136-693: Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune , in the Stirling council area of central Scotland and the historic county of Perthshire . The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows into the River Teith . It lies 8 miles (13 kilometres) northwest of Stirling , where the Teith flows into the River Forth . Upstream, 8 miles (13 kilometres) further northwest,
272-562: A yett , or hinged iron grille, remains. Guardrooms on either side overlook the passage via gunloops , and also on the ground floor is a well, in the basement of the round tower. There is no direct communication between the ground floor and the Lord's Hall above, which occupies the whole first floor. This is accessed via an enclosed and gated stair from the courtyard. The hall is vaulted, and has an unusual double fireplace. The floor tiles, timber panelling , and minstrels' gallery are additions of
408-403: A campaign of political alienation of Albany and his family. The king's bitterness, directed at Duke Murdoch, had its roots in the past—Duke Robert was responsible for his brother David's death. Moreover, neither Robert nor Murdoch exerted themselves in negotiating James's release and must have left the king with the suspicion that they held aspirations for the throne. Buchan's lands did not fall to
544-625: A change in the Black Douglas predominance vis-a-vis the crown and other nobles. Important Douglas allies died in France and some of their heirs realigned with rival nobles through blood ties, while at the same time, Douglas experienced a loosening of allegiances in the Lothians and, with the loss of his command over Edinburgh Castle, this all served to improve James's position. James continued to retain Black Douglas support, allowing him to begin
680-456: A condition of James's release and had died there in 1434; his younger son Alan died in the king's service at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1431. David's son Robert was now Atholl's heir and both were now in line to the throne after the young Prince James. James continued to show favour to Atholl and appointed his grandson Robert as his personal chamberlain, but by 1437 after a series of setbacks at
816-459: A failed coup by his uncle Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl . Queen Joan, though wounded, escaped the attackers and reached Edinburgh Castle to be reunited with her son, the new King James II . James was probably born in late July 1394 at Dunfermline Abbey , 27 years after the marriage of his parents, Robert III and Annabella Drummond . It was also at Dunfermline under his mother's care that James would have spent most of his early childhood. He
952-461: A fire in the castle of Linlithgow in 1425, funds were also diverted to the building of Linlithgow Palace , which continued until James died in 1437, and absorbed an estimated one-tenth of royal income. James asserted his authority over the Church as well as the nobility and regretted that King David I 's benevolence towards the Church proved costly to his successors and that he was "a sair sanct to
1088-588: A general council in August 1423, where it was agreed that a mission should be sent to England to negotiate James's release. James's relationship with the House of Lancaster changed in February 1424 when he married Joan Beaufort , a cousin of Henry VI and the niece of Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter and Henry, Bishop of Winchester . A ransom treaty of £40,000 sterling (less a dowry remittance of 10,000 marks )
1224-624: A hostage and more of a guest. James's value to Henry became apparent in 1420 when he accompanied Henry to France where his presence was used against the Scottish troops fighting alongside the French. Following the English victory at the siege of Melun , a town southeast of Paris , Scottish prisoners of war captured after the siege were hanged for treason against their king. James attended the coronation of Catherine of Valois on 23 February 1421 and
1360-462: A large army to lay siege to the English enclave of Roxburgh Castle . The campaign was to prove pivotal, the Book of Pluscarden describes ' a detestable split and most unworthy difference arising from jealosy ' within the Scottish camp and the historian Michael Brown explains that a contemporary source has James appointing his young and inexperienced cousin, Robert Stewart of Atholl, as the constable of
1496-465: A much more non-aligned position with England, France and Burgundy while at the same time opening up diplomatic contacts with Aragon , Austria , Castile , Denmark , Milan , Naples and the Vatican . Generally, Anglo-Scottish relations were relatively amicable and the truce, extended until 1436, helped the English position in France. Promises made in 1428 of a Scottish army to help Charles VII and
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#17327804842551632-603: A place called Long Hermiston Muir, engaged with and killed Fleming while Orkney and James escaped to the comparative safety of the Bass Rock islet in the Firth of Forth. They endured more than a month there before boarding the France-bound Maryenknyght , a ship from Danzig . On 22 March 1406, the ship was captured by an English vessel that was under the partial ownership of English politician Hugh Fenn ;
1768-533: A realignment of the combatants. The breakdown of the talks between England and France in 1435 precipitated an alliance between Burgundy and France, a request from France for Scottish involvement in the war, and for the fulfilment of the promised marriage of Princess Margaret to the Dauphin . In the spring of 1436 Princess Margaret sailed to France, and in August Scotland entered the war, with James leading
1904-427: A royal possession, under an appointed Captain, or Keeper, and served as a retreat and hunting lodge for the Scottish monarchs. It was also used as a dower house by Mary of Guelders ( c. 1434 –1463), Margaret of Denmark (1456–1486), and Margaret Tudor (1489–1541), the widowed consorts of James II, James III and James IV respectively. In March 1500, before his marriage to Margaret Tudor, James IV gave
2040-463: A serious reversal in September 1402 when English troops defeated their large army at the Battle of Homildon Hill . Numerous Scottish nobles and their followers were captured included Douglas himself, Albany's son Murdoch, and the earls of Moray, Angus and Orkney. 1402 also saw, as well as the death of Rothesay, that of Alexander Leslie, Earl of Ross and Malcolm Drummond, Lord of Mar. This power vacuum
