Sir James Douglas was a Scottish knight and feudal lord.
Background
He was the eldest son of Sir William Douglas, known as "le Hardi" or "the bold", who had been the first noble supporter of William Wallace (the elder Douglas died circa 1298, a prisoner in the Tower of London). His mother was Elizabeth Stewart, the daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, who died circa 1287 or early 1288. His father remarried in late 1288 so Douglas' birth had to be prior to that; however, the destruction of records in Scotland makes an exact date or even year impossible to pinpoint.
Career
He reached manhood just as Robert Bruce laid claim to the crown of Scotland (1306) and from that time was one of Bruce's most faithful and important lieutenants.
Douglas's career may be divided into two phases. The first was the 8 years of Bruce's struggle to claim the Scottish crown. This was a period of virtual guerrilla warfare, with Douglas emerging from his hiding places for a daring raid or the capture of a strategic castle. At the decisive Scottish victory at Bannockburn in 1314, Douglas commanded one of the four divisions of the Scots and, for his skillful leadership, was knighted on the battlefield by Bruce, now firmly established on the throne.
After Bannockburn, in the second phase of his public career, Douglas served as Warden of the Marches (the disputed frontier area between England and Scotland). In 1317 he diverted an English threat to the borders by staging a raid deep into English territory. Ten years later he dispersed the danger of an English invasion by an audacious attack in which he surprised the enemy forces by night and nearly captured the young Edward III in his bed.
Bruce's reliance on, and affection for, Sir James never ceased. When the King was dying in 1329, he apparently asked Sir James to carry out the spirit of an unfulfilled crusading vow by bearing Bruce's heart to the Hold Land. During the subsequent journey Douglas joined the King of Castile in a "crusade" against the Moslems in Spain and died there in battle in 1330.
Achievements
Sir James Douglas was one of the chief commanders during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
His name lives on, especially through the works of Sir Walter Scott, Castle Dangerous and Tales of a Grandfather.
"The Black Douglas" is an export market scotch whisky named in his honour.
A popular real ale from the Broughton Brewery in the Scottish Borders also bears the name "Black Douglas". It carries the descriptive note, 'Dark and Bitter'.
"Black Douglas" was the name given to British Rail locomotive 87030.
Politics
It is not surprising, therefore, that the young James appears to have grown up with passionate anti-English feelings.
Personality
It is as a hero of Scotish romance and legend that Douglas's real fame lies. Two sobriquets, "the Good" and "the Black Douglas, " indicate his differing reputations in Scotland and in England (though "black" probably referred originally to the color of his hair).
Connections
Sir James had two children by unknown mothers.
Father:
Sir William Douglas
(1255 – January 24, 1298)
Mother:
Elizabeth Stewart
She was the daughter of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland.
Son:
Archibald Douglas
Earl of Douglas and Wigtown, Lord of Galloway, Douglas and Bothwell, called Archibald the Grim or Black Archibald, was a late medieval Scottish nobleman.
