Background
He was probably the son of James of Avesnes of Hainaut, who was a leading protagonist of the Third Crusade.
Career
As part of the forces of Boniface in Greece he fought against Leo Sgouros, a Greek local ruler who had become independent. James received of Boniface in the spring of 1205 the island of Euboea (Triarchy of Negroponte) as a fief. James died around 1205 and Euboea was divided into three fiefs for Boniface.
