The Black Dinner That Inspired The Red Wedding In ‘Game Of Thrones’
Wikimedia CommonsJames II of Scotland, of Stewart descent.
During the Late Middle Ages, the Douglas clan of Scotland stood strong as the single most prominent family in the lowlands. As such, rival families widely regarded them as a threat, and there were even fears that they could exert influence over the crown.
After the assassination of James I, care of the young heir to the throne, James II, was given to Archibald Douglas, the Fifth Earl of Douglas, who headed the Scottish government until his death in 1439.
Following his death, power was split between William Crichton, First Lord Crichton and Lord Chancellor of Scotland; Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar; and James Douglas, Earl of Avondale. A year later, the three conspired to break the power of the mighty Douglas clan and invited William Douglas, Sixth Earl of Douglas, and his brother to dine with young James II at Edinburgh Castle.
This event came to be known as the Black Dinner. While eating with the young kin, legend says the head of a black bull was placed before William — a symbol of death.
William and his brother were then dragged to Castle Hill and put on trial for fake charges, claiming that they had protested against the king. They were named as traitors and beheaded.
When James II finally ascended to his throne, however, he found that much of his court had still been dominated by the Douglas clan, and he clashed heads with them often.
So in 1452, King James II invited William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, to Stirling Castle, whereupon he accused the Earl of conspiring to rival royal authority, drew his dagger, and stabbed William Douglas 26 times, which quickly sparked a civil war between the Stewart-controlled crown and the Douglas clan.
In the end, the Parliament of Scotland declared the Douglas lands forfeit and annexed them from the crown.
After learning about these historical family feuds, learn the truth about how many people really died during the Civil War. Or, explore the legend of Rob Roy MacGregor, the “Robin Hood of Scotland.”