2176-578: A servant of the king — were in attendance in November and December 1432. In 1433 James, this time in response to a summons by the pope, appointed two bishops, two abbots and four dignitaries to attend the council. Twenty-eight Scottish ecclesiastics attended at intervals from 1434 to 1437, but the majority of the higher-ranking churchmen sent proxy attendees; Bishops John Cameron of Glasgow and John de Crannach of Brechin , however, attended in person, as did Abbot Patrick Wotherspoon of Holyrood . Even in
2312-516: A sitting of parliament in Inverness . Of those assembled the king arrested around 50 of them including Alexander , the third Lord of the Isles, and his mother, Mariota, Countess of Ross , around 24 August. A few were executed but the remainder, except Alexander and his mother, were quickly released. During Alexander's captivity, James attempted to split Clann Dòmhnall — Alexander's uncle John Mór
2448-408: A tyrant... ... Yet I do not doubt but that you shall see the day and time that you shall pray for my soul, for the great good that I have done to you, and to all in this realm of Scotland, that I have thus slain and delivered you of so cruel a tyrant... – Sir Robert Graham Despite this, by the middle of March, both Angus and Crichton had probably mobilised to move against Atholl. It
2584-464: Is a burgh within Perthshire . The town is administered by Stirling Council . Doune is assigned Falkirk postcodes starting "FK". The village lies within the parish of Kilmadock and mainly within the area surrounded by the River Teith and Ardoch Burn . In the 2001 Scottish census, 2.75% residents of Doune could speak Scottish Gaelic . Doune has a small primary school with 183 pupils on
2720-510: Is carried over the pitched roofs of the hall and gatehouse by steep steps. Open, round turrets are located at each corner, with semicircular projections at the midpoint of each wall. A square turret with machicolations is located above the postern gate in the west wall. The Lord's tower is a secure, private set of rooms, probably intended for the sole use of the Lord and his family, and with its own lines of defence. The architectural historian W. Douglas Simpson interpreted this arrangement as being
2856-460: Is equally likely that Atholl had gathered his forces to resist incursions into his heartlands — on 7 March the queen and the council entreated the burgess ' of Perth to resist the forces of the "feloune traitors". The position of Atholl and his circle of close supporters only collapsed after Earl Walter's heir Robert Stewart had been captured and who, in Shirley's account, confessed to his part in
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#17327804842552992-775: Is memorialised at a monument on the Keir land near Doune known as the Hill o' Rou . The local amateur football team Doune Castle AFC play in the Caledonian Amateur Football League . The local cricket team play in the Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union. Doune is well-known for its pistols and Roman remains, but the Doune area has been inhabited a lot longer and many burial mounds and standing stones supporting this are clearly evident and plentiful. To
3128-433: Is naturally defended on three sides by steeply-sloping ground, and by the two rivers to east and west. The castle forms an irregular pentagon in plan, with buildings along the north and north-west sides enclosing a courtyard . It is entered from the north via a passage beneath a tower containing the principal rooms of the castle. From the courtyard, three sets of stone external stairs, which may be later additions, lead up to
3264-409: Is now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland , having been donated to a predecessor organisation by Douglas Stuart, 20th Earl of Moray , in 1984, and is open to the public. The castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument . Doune occupies a strategic site, close to the geographical centre of Scotland, and only five miles (eight kilometres) from Stirling Castle , the "crossroads of Scotland". The site
3400-485: Is on the hall level, above a cellar. One of the best-appointed castle kitchens in Scotland of its date, it has an oven and a 5.5-metre-wide (18 ft) fireplace. A stair turret, added in 1581 and possibly replacing a timber stair, leads up from the lobby to two storeys of guest rooms. These include the "Royal Apartments", a suite of two bedrooms plus an audience chamber, suitable for royal visitors. Projecting stones on
3536-409: Is rectangular in plan 18 metres (59 ft) by 13 metres (43 ft), and almost 29 metres (95 ft) high, with a projecting round tower on the north-east corner, beside the entrance. It comprises the Lord's Hall, and three storeys of chambers above, located over the entrance passage. The vaulted , cobbled passage, 14 metres (46 ft) long, was formerly defended by two sets of timber doors, and
3672-673: Is the most prestigious hillclimb motorsport course in Scotland, and hosts a round of the British Hill Climb Championship each year. The town used to be served by Doune railway station . Doune has often been used as a filming location, most famously for Monty Python and the Holy Grail which was filmed at Doune Castle . The castle has also been used for major TV series, most notably Ivanhoe , Game of Thrones and Outlander . James I of Scotland James I (late July 1394 – 21 February 1437)
3808-500: The Battle of Verneuil in August 1424 and his army was crushed. The loss of Buchan, Douglas and the large fighting force left Murdoch exposed politically. The death of Douglas at Verneuil would also weaken his son Archibald , the fifth earl. On 12 October 1424, the king and Archibald met at Melrose Abbey , ostensibly to agree to the appointment of John Fogo , a monk of Melrose, to the abbacy. The meeting may also have been intended as an official acceptance of Douglas, but it signalled
3944-576: The Flavian period and the first Roman incursion into Scotland (from 79 AD to the mid-80s AD). The remains of the Roman fort are a scheduled monument . As in other Celtic lands , Doune has tales of fairies . One place associated with such folklore is Ternishee, a small wood east of the Annat chapel, above Doune Lodge, 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.5 kilometres) from Doune. Its name comes from
