Royal-Black Douglas feud

The feud between the Scottish Crown and the Black Douglases, a dominant branch of the Douglas clan, was a power struggle that played out in the 15th century. The Black Douglases, once staunch allies to the Scottish monarchs, grew immensely powerful and influential, particularly under the leadership of Archibald, the 4th Earl of Douglas, and his descendants. As their power grew, so did the crown's distrust. The tension culminated during the reign of King James II of Scotland, who perceived the Black Douglases as a direct threat to royal authority. This led to a series of confrontations, including the murder of William Douglas, the 8th Earl, by James II himself in 1452 at Stirling Castle. The subsequent campaigns by James II to suppress the Black Douglases culminated in their power being decisively broken by 1455, ending one of Scotland's most prominent noble families' dominance.