Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: James II

The ford across the River Forth near the town brought prosperity and influence, as did the port that was later built. In the 12th century, King David and his successors elevated the town, then called "Strivelyn", to a "burgh". The ford, which was later expanded into a bridge, was the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 during the constant conflicts between the Scots and the English. In 1314, the two armies met again near the bridge at the Battle of Bannockburn. Even centuries later the port on the River Forth brought prosperity to the city - particularly through the tea trade with India and the timber trade with the Baltic states. However, with the invention and spread of the railway, the decline of river trade began. After a railway bridge was finally built over the river, which made it possible to load goods onto ships further downstream, the port finally disappeared completely in the middle of the 20th century. The Church of the Holy Rude is the medieval parish church. It is named after the Holy Rood, a relic of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. The church was founded in 1129, but nothing of this early structure now remains due to a fire in 1405. Rebuilding was completed in 1414. The fall of the House of Douglas caused devastation in Stirling, possibly also damaging the church. King James II ordered a new church to be built on the same site in 1456. Construction was initially completed in the 1470s. The second construction phase began in 1507 with plans to build a transept, a choir and a crossing tower, which would result in a cruciform basilica. The work progressed slowly. With the Reformation, they were finally abandoned unfinished in 1546. After a dispute in the course of the 17th century, the parish split and the Church of the Holy Rude became home to two congregations. Around 1818, the building was extensively remodelled and partly extended, which greatly diminished its original character.

Mallorca is the largest island in the Mediterranean Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain. Mallorca is an extremely popular holiday destination. The Palma de Mallorca Airport, one of the busiest in Spain, is used by about 30 million tourists per year. Palma is the political and economic center of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands. Palma is a Roman foundation from the time the island was occupied by the Roman Empire in 123 BC. Almost half of the island´s population of more than 890.000 today live in Palma. From Between 902 and 1229 the city was under Islamic control. It was conquered after three months of siege in December 1229 by the troops of James I of Aragon ( aka "Jaume el Conqueridor"). Palma became the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. After Jame´s death, Palma became joint capital of the Kingdom, together with Perpignan. The Aragonese expanded the city, so that at its heyday in the 16th century it had around 40,000 inhabitants. The erection of Santa Eulàlia, (maybe) the oldest church in Palma, started just weeks after the conquest of Mallorca by King James I the Conqueror in December 1299. Like most churches of the early times, it was built on the ruins of an Arab mosque. The three-aisled, cross-shaped church was dedicated to Saint Eulàlia, who was venerated as the patron saint of Barcelona at the time. It was here that in 1276 James II, son of King James I (Jaume el Conqueridor) took oath when being crowned King of Mallorca.