4080-653: The Monty Python team – was filmed on location in Scotland in 1974. The film's producers had gained permission from the National Trust for Scotland to film scenes at several of their Scottish castles, as well as the permission of Lord Moray to film at Doune Castle. However, the National Trust later withdrew their permission, leaving the producers with little time to find new locations. Instead, they decided to use different parts of Doune Castle to depict
4216-637: The Scottish Gaelic : tìr na sìdhe , lit. 'land of the fairies'. Fairy dancing parties are recounted on the Fairy Knowe, a hillock on the right bank of the Ardoch , 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 metres) east of Doune. Near the Bridge of Teith, on the low road to Callander , a burial mound called Tullochanknowe is said to be a favourite haunt of the fairies. Doune Speed Hillclimb
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4352-532: The Tower of London along with the other Scottish prisoners. One of these prisoners was James's cousin, Murdoch Stewart, Albany's son, who had been captured in 1402 at the Battle of Homildon Hill . Initially held apart, from 1413 until Murdoch's release in 1415, they were together in the Tower and at Windsor Castle . By 1420, James's standing at Henry V of England's court improved greatly; he ceased to be regarded as
4488-569: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms . In 1654, during Glencairn's rising against the occupation of Scotland by Oliver Cromwell , a skirmish took place at Doune between Royalists under Sir Mungo Murray, and Cromwellian troops under Major Tobias Bridge . The castle was garrisoned by government troops during the Jacobite rising of 1689 of Bonnie Dundee , when repairs were ordered, and again during
4624-492: The chapter of Dunkeld Cathedral whose nominee was replaced by the king's nephew and firm supporter, James Kennedy. The reaction against the king at the general council had shown Atholl that not only was James on the back foot but his political standing had received a huge setback and may have convinced the earl that James's killing was now a viable course of action. Atholl had seen how assertive action by two of his brothers at different times had allowed them to take control of
4760-569: The dauphin of France , and a gift of the province of Saintonge to James. The ratification of the treaty by Charles took place in October 1428 and James, now with the intended marriage of his daughter into the French royal family and the possession of French lands, had his political importance in Europe boosted. The effectiveness of the alliance with France had virtually ceased after Verneuil and its renewal in 1428 did not alter that — James adopted
4896-447: The rising of 1715 . During the Jacobite rising of 1745 , Doune Castle was occupied by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite Highlanders. It was used as a prison for government troops captured at the Battle of Falkirk . Several prisoners, held in the rooms above the kitchen, escaped by knotting together bedsheets and climbing from the window. Escapees included the author John Home , and a minister, John Witherspoon , who later moved to
5032-671: The 1580s. The restoration of the 1880s replaced the timber roofs and internal floors, as well as interior fittings. The site at the confluence of the Ardoch Burn and the River Teith had been fortified by the Romans in the 1st century AD, although no remains are visible above ground. Ramparts and ditches to the south of the present castle may be the site of an earlier fortification, as the name Doune, derived from Gaelic dùn , meaning "fort", suggests. The earliest identifiable work in
5168-474: The 1880s. It was originally thought that the connecting door to the Great Hall was also of this date, but is now accepted as being original. Side rooms on the hall level include a chamber in the round tower, with a hatch above the well, and a small chamber within the south wall which overlooks both hall and courtyard. A machicolation below the hall's north window allows objects to be dropped onto attackers in
5304-638: The Albany Stewarts but were forfeited to the crown, Albany's father-in-law, Duncan, Earl of Lennox , was imprisoned, and in December, the duke's main ally, Alexander Stewart, 1st Earl of Mar , settled his differences with the king. An acrimonious sitting of parliament in March 1425 precipitated the arrest of Murdoch, Isabella, his wife, and his son Alexander — of Albany's other sons, Walter was already in prison and James, his youngest, also known as James
5440-420: The Albany Stewarts guilty of rebellion — their executions followed swiftly. James granted Atholl the positions of Sheriff of Perth and Justiciar, as well as the earldom of Strathearn, but this, significantly, in life-use only, acts that confirmed Earl Walter's policing remit given by Albany, and his already effective grip on Strathearn. Atholl's elder son, David, had been one of the hostages sent to England as
5576-548: The American colonies and became a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence . The castle deteriorated through the 18th century, and by 1800 Doune was a roofless ruin. It remained so until the 1880s, when George Stuart, 14th Earl of Moray (1816–1895) began repair works. The timber roofs were replaced, and the interiors, including the panelling in the Lord's Hall, were installed. The castle
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5712-518: The Bass Rock—a move likely favourable both for Murdoch’s interests as well as James’s. Although hesitant about taking action against other members of the Albany Stewarts while Murdoch's brother, John Stewart, Earl of Buchan , and Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas , were fighting against English forces in France. Buchan was a leader with an international reputation and commanded the large Scottish army, but both he and Douglas were killed by English troops at
5848-454: The Bruce , the 14th-century Scottish king who launched a guerilla war against the larger English army. The film is largely set in the 3 years from 1304, when Bruce decides to rebel against the rule of Edward I over Scotland, thus becoming an "outlaw", up to the 1307 Battle of Loudoun Hill . The British comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail – a parody of the legends of King Arthur by
