Reign of James I of Scotland, 1424–1437

James I returned to Scotland with Joan Beaufort in 1424 and was crowned at Scone. He inherited a monarchy weakened by his long absence and by the authority accumulated by the Albany Stewarts and other regional lords.

The king used parliament, forfeiture, arrest and judicial reform to recover revenues and strengthen central government. His severity and intervention in noble power produced opposition that culminated in his assassination at Perth in February 1437.

A King Uncaged and the Sir Law Kintour mysteries use the restored reign as their political setting, linking royal reform to local administration, investigation and factional resistance.