King James IV married Margaret Tudor - On this day in history

King James IV of Scotland married Margaret Tudor on 8 August 1503 in a union described as the marriage of the thistle and the rose, which, it was planned, would unite the kingdoms of Scotland and England. Margaret, who was the daughter of King Henry VII of England, was fourteen years old at the time of the marriage, whilst her husband was aged thirty.

Before the wedding, James IV gifted Margaret several properties including Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Doune Castle. The wedding took place at Holyrood Abbey and the union inspired William Dunbar's poem The Thistle and the Rose.

James IV and Margaret had six children, including the future King James V, the only one of their children to reach adulthood. Margaret died at Methven Castle on 18 October 1541.

Further reading

Margaret Tudor by Melanie Clegg