5984-811: The Earl of Douglas and his brother James to withdraw funds from the customs. James's coronation at Scone on 21 May 1424 occurred against this backdrop. The coronation parliament of the Three Estates witnessed the king perform a knighthood ceremony for eighteen prominent nobles, including Alexander Stewart, Murdoch's son, likely aimed at fostering loyalty to the crown within the political community. The parliament convened primarily to discuss issues related to ransom payments and heard James emphasize his authority as monarch. He successfully enabled legislation aimed at boosting crown income by revoking royal predecessors' and guardians' patronage. This move immediately impacted
6120-478: The Earl's renewed involvement in Strathearn as ward to Graham's son, despite strong opposition from Albany, hinted at Atholl's possible involvement in the murder. The bad blood now existing between Albany and Atholl led James on his return to Scotland in 1424 to ally himself with Earl Walter, his uncle. Atholl participated at the assize that sat over the 24/25 May 1425 trials which found the prominent members of
6256-749: The Fat died suddenly, releasing James to prepare for decisive action against the Lordship. The armies met on 21 June in Lochaber and Alexander, suffering the defection of Clan Chattan (the MacKintoshes) and Clan Cameron, was heavily defeated. Alexander escaped probably to Islay but James continued his assault on the Lordship by taking the strongholds of Dingwall and Urquhart castles in July. The king pushed home his advantage when an army reinforced with artillery
6392-541: The Fat , escaped into the Lennox. James the Fat led the men of Lennox and Argyll in open rebellion against the crown and may have been what the king needed to bring a charge of treason against the Albany Stewarts. Murdoch, his sons Walter and Alexander, and Duncan, Earl of Lennox were in Stirling Castle for their trial on 18 May at a specially convened parliament. An assize of seven earls and fourteen lesser nobles
6528-491: The French crown. Henry appointed the Duke of Bedford and James as the joint commanders of the siege of Dreux on 18 July 1421 and, on 20 August, they received the surrender of the garrison. Henry died of dysentery on 31 August 1422 and, in September, James was part of the escort taking Henry's body back to London. The regency council of the infant Henry VI of England was inclined to have James released as soon as possible. In
6664-557: The Gaels of the north was not the king's intention, James had resolved to use a degree of force to strengthen royal authority. He told the assembly: I shall go and see whether they have fulfilled the required service; I shall go I say and I will not return while they default. I will chain them so that they are unable to stand and lie beneath my feet. The leaders of the Gaelic kindreds in the north and west were summoned by James ostensibly to
6800-561: The Highland clans to a sitting of parliament in Inverness, and they came in great numbers. There, James unscrupulously had some murdered and imprisoned others, including Alexander , Lord of the Isles , along with his mother, Mariota, Countess of Ross . This betrayal effectively destroyed any peace he might have had with them. Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas , was arrested in 1431, followed by George, Earl of March , in 1434. The fate of
6936-497: The Holy Grail includes a documentary, In Search of the Holy Grail Filming Locations , in which Michael Palin and Terry Jones revisit Doune and other sites used for filming. Doune Castle has become a place of pilgrimage for fans of Monty Python and the film. It used to hold an annual "Monty Python Day". Doune Doune ( / d uː n / ; from Scottish Gaelic : An Dùn , meaning 'the fort')
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#17327804842557072-418: The Lord's Hall in the tower, to the adjacent Great Hall, and to the kitchens in a second tower to the west. The main approach, from the north, is defended by earthworks, comprising three ditches, with a rampart , or earthen wall, between. Also outside the castle walls is a vaulted passage, traditionally said to lead into the castle, but in fact accessing an 18th-century ice house . There are no openings within
7208-481: The Lordship. Four summer campaigns against the Lordship were now officially at an end with James's wishes having effectively been blocked by parliament. James's release in 1424 did not herald a new phase relationship in Anglo-Scottish relations. Contrary to the English council's hopes, the king emerged as a confident and independently-minded European monarch. The only substantive matters of contention between
7344-517: The Round Wood. At the time of quarrying, a stone cist or coffin was uncovered and in it were remains of a small boy aged 6, with a small stone axe. He was identified as one of the Beaker people of the early Bronze Age , c. 1800 BC . The remains of a Roman fort were excavated by Headland Archaeology . Three ditches and the base of a rampart were investigated comprising part of
7480-478: The ambitions of the Lord of the Isles. Douglas's absence allowed King Robert's allies Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney , and Sir David Fleming of Biggar to become the main political force in the Lothians and Scottish Marches . In December 1404 the king granted the royal Stewart lands in the west ( Ayrshire and around the Firth of Clyde ), to James in regality , protecting them from outside interference and providing
7616-548: The banks of the River Teith and Ardoch Burn . In 2022 a new footbridge was constructed, spanning the Ardoch Burn. It was built using locally sourced larch timbers and provides a link from the immediate grounds of the castle to the site of an old mill. Doune Castle has featured in several literary works, including the 17th-century ballad, " The Bonny Earl of Murray ", which relates the murder of James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray , by George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly , in 1592. In Sir Walter Scott 's first novel, Waverley (1814),
7752-433: The bishoprics of Dunblane, Dunkeld, Glasgow and Moray. In March 1425, James's parliament directed that all bishops must instruct their clerics to offer up prayers for the king and his family; a year later, parliament toughened up this edict, insisting that the prayers be given at every mass, under the sanction of a fine and severe rebuke. This same parliament legislated that every person in Scotland should "be governed under
