James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas
Encyclopedia
James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas, 1st Earl of Avondale (1371 – 24 March 1443), known as "the Gross", was a Scottish
nobleman. He was the second son of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joan Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard (now Cambuslang), d. after 1408.
and was left to maintain their influence in southern Scotland. His successes in this regard preserved Douglas influence until the return of his elder brother from captivity in 1409 at which time he assumed the role of councillor and was rewarded with the grant of extensive estates. The most important of these was the stronghold of Abercorn Castle which would become his principal residence for the rest of his life.
for his cousin James I of Scotland
while he was being held by the English for ransom. His links with the Albany Stewarts however did not prevent him from becoming a councillor to the king once he returned from imprisonment in 1424. Along with his nephew, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas
, he sat on the jury which convicted Murdoch and two of his sons of treason for failure to pay the ransom and allowing the king to be imprisoned for 18 years. In 1426 as a reward for his loyalty Douglas received royal confirmation of his lands, his eldest son William was knighted in 1430 and by 1435 he was sheriff
of Lanarkshire
strengthening his place among the kings principal followers. This backing from the earl of Douglas' senior kinsman was vital for the king to prevent a clash with the powerful Douglas affinity and shortly before his death in 1437 James I
gave him the title of Earl of Avondale.
of Scotland and Regent for the young James II
until Douglas' death in 1439. The death of his nephew set off a deadly chain of events that saw power being uneasily shared between Sir William Crichton
, Sir Alexander Livingston of Callander and Douglas himself. These events culminated in what would became known as the 'Black Dinner' at Edinburgh Castle
where his great-nephew William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas
and his younger brother David were summarily beheaded on trumped up charges in the presence of the young James II.
Historians tend to place the blame for the Black Dinner on Crichton, Livingston and especially Douglas as the death of his great-nephews brought him the earldom of Douglas
and the position as the most powerful magnate
in Scotland.
and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith. They had one daughter.
He married second Beatrice Sinclair, daughter of Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney, around 1425. They had several children, including:
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
nobleman. He was the second son of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joan Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard (now Cambuslang), d. after 1408.
Regent of Douglas
His rise to dominance in the kingdom began with the disastrous defeat of his elder brother Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas at the battle of Battle of Homildon Hill where he was captured by the English. James was now acting head of the main branch of the powerful Douglas familyClan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan.The...
and was left to maintain their influence in southern Scotland. His successes in this regard preserved Douglas influence until the return of his elder brother from captivity in 1409 at which time he assumed the role of councillor and was rewarded with the grant of extensive estates. The most important of these was the stronghold of Abercorn Castle which would become his principal residence for the rest of his life.
Relationship with the Stewarts
In the early 1420's James acted as the link between his brother and the powerful Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany who was acting as RegentRegent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for his cousin James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
while he was being held by the English for ransom. His links with the Albany Stewarts however did not prevent him from becoming a councillor to the king once he returned from imprisonment in 1424. Along with his nephew, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas was a Scottish nobleman and General, son of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas and Margaret Stewart, eldest daughter of Robert III...
, he sat on the jury which convicted Murdoch and two of his sons of treason for failure to pay the ransom and allowing the king to be imprisoned for 18 years. In 1426 as a reward for his loyalty Douglas received royal confirmation of his lands, his eldest son William was knighted in 1430 and by 1435 he was sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
strengthening his place among the kings principal followers. This backing from the earl of Douglas' senior kinsman was vital for the king to prevent a clash with the powerful Douglas affinity and shortly before his death in 1437 James I
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
gave him the title of Earl of Avondale.
Earl of Douglas
When King James was assassinated in 1437 Douglas backed his nephew who became Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
of Scotland and Regent for the young James II
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
until Douglas' death in 1439. The death of his nephew set off a deadly chain of events that saw power being uneasily shared between Sir William Crichton
William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton
William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton of Sanquhar was an important political figure in Scotland.He held various positions within the court of James I. At the death of James I, William Crichton was Sheriff of Edinburgh, Keeper of Edinburgh Castle, and Master of the King’s household...
, Sir Alexander Livingston of Callander and Douglas himself. These events culminated in what would became known as the 'Black Dinner' at Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
where his great-nephew William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas
William Douglas was a short-lived Scottish Nobleman. He was Earl of Douglas and Wigtown, Lord of Galloway, Lord of Bothwell, Selkirk and Ettrick Forest, Eskdale, Lauderdale, and Annandale in Scotland, and de jure Duke of Touraine, Count of Longueville, and Sire of Dun-le-roi in France...
and his younger brother David were summarily beheaded on trumped up charges in the presence of the young James II.
Historians tend to place the blame for the Black Dinner on Crichton, Livingston and especially Douglas as the death of his great-nephews brought him the earldom of Douglas
Earl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the extinct title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir Archibald Douglas, Guardian of Scotland...
and the position as the most powerful magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
in Scotland.
Marriage and issue
He married first Beatrice Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of AlbanyRobert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany , a member of the Scottish royal house, served as Regent to three different Scottish monarchs...
and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith. They had one daughter.
- Beatrice Douglas, married William Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll, Lord High Constable of ScotlandLord High Constable of ScotlandThe Lord High Constable is a hereditary, now ceremonial, office of Scotland. In the order of precedence of Scotland, the office traditionally ranks above all titles except those of the Royal Family. The Lord High Constable was, after the King of Scots, the supreme officer of the Scottish army. He...
.
He married second Beatrice Sinclair, daughter of Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney, around 1425. They had several children, including:
- William Douglas, 8th Earl of DouglasWilliam Douglas, 8th Earl of DouglasWilliam Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, 2nd Earl of Avondale was a Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas and Beatrice Sinclair....
(1425–1452), who succeeded his father - James Douglas, 9th Earl of DouglasJames Douglas, 9th Earl of DouglasJames Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas, 3rd Earl of Avondale KG was a Scottish nobleman, last of the 'Black' earls of Douglas. He was a twin, the older by a few minutes, the younger was Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray....
(1426–1491), who succeeded his older brother - Archibald Douglas, Earl of MorayArchibald Douglas, Earl of MorayArchibald Douglas, Earl of Moray was a Scottish nobleman during the reign of King James II of Scotland. He was one of the five brothers from the Black Douglas family who clashed with the king....
(1426–1455), James's twin - Hugh Douglas, Earl of OrmondeHugh Douglas, Earl of OrmondeHugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde was a Scottish Soldier and nobleman, a member of the powerful Black Douglases.He was the fourth son of James the Gross, 7th Earl of Douglas and his wife Beatrice Lindsay, daughter of Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney...
(d. 1455) - John Douglas, Lord of BalvenieJohn Douglas, Lord of BalvenieJohn Douglas, Lord of Balvenie was the youngest of the five formidable Black Douglas brothers, who clashed with King James II of Scotland.-Early life:...
- Janet Douglas, married Robert Fleming, 1st Lord Fleming
- Margaret Douglas, married Henry Douglas of BorgBorgue, Stewartry of KirkcudbrightBorgue is a village in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It lies 5 miles south-west of Kirkcudbright and 6 miles south of Gatehouse of Fleet.-Notable people from Borgue:...
(d. 1473)