‘…And the Poor Died of Their Poverty’ Food Security Dearth and Famine in Medieval Scotland. Professor Richard Oram. Amidst all the detail of the extravagant, conspicuous consumption of exotic food and fine wines in the court of King James I, it is easy to lose sight of the harsh realities of daily life for…
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Housing Scotland’s Parliaments in the Reign of James I. Professor Richard Oram. When we talk of parliament buildings, most folk nowadays would have a mental image of something akin to the Palace of Westminster in which the British Houses of Parliament meet, or the Capitol Building in Washington DC or the Great Hall of…
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A Tale of Two Burghs: How King James’s Death Changed the Destinies of Two Scottish Cities. Professor Richard Oram. The events of the night of 21/22 February 1437 had repercussions that changed the destinies of two Scottish cities and set in motion developments that transformed the political shape of the kingdom. Amongst the many…
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A True Representation? Depictions and Portrayals of James. Who Ate All the Pies? Professor Richard Oram. Amongst the very many things that we do not know about King James I is his actual physical appearance. Apart from the stylised kingly head on his coins and the equally stylised enthroned royal figure from his great seal,…
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Historian Gives New Insight Into James I’s Murder in Perth A top Scottish historian who is researching the life of King James I has been sharing details of the Perth building in which he was assassinated. King James I of Scotland (1406-1437) was politically assassinated at the Blackfriars monastery in Perth. Professor Richard Oram…
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Hey! Big Spender: Extravagance, Values and Conspicuous Consumption in James I’s Scotland. Professor Richard Oram. How much of the royal income did James spend on his purchases of spices, sugar and other luxury goods? The £78 Scots spent on various spices in 1435 represented perhaps 0.75% of the crown’s income at that date, and…
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