Biography of James "Black" Douglas 1286-1330

Paternal Family Tree: Douglas

1314 Battle of Bannockburn

1327 Battle of Stanhope Park

1329 Death of Robert the Bruce

1330 Battle of Teba

James "Black" Douglas and Joan Lovel were married.

Around 1274 [his grandfather] William "Longleg" Douglas (age 54) died. His son [his father] William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas (age 34) succeeded 2nd Lord Douglas.

Around 1286 James "Black" Douglas was born to William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas (age 46) and Elizabeth Stewart Baroness Douglas (age 38) at Douglas Castle, Douglas.

Before 1288 [his mother] Elizabeth Stewart Baroness Douglas (age 40) died.

Before 1290 [his father] William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas (age 50) and Eleanor Louvain Baroness Douglas were married. She by marriage Lord Douglas.

In 1298 [his father] William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas (age 58) died at Tower of London [Map].

In 1303 [his son] John Douglas was born to James "Black" Douglas (age 17) and Joan Lovel at Douglas Castle, Douglas.

Battle of Bannockburn

On 24 Jun 1314 the Scottish army of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland (age 39) including, James "Black" Douglas (age 28), heavily defeated the English army led by King Edward II of England (age 30) at the Battle of Bannockburn.

Gilbert de Clare 8th Earl Gloucester 7th Earl Hertford was killed. Earl Gloucester, Earl Hertford extinct.

John Comyn 4th Lord Baddenoch (age 20), Robert Felton 1st Baron Felton (age 44) and William Vesci were killed.

William Marshal 1st Baron Marshal (age 36) was killed. His son John Marshal 2nd Baron Marshal (age 22) succeeded 2nd Baron Marshal.

Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford (age 40) was killed. His son Roger Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford (age 14) succeeded 2nd Baron de Clifford.

John Lovell 2nd Baron Lovel (age 25) was killed. His son John Lovell 3rd Baron Lovel succeeded 3rd Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh.

Henry Bohun was killed by Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland (age 39). He was buried in Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucestershire [Map].

Walter Fauconberg 2nd Baron Fauconberg (age 50) possilby died although his death is also reported as being on 31 Dec 1318.

Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere (age 38), Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 38), Goronwy ap Tudur Hen Tudor, Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan (age 35), Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 39) and Robert Umfraville 8th Earl Angus (age 37) fought.

Pain Tiptoft 1st Baron Tibetot (age 34) was killed. His son John Tiptoft 2nd Baron Tibetot succeeded 2nd Baron Tibetot.

John Montfort 2nd Baron Montfort (age 23) was killed. Peter Montfort 3rd Baron Montfort (age 23) succeeded 3rd Baron Montfort.

Thomas Grey (age 34) undertook a suicidal charge that contributed to the English defeat and subsequently blemished his career.

William Latimer 2nd Baron Latimer of Corby (age 38) was captured.

Michael Poynings (age 44) was killed.

In Jun 1319 Robert "Peacock of the North" Neville (age 32) was killed by James "Black" Douglas (age 33) in single combat at Berwick on Tweed [Map]. He was buried at St Brandon's Church, Brancepeth.

Battle of Stanhope Park

On 04 Aug 1327, during the night, James "Black" Douglas (age 41) ambushed Edward III's (age 14) camp at Stanhope Park Weardale [Map]. Douglas (age 41) reached Edward III's (age 14) collapsed tent nearly capturing the English King.

