Lord James Douglas facts for kids

This is the tomb of Lord James Douglas in Paris, France.

This is the coat of arms for James Douglas. It is found at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Lord James Douglas (born 1617, died 1645) was a brave Scottish soldier and a nobleman. He was born in Scotland at Douglas Castle. His father was William Douglas, a very important Scottish lord.

When James was young, he was sent to France. He worked for King Louis XIII as a page. A page was like a helper for the king. James learned a lot and moved up in the king's service.

A Soldier in the Thirty Years' War

When James Douglas was 20 years old, he became a colonel. A colonel is a high-ranking officer in the army. He led a group of Scottish soldiers called the Scots Regiment. This was one of five Scottish army groups helping France at the time.

The Scots Regiment was formed in Scotland in 1625. They fought in Sweden during the early part of the Thirty Years' War. This was a very long and big war in Europe. In 1635, the regiment promised to serve King Louis of France. They agreed to fight for him, but not against the King of Great Britain.

The regiment had two leaders before James Douglas. The first was Sir John Hepburn, who died in 1636. Then his nephew, Sir James Hepburn, took over but died the next year.

Leading the Régiment de Douglas

After these leaders, James Douglas became the new colonel. The name of the army group was changed to the Régiment de Douglas. It grew to have 20 companies, with 100 Scottish soldiers in each.

The regiment fought very well under James Douglas. Sometimes, they were led by a famous general named Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne. In August 1645, James Douglas was hurt. He even received a letter of sympathy from a powerful leader, Cardinal Mazarin.

His Final Battle

Sadly, James Douglas was killed in a small fight on October 21, 1645. This happened on a road between two cities, Arras and Douai. He was trying to help capture Douai from the Habsburgs, another powerful family in Europe.

It is said that King Louis XIV wanted to make James Douglas a Field Marshal on the very day he died. A Field Marshal is one of the highest ranks in the army. But he died before this could happen.

Burial and Legacy

James Douglas's body was brought back to Paris, France. He was buried at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Other members of his family, like his grandfather, were also buried there. A beautiful memorial was built to remember him inside the Abbey Church.

After James Douglas died, his older brother, Archibald Douglas, became the new colonel. The Régiment de Douglas later returned to serve the British in 1662. By 1812, it became known by its very famous name: The Royal Scots.

See also

• Scotland and the Thirty Years' War