Stirling Castle

In 1452, the head of the increasingly powerful Douglas family, William, 8^th Earl of Douglas, was invited under the protection of the king to Stirling Castle. The intention was to persuade William to break some alliances felt to be against the royal interest. When he refused James could not contain his anger, the king drew his dagger and stabbed William twenty nine times before throwing his body from the window. This is traditionally said to have taken place in the King's Old Building but this had not yet been built. It may have been in an earlier building on the same site.