Death of Robert the Bruce

Froissart. The foresaid peace, which was purchased between England and Scotland, was to endure three year; and in the meantime it fortuned that king Robert of Scotland (age 54) was right sore aged and feeble: for he was greatly charged with the great sickness, so that there was no way with him but death. And when he felt that his end drew near, he sent for such barons and lords of his realm as he trusted best, and shewed them how there was no remedy with him, but he must needs leave this transitory life, commanding them on the faith and truth that they owed him, truly to keep the realm and aid the young prince David (age 5) his son, and that when he were of age they should obey him and crown him king, and to marry him in such a place as was convenient for his estate. Then he called to him the gentle knight sir William Douglas (age 43) [Note. William appears to be a mistake since it was James "Black" Douglas (age 43) who took Robert's heart?], and said before all the lords, 'Sir William, my dear friend, ye know well that I have had much ado in my days to uphold and sustain the right of this realm; and when I had most ado, I made a solemn vow, the which as yet I have not accomplished, whereof I am right sorry: the which was, if I might achieve and make an end of all my wars, so that I might once have brought this realm in rest nd peace, then I promised in my mind to rave gone and warred on Christ's enemies, adversaries to our holy Christian faith. To this purpose mine heart hath ever intended, but our Lord would not consent thereto; for I have had so much ado in my days, and now in my last enterprise I have taken such a malady that I cannot escape. And sith it is so, that my body cannot go nor achieve that my heart desireth, I will send the heart instead of the body to accomplish mine avow. And because I know not in all my realm no knight more valiant than ye be, nor of body so well furnished to accomplish mine avow instead of myself, therefore I require you, mine own dear especial friend, that ye will take on you this voyage, for the love of me, and to acquit my soul against my Lord God. For I trust so much in your nobleness and truth, that an ye will take on you, I doubt not but that ye shall achieve it, and declare then shall I die in more ease and quiet, so that it be done in such manner as I shall declare unto you. I will that as soon as I am trespassed out of this world, that ye take my heart out of my body and embalm it, and take of my treasure, as ye shall think sufficient for that enterprise, both for yourself and such company as ye will take with you, and present my heart to the Holy Sepulchre, whereas our Lord lay, seeing my body cannot come there: and take with you such company and purveyance as shall be appertaining to your estate. And wheresoever ye come, let it be known how ye carry with you the heart of king Robert of Scotland (age 54) at his instance and desire, to be presented to the Holy Sepulchre.' Then all the lords that heard these words wept for pity: and when this knight sir William Douglas (age 43) might speak for weeping, he said: ' Ah, gentle and noble king, a hundred times I thank your grace of the great honour that ye do to me, sith of so noble and great treasure ye give me in charge; and, sir, I shall do with a glad heart all that ye have commanded me, to the best of my true power, howbeit I am not worthy nor sufficient to achieve such a noble enterprise.' Then the king said, ' Ah, gentle knight, I thank you, so that ye will promise to do it.' 'Sir,' said the knight, ' I shall ... embalmed, and honourably he was interred in the abbey of Dunfermline [Map] in the year of our Lord God MCCCXXVII., the seventh day of the month of November [Note. Appears to be an error here 1329 rather than 1327?].' And when the springing-time began, then sir [his son] William Douglas purveyed him of that which appertained for his enterprise and took his ship at the port of Montrose in Scotland, and sailed into Flanders, to Sluys, to hear tidings and to know if there were any nobleman in that country that would go to Jerusalem, to the intent to have more company. And he lay still at Sluys the space of twelve days or he departed, but he would never come a-land, but kept still his ship, and kept always his port and behaviour with great triumph, with trumpets and clarions, as though' he had been king of Scots himself; and in his company there was a knight banneret and seven other knights of the realm of Scotland, and twenty-six young squires and gentlemen to serve him; and all his vessel was of gold and silver-pots, basins, ewers, dishes, flagons, barrels, cups and all other things; and all such as would come and see him, they were well served with two manner of wines and divers manner of spices, all manner. of people according to their degrees. And when he had thus tarried there the space of twelve days, he heard reported that Alphonso king of Spain (age 17) made war against a Saracen king of Granade. Then he thought to draw to that part, thinking surely he could not bestow his time more nobly than to war against God's enemies and that enterprise done, then he thought to go forth to Jerusalem and to achieve that he was charged with. And so he departed and took the sea toward Spain, and arrived at the port of Valence the great. Then he went straight to the king of Spain (age 17), who held his host against the king of Granade Saracen, and they were near together, on the frontiers of his land.

Before 1330 [his son] Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas was born to James "Black" Douglas (age 43).

Battle of Teba

Froissart. 25 Aug 1330. Battle of Teba. And within a while after that this knight sir William Douglas (age 44) was come to the king of Spain (age 19), on a day the king issued out into the field to approach near to his enemies. And the king of Granade issued out in like wise on his part, so that each king might see other with all their banners displayed. Then they arranged their battles each against other. Then sir William Douglas (age 44) drew out on the one side with all his company, to the intent to shew his prowess the better. And when he saw these battles thus ranged on both parties, and saw that the battle of the king of Spain (age 19) began somewhat to advance toward their enemies, he thought then verily that they should soon assemble together to fight at hand strokes; and then he thought rather to be with the foremost than with the hindermost, and strake his horse with the spurs, and all his company also, and dashed into the battle of the king of Granade, crying, 'Douglas! Douglas!' weening to him the king of Spain (age 19) and his host had followed, but they did not; wherefore he was deceived, for the Spanish host stood still. And so this gentle knight (age 44) was enclosed, and all his company, with the Saracens, whereas he did marvels in arms, but finally he could not endure, so that he and all his company were slain. The which was great damage, that the Spaniards would not rescue them. Also in this season there were certain lords that treated for peace between England and Scotland. So that at the last there was a marriage made and solemnised between the young king of Scotland (age 4) and dame Joan of the Tower (age 7), sister to king Edward of England (age 15), at Berwick [Map], as the English chronicle saith, on Mary Maudlin day [Note. the Feast of Mary Magdalen is 22 Jul?], the year 'of our Lord MCCCXXVIII., against the assent of many of the nobles of the realm. But queen Isabel (age 35) the king's mother and the earl Mortimer (age 43) made that marriage; at the which, as mine author saith, there was great feast made on both parties.

On 25 Aug 1330 James "Black" Douglas (age 44) was killed during the Battle of Teba at Teba whilst en route to the Holy Land with the heart of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland.

[his son] John Douglas and Agnes Fraham were married.

[his father] William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas and [his mother] Elizabeth Stewart Baroness Douglas were married. She by marriage Lord Douglas.

[his son] William Douglas 1st Earl Atholl was born to James "Black" Douglas.

Royal Ancestors of James "Black" Douglas 1286-1330

Kings Wessex: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 5 Grand Son of Malcolm III King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King Franks

Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France

Royal Descendants of James "Black" Douglas 1286-1330

King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland x 1

Queen Consort Camilla Shand x 1

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 51

Ancestors of James "Black" Douglas 1286-1330

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Lord Douglas

Great x 1 Grandfather: Archibald Douglas

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Kerdal

GrandFather: William "Longleg" Douglas

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Crawford

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Crawford

Father: William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas

GrandMother: Constance Battail Battail

James "Black" Douglas

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward

Great x 2 Grandfather: Alan Fitzwalter 2nd High Steward

Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Stewart 3rd High Steward

GrandFather: Alexander Stewart 4th High Steward

Great x 2 Grandfather: Gille Críst Angus 4th Earl Angus

Great x 1 Grandmother: Bethóc Angus

Mother: Elizabeth Stewart Baroness Douglas