7th Earl of Douglas, James the Gross
James was the second son, and twin of Archibald, of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joannna de Moravia or Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard. Grandson of Sir James "the Black" Douglas and Maurice de Moravia, the 1st Earl of Strathearn.
Husband of Beatrice Stewart, the daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith.
Secondly, he was the husband of Beatrice Sinclair, the daughter of Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney. They were married about 1425 and had eight children, five sons and three daughters:
* Beatrice Douglas, wife of William Hay, Earl of Erroll
* William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, killed by King James II
* James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas
* Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
* Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
John Douglas, Lord Balvenie, beheaded for treason
* Janet Douglas, wife of Robert Fleming, Lord Fleming
* Margaret Douglas, wife of Henry Douglas or Borg
James's brother, Archibald, Duke of Touraine and 4th Duke of Douglas, was captured by the Percys at the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402, leaving James in charge of the powerful Douglas family affairs. James was successful at maintaining the family strength and influence until his brother's return in 1409, at which time he was rewarded with the title of councillor and granted extensive estates, including Abercorn Castle on the coast, his residence for the remainder of his life.
James became a councillor to his cousin, King James I, once the king was released from his English imprisonment, and sat on the jury to judge those who failed to pay the ransom for the king. In 1426 he received royal confirmation of his lands, his eldest son was knighted in 1430 and James became the Sheriff of Lanarkshire in 1435. In 1437, the king bestowed the title of Earl of Avondale on James shortly before this king's assassination. James immediately supported the his nephew, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, who became regent for young King James II. Archibald's death from fever in 1439 started a turmoil that resulted in the Black Dinner at Edinburgh Castle when his great nephew, William Douglas, and his younger brother, David Douglas, were beheaded on false charges by King James II. Later years would indicate that James had been the head of the plot that led to his nephews' deaths.
James died at Abercorn Castle, aged seventy two years old.
James was the second son, and twin of Archibald, of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joannna de Moravia or Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard. Grandson of Sir James "the Black" Douglas and Maurice de Moravia, the 1st Earl of Strathearn.
Husband of Beatrice Stewart, the daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith.
Secondly, he was the husband of Beatrice Sinclair, the daughter of Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney. They were married about 1425 and had eight children, five sons and three daughters:
* Beatrice Douglas, wife of William Hay, Earl of Erroll
* William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, killed by King James II
* James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas
* Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
* Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
John Douglas, Lord Balvenie, beheaded for treason
* Janet Douglas, wife of Robert Fleming, Lord Fleming
* Margaret Douglas, wife of Henry Douglas or Borg
James's brother, Archibald, Duke of Touraine and 4th Duke of Douglas, was captured by the Percys at the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402, leaving James in charge of the powerful Douglas family affairs. James was successful at maintaining the family strength and influence until his brother's return in 1409, at which time he was rewarded with the title of councillor and granted extensive estates, including Abercorn Castle on the coast, his residence for the remainder of his life.
James became a councillor to his cousin, King James I, once the king was released from his English imprisonment, and sat on the jury to judge those who failed to pay the ransom for the king. In 1426 he received royal confirmation of his lands, his eldest son was knighted in 1430 and James became the Sheriff of Lanarkshire in 1435. In 1437, the king bestowed the title of Earl of Avondale on James shortly before this king's assassination. James immediately supported the his nephew, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, who became regent for young King James II. Archibald's death from fever in 1439 started a turmoil that resulted in the Black Dinner at Edinburgh Castle when his great nephew, William Douglas, and his younger brother, David Douglas, were beheaded on false charges by King James II. Later years would indicate that James had been the head of the plot that led to his nephews' deaths.
James died at Abercorn Castle, aged seventy two years old.
7th Earl of Douglas, James the Gross
James was the second son, and twin of Archibald, of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joannna de Moravia or Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard. Grandson of Sir James "the Black" Douglas and Maurice de Moravia, the 1st Earl of Strathearn.
Husband of Beatrice Stewart, the daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith.
Secondly, he was the husband of Beatrice Sinclair, the daughter of Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney. They were married about 1425 and had eight children, five sons and three daughters:
* Beatrice Douglas, wife of William Hay, Earl of Erroll
* William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, killed by King James II
* James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas
* Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
* Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
John Douglas, Lord Balvenie, beheaded for treason
* Janet Douglas, wife of Robert Fleming, Lord Fleming
* Margaret Douglas, wife of Henry Douglas or Borg
James's brother, Archibald, Duke of Touraine and 4th Duke of Douglas, was captured by the Percys at the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402, leaving James in charge of the powerful Douglas family affairs. James was successful at maintaining the family strength and influence until his brother's return in 1409, at which time he was rewarded with the title of councillor and granted extensive estates, including Abercorn Castle on the coast, his residence for the remainder of his life.
James became a councillor to his cousin, King James I, once the king was released from his English imprisonment, and sat on the jury to judge those who failed to pay the ransom for the king. In 1426 he received royal confirmation of his lands, his eldest son was knighted in 1430 and James became the Sheriff of Lanarkshire in 1435. In 1437, the king bestowed the title of Earl of Avondale on James shortly before this king's assassination. James immediately supported the his nephew, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, who became regent for young King James II. Archibald's death from fever in 1439 started a turmoil that resulted in the Black Dinner at Edinburgh Castle when his great nephew, William Douglas, and his younger brother, David Douglas, were beheaded on false charges by King James II. Later years would indicate that James had been the head of the plot that led to his nephews' deaths.
James died at Abercorn Castle, aged seventy two years old.
James was the second son, and twin of Archibald, of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joannna de Moravia or Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard. Grandson of Sir James "the Black" Douglas and Maurice de Moravia, the 1st Earl of Strathearn.
Husband of Beatrice Stewart, the daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith.
Secondly, he was the husband of Beatrice Sinclair, the daughter of Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney. They were married about 1425 and had eight children, five sons and three daughters:
* Beatrice Douglas, wife of William Hay, Earl of Erroll
* William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, killed by King James II
* James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas
* Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
* Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
John Douglas, Lord Balvenie, beheaded for treason
* Janet Douglas, wife of Robert Fleming, Lord Fleming
* Margaret Douglas, wife of Henry Douglas or Borg
James's brother, Archibald, Duke of Touraine and 4th Duke of Douglas, was captured by the Percys at the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402, leaving James in charge of the powerful Douglas family affairs. James was successful at maintaining the family strength and influence until his brother's return in 1409, at which time he was rewarded with the title of councillor and granted extensive estates, including Abercorn Castle on the coast, his residence for the remainder of his life.
James became a councillor to his cousin, King James I, once the king was released from his English imprisonment, and sat on the jury to judge those who failed to pay the ransom for the king. In 1426 he received royal confirmation of his lands, his eldest son was knighted in 1430 and James became the Sheriff of Lanarkshire in 1435. In 1437, the king bestowed the title of Earl of Avondale on James shortly before this king's assassination. James immediately supported the his nephew, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, who became regent for young King James II. Archibald's death from fever in 1439 started a turmoil that resulted in the Black Dinner at Edinburgh Castle when his great nephew, William Douglas, and his younger brother, David Douglas, were beheaded on false charges by King James II. Later years would indicate that James had been the head of the plot that led to his nephews' deaths.
James died at Abercorn Castle, aged seventy two years old.
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
