In the late medieval period, Scotland was a geographically isolated and comparatively poor country, plagued by internal unrest and by frequent squabbles with England. From the late fifteenth century, forward-thinking if short-lived Stewart monarchs James IV (1473–1513) and James V (1512–1542) established Scotland as a culturally well-connected player on the European political scene, particularly through the construction, extension, and refurbishment of their residences. Game culture profoundly shaped these new Scottish royal residences, from the setting up of spaces for outdoor pursuits like jousting and hunting, to the construction of dedicated buildings like tennis courts and bowling alleys, to the upgrading of their private apartments with game-related pieces of furniture such as billiard tables and card tables. At Stirling Castle in particular, the facades of James V's lodgings embody this new relaxed culture based on courtly games and entertainments and well represent the role of games in the transformation of an old-fashioned, martial Stewart castle into a refined and carefree residence for a more modern, pleasure-loving Renaissance court. This investigation aims at providing imaginative interpretative answers for the king's unusual choice of sculptural embellishments, which I posit find a common source in game texts and the iconography of game imagery.

Outdoor and Indoor Games at the Scottish Court

The Stewart monarchs were keen on both outdoor and indoor games, to be enjoyed at Stirling Castle and in their many other royal dwellings.