a man talks about the life of Scotlands fiercest ever warrior the Black Douglas. Also the site of ancient Scottish fortress Roxburgh Castle is investigated.
The people of the Border were never truly Scots or English but of The Border. For 1500 years, and more, both the English and the Scots armies tried to kill them. The rhyme goes, "Scots by will, English at pleasure, and Reiver By GOD!
Thank you for making and posting this video. I am a American but my Mother was a descendant of Sir James . The Good Sir. Really enjoyed the information and proudly shared it with my children. Thanks again for taking the time to make this video.
All of us who have Douglas blood and the Septs that followed the Douglases should belong to the Clan Douglas Society we are stronger together as a Clan Regards Mark Peterson President of the Clan Douglas Society
Stronger together against who? All the other clans? No wonder the English subjugated you. It's that clan mentality that ensures you always have enemies: each other.
I have enjoyed each one of your videos Mark. So much enthusiasm. The History of Scotland is so rich and you keep the memory of these heroes Alive. A great Thanks from your brothers in the 🇺🇸
@cuelholima They don't know, someone told them they were for a price and they accepted. Most Scottish people in Scotland cannot trace their lineage back that far, but for some reason Americans can do it so easily.
@cuelholima Given that none of douglas' children had children of their own, they definitely arent, his bloodline died and some other douglas carried the name
@@taylornox Mate, Sir James’s children did have their own kids, look it up. Archibald, James’s son and 3rd Earl of Douglas had multiple children, including his successor Archibald the 4th Earl of Douglas(who also went on to have children).
Absolutely brilliant Mark! Just wondering if the Scottish Wars of Independence are still part of the curriculum in our schools?! Always loved the stories of the Black Douglas -he must have been a fearsome sicht to the English! thank you so much - just loving your other tales of the Borders!
Jean Jacobs thanks Jean! Wouldn’t imagine the Wars of Independence are even mentioned in schools nowadays, probably deemed too political. They should be, particularly here in the Borders where the entire landscape and culture was sculpted by centuries of violence and warfare. Thanks for watching!
When the hammer of the Scots turned down James's request for his lands back he created the "Hammer of the English" lol The guid sir James one of Scotlands greatest sons
Hello Mark I love your videos they are very well thought out with a great blend of education and humour. I live in NW England and everytime I travel back to my home town of Ayr I drive through Douglas. I'm glad you did this one as James Douglas is sadly often overlooked. Aw the best
My grandmother's maiden name (and my middle name) is Douglas! No one in my family knew this history. It was probably lost due to Americanization, but damn it's cool!
I am surprised that the video did not mention the battle at Byland Ridge. That was an even more humiliating defeat for Edward II than Bannockburn and James Douglas played a prominent role. It is a shame that both of Bruce’s main captains, James Douglas and Thomas Randolph have almost been forgotten even by Scottish history
My Mum was a Douglas [her Dad named his farm [in New Zealand Morvern] and my Auntie carries this name as well] and Grandmother on my Father's side is a Wallace. Amazing to think they had fought valiantly for the same campaign.
Good story telling. I do enjoy your vids. Can you do one on another Scottish Hero, a forgotten hero, Sir Andrew De Moray Guardian of Scotland. Thank Mark.
I am from clan Galbraith one of my clan chiefs married a daughter of the good sir James Douglas also known as black Douglas so I have great respect for this man
Thanks for the video. I came to the video looking for video of my ancestor James "The Good" Douglas commonly referred to "the black". I decend from his son Archibald "The Grimm" Douglas and his grandson James "the gross" Douglas 7th Earl of Douglas husband of Princess Beatrix Stewart daughter Robert Stewart 1st Duke of Albany and granddaughter of King Robert II. I also decend from James "The black " Douglas' brother Archibald "The tyneman" Douglas through my Douglas- Hamilton ancestors thru the Earls of Lumley and my 8th great grandmother Lady Frances Hamilton Lumley daughter of Field Marshall George Douglas-Hamilton 1st Earl of Orkney and Selkirk...I am also a decendant of Lady Glamis Janet Douglas Lyon wife Lord John Lyon common ancestor of Queen Elizabeth and King Chucky the Hannoverian. Hello to my Douglas cousins throughout the world. Remember that you are also Stewart decendants. Our ancestor George Douglas 1st Earl of Angus Married Princess Mary Stewart daughter of King Robert III. There are many other Stewart lines thru the centuries but too many to list here. I have listed the first 2 here with Beatrix and Mary Stewart your ancestors as well most likely if your a Douglas.
