James Douglas, 9th
Earl of Douglas, 3rd Earl of Avondale KG (1426–1488) was a Scottish
nobleman, last of the 'Black' earls of Douglas.
He succeeded to
the earldom on the murder of his brother William Douglas, 8th Earl of
Douglas by King James II and his entourage. He denounced his brother's
murderers and took up arms against the king, and he and his brothers
attacked Stirling, driving a horse through the town with the safe
conduct given to William attached to its tail. He was forced to back
down when some allies deserted him.
He obtained a papal dispensation to marry his brother's widow,
Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway, in order to keep the family
estates together. He was involved in intrigues with the English court,
and in 1455 rebelled against James II once more.
Meanwhile,
another branch of the Douglas family, the Red Douglases, had risen into
importance, and George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus, great-grandson of the
first earl of Douglas, took sides with the king against the Earl of
Douglas. Douglas and his three younger brothers, Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, and John Douglas, Lord of
Balvenie, were defeated at the Battle of Arkinholm. Moray was killed,
Ormonde taken prisoner and executed, and Balvenie escaped to England.
Their last stronghold, Threave Castle in Galloway, fell. James Douglas
was attainted in 1455, and his lands and estates were forfeit to the
crown. The lands of the Douglases were divided among their rivals, the
lordship of Douglas falling to the Red Douglas 4th earl of Angus.
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