7888-437: The building. James was alerted to the men's presence, giving the king time to hide in a sewer tunnel, but with its exit recently blocked off to prevent tennis balls from getting lost, James was trapped and murdered. The assassins had achieved their priority in killing the king, but the queen — although wounded — had escaped. Importantly, the six-year-old prince, now King James II , had been safeguarded from Atholl's control by
8024-573: The castle and burgh of Inverness in the spring of 1429. The crisis deepened when a fleet from the Lordship was dispatched to bring James the Fat back from Ulster 'to convey him home that he might be king'. With James's intention to form an alliance with the Ulster O'Donnells of Tyreconnell against the MacDonalds, the English distrusted the Scottish king's motives and tried to bring James the Fat to England. Before he could become an active player, James
8160-595: The castle dates from the thirteenth century, but it assumed its present form during one of the most creative and productive periods of Scottish medieval architecture, between 1375 and 1425, when numerous castles were being built and remodelled, including Dirleton and Tantallon in Lothian, and Bothwell in Lanarkshire. In 1361, Robert Stewart ( c. 1340 –1420), son of King Robert II (reigned 1371–1390), and brother of King Robert III (reigned 1390–1406),
8296-424: The castle is instead seen as a development towards more integrated courtyard buildings, such as the royal palace of Linlithgow , which was constructed through the 15th and early 16th century. The layout of Doune has similarities with those of the contemporary castles at Tantallon and Bothwell , and appears, at various scales, in other buildings of the period. The castle is surrounded by woodland and parkland along
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#17327804842558432-461: The castle of the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth after his escort was attacked by supporters of Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas . He remained there until mid-March when he boarded a vessel bound for France. On 22 March, an English vessel captured the ship and delivered James to Henry IV of England . The ailing Robert III died on 4 April and the 11-year-old James, now the uncrowned King of Scotland, would remain in captivity for eighteen years. James
8568-402: The castle. The foundations which do exist were excavated in September 2002, revealing a structure which was interpreted as a kiln or oven against the south wall. The central well is around 18 metres (59 ft) deep. The curtain wall is 2 metres ( 6 + 1 ⁄ 2 ft) thick, and 12 metres (39 ft) high. A walkway along the top of the wall is protected by parapets on both sides, and
8704-553: The conspirators, who included John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose and John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie , at Doune Castle. In 1607, the minister , John Munro of Tain , a dissenter against the religious plans of James VI, was imprisoned with a fellow minister at Doune, though he escaped with the contrivance of the then Constable of the Castle, who was subsequently imprisoned for aiding the dissenters. The Royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose occupied Doune Castle in 1645, during
8840-456: The country and James acted to reduce the unrest by freeing the earl on 29 September — it was quite likely that the king made the earl's release conditional on support at the forthcoming parliament at Perth at which James intended to push for further funding for the campaign against the Lordship. Parliament was in no mood to allow James unconditional backing — he was allowed a tax to fund his Highland campaign but parliament retained full control over
8976-502: The crime. Walter was taken prisoner by Angus and held at the Edinburgh Tolbooth where he was tried and beheaded on 26 March 1437, the day after the coronation of the young James II. Sir Robert Graham, the leader of the band of assassins, was captured by former Atholl allies and was tried at a session of the council sitting at Stirling Castle and subsequently executed sometime shortly after 9 April. Queen Joan's pursuit of
9112-479: The croun". James also considered that the monastic institutions in particular needed improvement and that they should return to being strictly ordered communities. Part of James's solution was to create an assembly of overseeing abbots and followed this up by establishing a Carthusian priory at Perth to provide other religious houses with an example of internal conduct. He also sought to influence church attitudes to his policies by having his own clerics appointed to
9248-452: The defence works. Set into the back of the rampart five circular stone bread ovens were located. Running behind the ovens a gravel track was interpreted as the intervallum way (one of the internal roads of the fort). The foundations of a building that it is thought served as the fort’s hospital were also uncovered and an iron-smelting shaft furnace, a first for Roman Scotland . Fragments of samian ware and amphorae were recovered dating to
9384-405: The dispersal of crown estates since the reign of Robert I exposed legal defects in several transactions where the earldoms of Mar, March and Strathearn, together with the Black Douglas lordships of Selkirk and Wigtown, were found to be problematic. Strathearn and March were forfeited in 1427 and 1435, respectively. Mar was forfeited in 1435 on the earl's death without an heir, which also meant that
9520-612: The earls of Douglas and Mar by preventing them from withdrawing large sums from customs. Despite this action, James still relied on noble support—especially from Douglas—and initially took a less confrontational approach. Walter Stewart, Albany's son, was an early exception to this. Walter was heir to the earldom of Lennox and had been in open revolt against his father in 1423 for not giving way to his younger brother Alexander for this title. He also made no secret of his disagreement with his father's allowing James's return to Scotland. James had Walter arrested on 13 May 1424 and imprisoned on
9656-636: The early months of 1423, their attempts to resolve the issue met with little response from the Scots, clearly influenced by the Albany Stewarts and adherents. Archibald, Earl of Douglas was an astute and adaptable power in Southern Scotland whose influence even eclipsed that of the Albany Stewarts. Despite his complicity in James's brother's death in Albany's castle in 1402, Douglas could still engage with
