Robert Boyd, Regent of Scotland

The most illustrious member of the powerful Boyd family, Robert became its head when his father, Thomas, was slain by Alexander Stewart in what was described as 'a full scale battle'on Craignaught Hill in Renfrewshire, in 1439. This was a revenge attack after Boyd had killed Stewart's brother, Sir Alan Stewart of Gartullie in a skirmish near Falkirk the same year. Sir Robert continued the feud by slaying Sir James Stewart of Ardgowan in 1445. 

Despite this act, Robert Boyd gained the favour of King James II and was raised to the peerage as Lord Boyd in 1454. He built the Palace at Dean Castle in Kilmarnock to celebrate his new rank. He was also made Lord Justiciary of Scotland and served as ambassador to England from 1464 to 1465. During this time James II was killed during a siege at Roxburgh Castle and had been succeeded by his son, James III, who was still only a boy. Lord Robert Boyd was appointed Regent of Scotland until such time that the young King was old enough to assume his full duties. 

Robert Boyd's brother, Sir Alexander Boyd, who was Governor of Edinburgh Castle at the time, was also the King's tutor in chivalry. Alexander was renowned for his honesty and gallantry; he was described by the historian Patterson as "a mirror or chivalry", and his closeness to the King would enable his ambitious brother to make his most important gamble yet: to stage a coup that would see a small baronial family ascend to the highest positions in the Kingdom in less than one generation. 

In 1466, when the fourteen year old James III was hunting near Linlithgow, he was seized by a party of men led by Lord Boyd and his son Thomas. He was taken to Edinburgh, where Lord Boyd, with the initial support of the Queen Mother and other leading nobles, assumed command over the entire realm. Robert Boyd governed wisely; he introduced measures to remove abuses of the wealth of the church and promoted trade. He was also the architect of a marriage treaty between James III and the daughter of Christian I of Denmark, the Princess Margaret. This act resulted in the ceding of the Orkney and Shetland Isles to Scotland as a dowry, and helped keep the fragile peace with England. An alliance between two naval powers, Scotland and Denmark, could seriously disrupt England's main trade, shipping wool to the Balkan States. 

It was another wedding however, that prompted suspicion of Boyd's motives amongst the other Scottish nobles. In 1468, Thomas Boyd, the eldest son of the Regent, who had already been created Earl of Arran and showered with estates, was wed to Princess Mary Stewart, the sister of the King. The Boyds were now in a position from which they could inherit the throne. This act caused envy and outrage with many other important nobles and incited them to rise against the Boyds. Lord Boyd, his son Thomas and his brother Alexander were accused of treason for the initial kidnap of the King's person and were issued with a summons to court to answer for their alleged crime. 

Robert Boyd fled to England and after a failed bid (with the help of the exiled Douglas family) to regain power, died in Alnwick Castle in 1482. His son Thomas was warned of the accusations by his wife, Princess Mary, and fled to the continent. Thomas gained many influential friends who lobbied on his behalf, including Charles the Bold (who later erected a monument to Thomas), but was destined to die in exile in Antwerp. Princess Mary herself was punished by her brother by having her marriage to Thomas declared "null and void",  and was compelled to Marry Lord Hamilton (who had tried to defend the King, but was apparently knocked from his horse, during the seizure of the King in 1466), who was many years her senior. Lord Hamilton inherited Thomas's title of Earl of Arran (the Hamiltons held this seat until the late 20th century). Mary was also held for a while "as in free prison" at her former home of Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, for fear that she would abandon Scotland, to rejoin Thomas. Only the gallant Sir Alexander Boyd, who was now very ill, and trusting in his innocence, answered the summons. He was beheaded on Castle Hill, Edinburgh in 1469. All lands and property of the Boyd family were confiscated by the crown. These were restored to them, a century later by Mary Queen of Scots.