King James V - father of Mary Queen of Scots - died on this day in Scottish history

King James V, father of Mary Queen of Scots, died on 14 December 1542, six days after his daughter Mary was born.

The king was the son of James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor and was himself just seventeen months old when his own father died at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. James had at least nine illegitimate children but Mary was his only surviving legitimate child and it was to her that the Scottish crown passed.

James V was said to have died of a fever or nervous collapse shortly after his army’s defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss and was buried at Holyrood Abbey alongside his first wife Madeline.

QUICK LINK: Mary Queen of Scots travel trail