9792-458: The first week of March, neither side seemed to have the ascendancy and the Bishop of Urbino, the pope's envoy, called for the council to pursue a peaceful outcome. ... Yitte dowte I nott but theat yee schulle see the daye and tyme that ye schulle pray for my sowle, for the grete good that I have done to yow, and to all this reume of Scotteland, that I have thus slayne and deliverde yow of so crewell
9928-406: The fortress, the Scots swiftly retreated—a chronicle written a year later said that the Scots 'had fled wretchedly and ignominiously' — but what is certain is that the effects and manner of the defeat, together with the loss of their expensive artillery, was a major reversal for James both in terms of foreign policy and internal authority. Walter Stewart was the youngest of Robert II 's sons and
10064-488: The general council of the Church convened in Basel , but the initial full meeting did not take place until 14 December 1431, by which time Pope Eugene IV and the council were in complete disagreement. It was the council and not the pope who requested that James send representatives of the Scottish church, and it is known that two delegates — Abbot Thomas Livingston of Dundrenanan and John de Winchester , canon of Moray and
10200-461: The hands of James, the earl and Robert probably viewed the king's actions as a prelude to further acquisitions at Atholl's expense. Atholl's authority over the wealthy earldom of Strathearn was tenuous, and both he and Robert would have realised that Strathearn would have returned to the crown upon Atholl's death. This meant that Robert's holdings would have been the relatively impoverished earldoms of Caithness and Atholl and amounted to no more than what
10336-404: The host ahead of the experienced march wardens, the earls of Douglas and Angus. Brown explains that both earls possessed considerable local interests and that the effects of such a large army living off the land may have created resentment and hostility in the area. When the militant prelates of York and Durham, together with the Earl of Northumberland, took their forces into the marches to relieve
10472-511: The hostages in England was ignored by Scotland's ruling elite and the repayment money was diverted into the construction of Linlithgow Palace and other schemes. In August 1436, James's siege of Roxburgh Castle failed, and he subsequently faced an ineffective attempt by Sir Robert Graham to arrest him at a general council. On the night of 20/21 February 1437, James was assassinated in Perth during
10608-533: The keeping of Doune Castle and extensive lands in Menteith to his mistress Janet Kennedy , in consideration of the "hartlie luve and invict favoris he has and beris to her". In 1528, Margaret Tudor, now Regent of Scotland for her infant son James V , married Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven , a descendant of Albany. His brother, Sir James Stewart ( c. 1513 –1554), was made Captain of Doune Castle, and Sir James' son, also James ( c. 1529 –1590),
10744-519: The king and queen had remained in the town at their lodgings in the Blackfriars monastery. In the evening of 20 February 1437 the king and queen were in their rooms and separated from most of their servants. Atholl's grandson and heir Robert Stewart, the king's chamberlain, allowed his co-conspirators — thought to number about thirty and led by Robert Graham and the Chambers brothers — access to
10880-471: The king of income and any of the regalia of his position, and was referred to in records as 'the son of the late king'. The king had a small household of Scots that included Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Alexander Seaton, the nephew of Sir David Fleming, and Orkney's brother John Sinclair, following the earl's return to Scotland. In time, James's household — now paid for by the English — changed from high-ranking individuals to less notable men. Henry IV treated
11016-481: The king's laws and statutes of this realm only". From this, laws were enacted in 1426 to restrict the actions of prelates whether it was to regulate their need to travel to the Roman Curia or their ability to purchase additional ecclesiastical positions while there. In James's parliament of July 1427, it is evident that the statute being enacted was to limit the authority of church jurisdiction. On 25 July 1431,
11152-513: The king. From 1421, Douglas had been in regular contact with James and they formed an alliance that was to prove pivotal in 1423. Although Douglas was the pre-eminent Scottish magnate, his position in the borders and Lothians was jeopardised — not only did he have to forcibly retake Edinburgh Castle from his own designated warden, but was very likely under threat from the Earls of Angus and March. In return for James's endorsement of Douglas's position in
11288-519: The kingdom and that as James's nearest adult relative, the earl must have considered that decisive intervention on his part at this time could prove to be equally successful. The conspiracy against the king seems to have been heavily influenced by the Albany Stewarts' destruction in 1425. Their judicial killing and forfeiture of their lands influenced the servants who administered and depended on these estates for their living. Atholl, under whose service several of these disgruntled Albany men appear, filled
11424-431: The kingdom, the earl was able to deliver his affinity in the cause of the king's homecoming. Also, the relationship between Murdoch—now Duke of Albany following his father's death in 1420 — and his own appointee, Bishop William Lauder , seemed to be under strain, perhaps evidence of an influential grouping at odds with Murdoch's stance. Pressure from these advocates for the king almost certainly compelled Murdoch to agree to
11560-466: The kitchen. Doune was held by forces loyal to Mary during the brief civil war which followed her forced abdication in 1567, but the garrison surrendered to the Regent, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox , in 1570, after a three-day blockade . George Buchanan and Duncan Nairn, Deputy Sheriff of Stirling presided over the torture and interrogation of a messenger, John Moon, at Doune on 4 October 1570. Moon
