 Abt 1286 - 1330 (44 years)
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| Name |
James "The Black" Douglas |
| Prefix |
Sir |
| Nickname |
The Black |
| Birth |
Abt 1286 |
Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland  [2] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
25 Aug 1330 |
By Moors In Spain, Carrying Robert The Bruce's Heart To Holy Land [2] |
| Person ID |
I69955 |
Cecilie Family |
| Last Modified |
2 Mar 2009 |
| Father |
Sir William "Le Hardi" Douglas, b. Bef 1255, Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland d. Bef 24 Jan 1299, Tower Of London, Middlesex, England (Age 44 years) |
| Mother |
Elizabeth Stewart, b. Abt 1255, Dundonald Castle, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland d. Bef 24 Jan 1296, London, Middlesex, England (Age 41 years) |
| Marriage |
Abt 1276 |
1st Wife |
| Family ID |
F30325 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 |
Unknown Mistresses, b. Abt 1287, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland d. Yes, date unknown |
| Marriage |
No Marriage |
| Children |
| | 1. Sir Archibald Douglas, b. Abt 1325, Hermiston, Roxburghshire, Scotland d. Bef 9 Feb 1401, Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland (Age 76 years) |
|
| Family ID |
F30346 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
2 Mar 2009 |
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| Notes |
- James (Sir), called "The Good Sir James", 6th of Douglas; killed in Spain 1330. [Burke's Peerage]
Sir James Douglas, Lord of Galloway. Known to the Scots as "good Sir James" and to the English as "The Black Douglas," he was, with Wallace and Bruce, one of the three great heroes of Scottish Independence. [Magna Charta Sureties]
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Copied from "Douglas Family" by Mark Freeman, freepages.genalogy.rootsweb.com/~markfreeman/douglas.html:
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http://www.scotclans.org/history/other/douglas_james.htm includes a major article on this man.
"... the "good Sir James,' the friend of Robert Bruce, the most illustrious member of the Douglas family, and one of the noblest of the band of heroes who vindicated the freedom and independence of Scotland against the English arms. The romantic incidents in the career of this famous warrior and patriot would fill a volume. On the imprisonment of his father he retired to France, where he spent three years, 'exercising himself in all virtuous exercise,' says Godscroft, and 'profited so well that he became the most compleat and best-accomplished young nobleman in the country or elsewhere.' On the death of his father young Douglas returned to Scotland. His paternal estate having been bestowed by King Edward on Lord Clifford, he was received into the household of Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, with whom he 'counted kin' through his mother. He was residing there when Robert Bruce assumed the crown in 1305-6, and took up arms against the English invaders. Douglas, who was then only eighteen years of age, on receiving intelligence of this movement, resolved to repair at once to Bruce's standard. According to Barbour, he took this step secretly, though with the knowledge and approval of the patriotic prelate, who recommended him to provide himself with a suit of armour and to take a horse from his stables, with a show of force, thus 'robbing the bishop of what he durst not give.' Lesley, Bishop of Ross, however, makes no mention of force, and says Douglas carried a large sum of money from Lamberton to Bruce. He met the future King at Erickstane, near Moffat, on his way to Scone to be crowned, and proferred him his homage and his services, which were cordially welcomed. From that time onward, until the freedom and independence of the kingdom were fully established, Douglas never left Bruce's side, alike in adversity and prosperity, and was conspicuous both for his valour in battle and his wisdom in council. He was present at the battle of Methven, where the newly crowned King was defeated, and narowly escaped being taken prisoner. He was one of the samll band who took refuge, with Bruce and his Queen and other ladies, in the wilds first of Athole and then of Breadalbane, where for some time they subsisted on wild berries and the scanty and precarious produce of fishing and the chase. Barbour makes especial mention of the exertions of Sir James Douglas to provide for the wants and to promote the comfort of the ladies."
The Great Historic Families of Scotland, by James Taylor
The story continue at length and is quite interesting. Skipping to the end:
"Godscroft states that Sir James was never married, but Dr. Fraser has discovered that he was married, and left a legitimate son, who fell at Halidon. Archibald the Grim, his natural son, became third Earl of Douglas. Sir James was succeeded by his next brother, Hugh Douglas."
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| Sources |
- [S1690] Davis, I. M., Davis (1974), (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1974.), pp. 170-171 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1625] Encyclopedia Britannica, Treatise on, Douglas, James (Reliability: 3).
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