My ancestor Thomas Dickson was killed in the battle of Castle Douglas. It was said that he was slashed in the belly and he fought on holding his entrails while fighting.
I know about thomas dickson too, and if you didn't know thomas dickson is related to James douglas by his mom So we got 3 scottish legends in our family (James Douglas) (Thomas Dickson) (Robert de Keith)
I recently found out about all of this history. My middle name is Douglas, after my grandmother's maiden name. I need to go see all of this rich history I have a familial connection to. As a side note, every single male from the Douglas side of my family has black hair and a broad build, just like the descriptions of The Black Douglas, not that we're decedents of him, but I find it quite cool.
just been watching your film where your mate goes down the water tube at Ladhope in the tunnel. H ha ha thats mental. Be taking ma daughter up there from now on instead of paying £5 to get into Dunbar swimming pool.
@@MarkNicol123 yeah man you could get a good swim in there. But if you want to end up hurt like us...then that's your place dude lol definitely most dangerous exploration I have done .
i have a Facebook group, the black douglasses of clan douglas and i have forwarded to everyone. the best video i have ever seen on The Good Sir James. Jamais Arriere!!!!!
Cheers to you, Alex. My wife (a Peebles) and I visited almost all the Douglass sites in Scotland. We even saw Archibald and James (III? IV?) immortalized stain glassed windows in Stirling Castle. In the "auld" twa-s form, to boot! Tests and a collosal lot of my research indicate I'm a descendant (no matter how "lateral"--since The Good Sir James had no direct heirs)--of this fabled clan! Good work, aye, Fred Douglass!
I agree on both statements. I too Scott James Douglas ( Grandfather James (Jim) Douglas too) carry the warriors name and was, like my grandfather a modern warrior. I never cried out "A Douglas!", that would have been epic (as my son would say. One day I'll get there and maybe drink one of those beers with you.
Great Job Mark, I'd love to come to Scotland and shoot video with my drone. My Grand Mother was from Ayr and from the Black Douglas Clan. Could you tell the story about cutting the Kings head off and bringing it back to Scotland. Templars ? thats awsome. Good on ya lad
Hear hear! And we need more men like him and Wallace now or we never be free! The English were scared of him. Thats like Mafia being scared of you. Alba Gu Brath Fiat Lux! Hero good James of Scotland.
The rivers are well tamed now and flow well under Kelso bridge. In days of old the river would have been many meters higher, on both sides of the castle would have been marsh, making it just about impregnable. This location has always had a strong hold / castle. Some say this was King arthurs camelot.
+Alistair Douglas reading a lot about Arthur at the moment Alistair.....Alistair Moffat certainly thinks Roxburgh was Camelot and makes a good case for it.
great video , to make it a bit clearer about his death though its worth noting , He died fighting against the moors in battle . He was invited to fight the moors with king Alfonso , and it is said the reason he died was from leading a premature attack , ha ha . Basically he was right up for the scrap and went steaming in too early ! some boy .
bigboaby555 need to go there someday. Apparently there’s a Douglas day every year, parades through the town and celebrations of the man.......far more than we do in Scotland.
@@MarkNicol123 never heard of that sounds great though . doesn't surprise me they celebrate him and we don't , the scots arent exactly encouraged to celebrate our rebellious side
If editing, Mark Nicol, only the Douglas bones lie in St Bride's tomb. They were boiled in Spain for ease of transporting home. his heart also lies encased and visible set into the floor.
+Douglas Archives thanks for that. Didn't have much time in St Brides. Almost gave up getting in after a 75mile drive. luckily a local guy who knew the key holder went away and got it for me. They are rightly very proud to show the heritage of the town.
it changed from douglas to drysdale, most people that comment just pretend to be from the douglas clan. it makes me laugh but i also take it as a compliment. Our history is a miraculous one after all.
It's a pity he went off to Spain and died...only 41 years old in 1330... I think he would have made the difference with the Invasion of Scotland to come.!
@@MarkNicol123 Hiya, yes I just went and googled it... I've just watched your video on Kinmoote Willie.. very interesting man, if I lived in the area I'd help you look after that burial ground... I'm a new sub today.. 🙂🤗
Never let your enemies educate your children! Or you heroes be made tyrants and tyrants made heroes!-Patrick Cleburne Confederate General and Irishman. Black Douglas was a hero of Alba . Dal Riada for me is right name.
A Douglass, a Douglass. My name has an extra s on the end signifying that we went with William Wallace. Jaime Douglass was the black Douglas because he killed so many people.