11696-438: The levy. The rules parliament attached to the taxation indicated a robust stand against further conflict in the north and probably led to the turnaround that took place on 22 October when the king 'forgave the offence of each earl, namely Douglas and Ross [i.e. Alexander]'. For Douglas, this was a formal acknowledgement of his having been freed three weeks earlier, but for Alexander, this was a total reversal of crown policy towards
11832-447: The lordships of Garioch and Badenoch reverted to the crown. James sought to boost his income further through taxation and succeeded in getting parliament to pass legislation in 1424 for a tax to go towards paying off the ransom — £26,000 was raised but James sent only £12,000 to England. By 1429, James stopped the ransom payments completely and used the remainder of the taxation income on cannons and luxury goods from Flanders . Following
11968-421: The lower part of the castle's walls, excepting the entrance and the postern , or side gate, to the west, although there are relatively large windows on the upper storeys. Windows in the south wall suggest that further buildings were intended within the courtyard, but were never built. The stonework is of coursed sandstone rubble , with dressings in lighter Ballengeich stone. The principal tower, or gatehouse ,
12104-400: The marriage of Euphemia to one of his affinity, Patrick Graham, and, by doing so, ended Walter's involvement in Strathearn. Duke Robert, possibly to make up for the loss of the benefits of Strathearn, made Walter Earl of Atholl and Lord of Methven. In 1413, Graham was killed in a quarrel with his own principal servant in the earldom, John Drummond. The Drummond kindred was close to Atholl and
12240-607: The marriage of James's eldest daughter to the French king's son Louis were unrealised. James had to balance his European responses carefully, because England's key ally, the Duke of Burgundy, was in possession of the Low Countries , a major trading partner of Scotland causing James's support for France to be muted. The truce with England expired in May 1436, but James's perception of the Anglo-French conflict changed following
12376-409: The mid-17th century, and during the Jacobite risings of the late 17th century and 18th century. By 1800 the castle was ruined, but restoration works were carried out in the 1880s, prior to its passing into state care in the 20th century. It is now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland . Due to the status of its builder, Doune reflected current ideas of what a royal castle building should be. It
12512-475: The midst of the Basel general council, Pope Eugenius instructed his legate, Bishop Antonio Altan of Urbino, to meet with James to raise the issue of the king's controversial anti-barratry laws of 1426. The Bishop of Urbino arrived in Scotland in December 1436 and, apparently, a reconciliation between James and the papal legate had taken place by the middle of February 1437, but the events of 21 February, when James
12648-522: The names most often met with are Campbell, Stewart, Ferguson, Morrison, McAlpine, McLaren, MacDonald, Mathieson and Cameron. Land east of Doune was owned by the Stirling of Keir family (who still own a lot of the land around Keir House, but sold the house itself), and the current owner of the Keir Estates is the politician Archie Stirling . One member of the family, SAS founder David Stirling ,
12784-637: The only one not to have been provided with an earldom during his father's lifetime. Walter's brother, David, Earl of Strathearn and Caithness, had died before 5 March 1389 when his daughter Euphemia was first recorded as Countess of Strathearn. Walter, now guardian of his niece, administered Strathearn for the next decade and a half, during which time he aided his brother Robert, Earl of Fife and Guardian of Scotland, by enforcing law and order upon another brother, Alexander, lord of Badenoch — he again supported Robert (now Duke of Albany) against their nephew, David, Duke of Rothesay in 1402. Albany most likely engineered
12920-455: The passage. Above the hall is a second hall, forming part of the Duchess' suite of rooms. An oratory in the south wall, overlooking the courtyard, contains a piscina and credence niche. The oratory gives access to mural passages leading to the walkway along the curtain wall. The timber ceiling of the Duchess' hall, and the timber floors and roof above, are of the 1880s. The upper parts of
13056-477: The prince with a territorial centre should the need arise. Yet in 1405, James was under the protection and tutelage of Bishop Henry Wardlaw of St Andrews on the country's east coast. The animosity of the Douglas affinity was intensifying due to Orkney's and Fleming's expanding influence in border politics and relations with England. Although a decision to send the young prince to France and out of Albany's reach
13192-410: The product of the " bastard feudalism " of the 14th century. During this period, Lords were required to defend their castles by means of mercenaries , rather than the vassals of the earlier feudal system, and Simpson suggested that the Lord of Doune designed his tower to be defensible against his own, potentially rebellious, garrison. This interpretation is no longer widely accepted by historians, and
13328-510: The protagonist Edward Waverley is brought to Doune Castle by the Jacobites. Scott's romantic novel describes the "gloomy yet picturesque structure", with its "half-ruined turrets". The castle was used as a location in MGM 's 1952 historical film Ivanhoe , which featured Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor . The BBC adaptation of Ivanhoe in 1996 also featured Doune as a location. The castle
13464-460: The ransom payments, and to provide family hostages as security. James, who excelled in sports, literature, and music, aimed to impose law and order on his subjects but sometimes he applied such order selectively. To secure his position in the Scottish court, James launched pre-emptive attacks on some of his nobles beginning in 1425 with his close kinsmen, the Albany Stewarts. This led to the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons. In 1427 James summoned
13600-602: The rear of Doune where the ponds and the Doune Riggs housing development now sits was known locally as Currachmore. This area contained the bluebell wood, an area popular with walkers; it was also part of the Doune Golf course. This area was quarried and the sand coming from here was used in the construction of Longannet . Also lost to the quarrying was a mound measuring 150 yards (140 metres) long, 100 yd (90 m) wide and 30 ft (9 m) high, known locally as
