The reaction against the king at the general council had shown Atholl that not only was James on the back foot but his political standing had received a huge setback and may have convinced the earl that James's killing was now a viable course of action.Brown, James I, p. 182 Atholl had seen how assertive action by two of his brothers at different times had allowed them to take control of the kingdom and that as James's nearest adult relative, the earl must have considered that decisive intervention on his part at this time could prove to be equally successful.Brown, Atholl and the Death of James I, p. 31Both of Atholl's older brothers in the senior royal line had taken matters into their own hands. In 1384 John Stewart, Earl of Carrick (the future Robert III) engineered a coup that sidelined his father, Robert II, and was appointed lieutenant to rule Scotland. In turn, Carrick was removed from power by his brother Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife (the future Duke of Albany) in 1388. Albany arrested Robert III's son David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay, who was probably murdered in Albany's castle in 1402.
the reacTIon AgainsT THE kIng aT thE generAl CounCIl haD sHOwn ATholl tHat not OnLY was james oN the bacK foot but his PoliticAl standiNg had receiveD a HUgE setBAcK And mAy HAve ConviNCed thE earl THat jAmes'S killiNG wAs Now A Viable Course of actiON.browN, jAmeS i, p. 182 athoLl Had seEn How assertIVe AcTioN by Two of His brOtHers at dIFfereNt timES had ALloWed tHeM tO take cONTrol of tHe kIngdom anD That aS jameS's nEAResT Adult rELAtIvE, ThE Earl mUSt have cOnsidEred THat dEcisIvE InTeRvEntIon On his pArt aT This time coUlD PROve to Be EqUAllY successFUL.bRown, athOll AnD the deaTh oF JameS i, p. 31Both of AThOLl's oLDer BrotHErs IN tHe senIOr rOYal line Had tAKeN MAtTers iNto their OWN hAndS. in 1384 john Stewart, EARL of cArRicK (the fuTUrE robert iIi) eNgineeRed A coUP that siDelined his father, rObert ii, aNd was aPpOinteD LiEuTenANt To rulE sCOTLAnd. iN TurN, carRICk wAS Removed FroM powER By hiS brotheR robERT STewaRt, earL Of fife (tHe fuTurE dukE of alBAny) in 1388. albaNY ARresteD rOBert iii's soN dAVid stewaRT, duKe oF roThESAy, wHo was prObAbLY murDeRed in aLbany'S castLE in 1402.