Sir James Douglas earned the epithet “Black Douglas” possibly due to his swarthy complexion and possibly also because of his fierce reputation on the battlefield.
Following Douglases successful attack against the English garrison at Castle Douglas, his former ancestral home, he intentionally ravaged the castle, slaughtered the remaining garrison and threw their bodies down the well together with many horses that were also killed. He then ensured that the drinking water was thoroughly spoiled by pouring barrels of salt into the bodies. As a final act he removed all the food and weapons that he could carry before setting fire to the castle.
Even today children in the north of England and the Border region are threatened that the Black Douglas will come if they do not behave.
It was from this time that he became known as “Black Douglas” and his very name struck fear into the English from that day on.
Image of Black Douglas with kind permission of Andrew Hillhouse.