Biography of James "Black" Douglas 1286-1330

On 24th June 1314 the Scottish army of King Robert the Bruce I of 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 (age 23) 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 (age 22) succeeded 2nd Baron Marshal.

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

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

Henry Bohun was killed by King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland. 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 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.

Froissart Book 1: 1307-1340. [41] It happened, soon after [25th August 1330] Sir William [James] Douglas (age 44) had arrived there, that the King of Spain came out from the camps to move closer to his enemies. The King of Granada also came out on his side, so that one king could see the other with all his banners. And they began to draw up their battle lines, one against the other. Sir William Douglas withdrew to one of the flanks with all his company, to better carry out his task and to better show his valor. When he saw all the battle lines arranged on both sides, and saw the royal battle line stir a little, he believed they were about to engage. He, who preferred to be among the first rather than the last, spurred his horse forward and all his company with him, straight to the battle line of the King of Granada, and went to engage the enemy. He believed that the King of Spain and all his battle lines would follow him, but they did not, by which he was shamefully deceived, for they did not move at all that day. There, the noble knight Sir William Douglas and all his company were surrounded by the enemy. They performed feats of great valor, but in the end, they could not hold out, and not a single man escaped on foot, all were slain in great misfortune. This was a sorrowful and grievous loss and a great shame for the Spaniards, and they were much blamed by all who heard of it, for they could well have rescued the knight and part of his men, had they wished. Such was the fate of the adventure and journey of Sir William Douglas.

[41] Avint, assés tost apriès çou que li di messires Guillaumes de Douglas fu là venus, que li rois d'Espagne issi hors as camps, pour plus approcier ses ennemis. Li rois de Grenate issi hors ossi d'autre part, si ques li uns rois veoit l'autre à tout ses banières. Et se commencièrent à rengier leurs batailles, li un contre l'autre. Li dis messires Guillaumes de Douglas se traist à l'un des costés, à toute se route, pour miex faire se besongne, et pour miex moustrer son effort. Quant il vei toutes les batailles rengies d'une part et d'autre, et vei la bataille le roy un petit esmouvoir, il cuida que elle alast assambler. Il, qui miex voloit estre des premiers que des daarrains, feri des esporons, et toute se compagnie avoech lui, jusques à le bataille le roy de Grenate, et ala as ennemis assambler. Et pensoit ensi que li rois d'Espagne et toutes ses batailles le sievissent, mès non fisent, dont il en fu laidement deceus, car onques celi jour ne s'en esmurent. Là fu li gentilz chevaliers, messires Guillaumes de Douglas enclos, et toute se route, des ennemis. Et y fisent merveilles d'armes, mès finablement il ne peurent durer, ne onques piés n'en escapa, que tout ne fuissent occis à grant meschief. De quoi ce fu pités et damages et grant lasqueté pour les Espagnolz, et moult en furent blasmet de tous chiaus qui en oïrent parler, car bien ewissent rescous le chevalier et une partie des siens, s'il vosissent. Ensi ala de ceste aventure et dou voiage monsigneur Guillaume de Douglas.