James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas

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James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas, 3rd Earl of Avondale (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, but was forced to give in when his allies deserted him.

He obtained a papal dispensation to marry his brother's widow, Margaret Douglas, the 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, known as 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, again deserted by his chief allies, fled to England, and his three younger brothers, Ormond, Moray and Balvany, were defeated by Angus at the battle of Arkinholm, near Langholm on the Esk. Moray was killed, Ormond taken prisoner and executed, and Balvany 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.

In England the earl of Douglas continued to intrigue against his native land; he was employed by Edward IV in 1461 to negotiate a league with the western highlanders against the Scottish kingdom. He married again after this time, to Anne Holland, daughter of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, his previous marriage having ended in divorce following his attainder.

In 1484 he was taken prisoner at the battle of Lochmaben Fair, and was relegated to the abbey of Lindores, where he died in 1488.

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by William Douglas	Earl of Douglas 1452–1455	Succeeded by Forfeit
Preceded by William Douglas	Earl of Avondale 1452–1455	Succeeded by Forfeit