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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/douglas_6452.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:300: Good Sir James]]
3
4->"''Hush ye, hush ye, little pet ye'',
5->''Hush ye, hush ye, do not fret ye'',
6->''[[TheDreaded The Black Douglas shall not get ye]]''.
7-->-- '''Nursery rhyme from Black Douglas' time'''
8
9James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, better known as '''[[RedBaron Black Douglas]]''' or "Good Sir James" was a Scottish war hero of the First Scottish War of Independence, and NumberTwo to UsefulNotes/RobertTheBruce in military affairs.
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11Not much is known about his early life (even his year of birth is uncertain, usually given as somewhere between 1286 and 1290), but it is known that he was the heir to [[TheClan Clan Douglas]], and was sent to Paris in the early days of the war against the English, where he was educated and where he served as TheSquire for William Lamberton, the [[ChurchMilitant Bishop of St Andrew's]]. When he came back to Scotland, he found out his family had lost all of his lands due his father's defiance of the English. He pleaded for King UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst to return his lands. He refused.
12
13[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge This proved to be unwise]]. James Douglas joined with UsefulNotes/RobertTheBruce, claimant to Scotland's throne, and served as one of his main lieutenants. He led battalions, delivering the English some of their most dramatic defeats in the entire war and striking terror into their hearts. Soon the English dubbed him [[RedBaron Black Douglas]].
14
15Alongside Robert he triumphed over the English at Bannockburn, and stood alongside him when he became King and lived in his royal court as a prestigious magnate of Scotland, border warlord, and ultimately [[TheChampion Guardian of the Realm]].
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17Black Douglas' last adventure came with his King's death. Robert's LastRequest was for his heart to be carried in a Crusade (following up on an oath he had sworn, and been unable to follow up on in life), and Douglas was given the task. Carrying his King's heart in a casket, Douglas rode to several battles against the Muslims. Sadly, Douglas perished in the Crusade, and his body, alongside his King's heart, was carried back to Scotland. Neither of them ever reached the Holy Land. The Lords of Douglas added the King's heart to their coat of arms.
18----
19!!Appears in the following works:
20
21* Portrayed by Kern Falconer in ''The Bruce'' (1996).
22* Creator/AaronTaylorJohnson portrayed him in ''Film/OutlawKing''. Quite a LargeHam, a BoisterousBruiser and a BloodKnight, all rolled into one. Gloriously displayed in battle.
23-->''"WHAT'S MY FUCKING NAME?!"''
24
25!!Shout-outs and references:
26
27* Several beer brands are named after him.
28* Scottish folk band ''The Corries'' have [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mh374DS2ZY a song]] about him.
29* Joe Abercrombie's [[Literature/TheFirstLaw First Law trilogy]], a LowFantasy work, has a character named Black Dow who's a clear shout-out to Douglas, or at least, to his [[AxCrazy legend in England]].

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