, James was assassinated in February 1437 as part of an unsuccessful coup by his uncle, Walter Stewart.

In the course of his crackdowns upon dissenting members of the Scottish nobility, James punished both family and strangers alike and en masse. Of particular note, Murdoch Stewart, the king’s cousin, had exploited James’ captivity to enhance his own authority and power. Unhappy with the degree of power wielded by such a close relative, in 1425 he became the victim of James’ first internal campaign. Captured, along with his sons, Walter and Alexander, all three were tried for treason and sentenced to death. Executed publicly in front of Stirling Castle, his estates were seized and the family legacy left in tatters.

Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

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