13736-597: The regency ended probably at the council of June 1437 when Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas, was appointed lieutenant-general of the kingdom. King James's embalmed heart may have been taken on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land following his interment at Perth Charterhouse , as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland for 1443 note the payment of £90 to cover the costs of a knight of the Order of St John who had returned it to
13872-440: The removal of the earl's associate, John Spens, from his role as James's custodian. Spens vanished from the records following the regicide but the re-allocation of his positions and lands immediately following the murder indicate his part in the plot. Yet, in the chaos following the murder, it appeared that the queen's attempt to position herself as regent was not guaranteed. No surviving documentation exists that suggests that there
14008-450: The restoration is conjectural. Large windows light the hall, and stairs lead down to the three cellars on ground level. The hall is accessed from the courtyard via a stair up to a triangular lobby, which in turn links the hall and kitchens by means of two large serving hatches with elliptical arches , unusual for this period. The kitchen tower, virtually a tower house in its own right, is 17 by 8 metres (56 by 26 ft). The vaulted kitchen
14144-492: The roll (June 2016), drawn from a catchment area which extends outside the town, especially to the north. It is located on the site of Doune Roman fort. Gaelic is taught in Primary 1–7 and Spanish is now taught from P5 upwards . The town is dominated by Doune Castle , built in the late 14th century. Architecturally it is a mixture of fortress and manor house . Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through Doune in 1745. Doune
14280-433: The south wall of the kitchen block, known as tuskings, and four pointed-arched windows in the south curtain wall, suggest that further ranges of buildings were planned. The large, easternmost window, may have been intended for a chapel, and it is recorded that a chapel dedicated to the 8th-century monk Saint Fillan was located at Doune Castle, but the lack of foundations suggest that there was no large building in this part of
14416-432: The stonework are among the repairs dating from 1580. West of the Lord's tower is the Great Hall, 20 by 8 metres (66 by 26 ft), and 12 metres (39 ft) high to its timber roof, again a 19th-century replacement. The hall has no fireplace, and was presumably heated by a central fire, and ventilated by means of a louvre like the one in the modern roof. No details of the original roof construction are known, however, and
14552-740: The town of Callander lies at the edge of the Trossachs , on the fringe of the Scottish Highlands . Recent research has shown that Doune Castle was originally built in the thirteenth century, then probably damaged in the Scottish Wars of Independence , before being rebuilt in its present form in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany ( c. 1340 –1420), the son of Robert II of Scotland , and Regent of Scotland from 1388 until his death. Duke Robert's stronghold has survived relatively unchanged and complete, and
14688-461: The two kingdoms were the payments due under the terms of James's release and the renewal of the truce that would expire in 1430. In 1428 after setbacks on the battlefield Charles VII of France sent his ambassador Regnault de Chartres , Archbishop of Rheims to Scotland to persuade James to renew the Auld Alliance — the terms were to include the marriage of the princess Margaret to Louis,
14824-590: The various fictional castles in the film, relying on tight framing of shots to maintain the illusion. Scenes featuring Doune Castle include: The only other castles used for filming were Castle Stalker in Argyll , also privately owned, which appears as "Castle Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh" at the end of the film, and (briefly) Kidwelly Castle in Wales and Bodiam Castle in East Sussex . The DVD version of Monty Python and
14960-547: The vessel's crew delivered James to Henry IV of England , who kept him as a hostage . Robert III was at Rothesay Castle when he learned of his son's capture and he died soon after, on 4 April 1406, and was buried in the Stewart foundation abbey of Paisley . James, now the uncrowned King of Scots, began what proved to be his 18-year period as a hostage while, simultaneously, Albany transitioned from lieutenant to governor. Albany took James's lands under his control, depriving
15096-512: The void created by this. Among them were the brothers Robert and Christopher Chambers, and Sir Robert Graham, who only three months before had tried to arrest the king at the Perth council. Even though Robert Chambers was a member of the Royal household, the old Albany ties were stronger. A general council was held in Atholl's heartland in Perth on 4 February 1437 and crucially for the conspirators,
15232-467: The whole castle was traditionally thought of as the result of a single period of construction at this time. The castle passed to the crown in 1425, when Albany's son was executed, and was used as a royal hunting lodge and dower house . In the later 16th century, Doune became the property of the Earls of Moray . The castle saw military action during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and Glencairn's rising in
15368-470: The young James well, providing him with a good education. James was ideally placed to observe Henry's methods of kingship and political control, having probably been admitted into the royal household upon reaching adulthood. James used personal visits from his nobles, coupled with letters to individuals, to maintain his visibility in his kingdom. Henry died in 1413 and his son, Henry V , immediately ended James's comparative freedom by initially holding him in
15504-561: Was King of Scots from 1406 until his assassination in 1437. The youngest of three sons, he was born in Dunfermline Abbey to King Robert III and Annabella Drummond . His eldest brother David, Duke of Rothesay , died under suspicious circumstances while detained by his uncle, Robert, Duke of Albany . James's other brother, Robert, died young. Concerns for James's safety deepened in the winter of 1405–1406 prompting plans to send him to France. In February 1406, James took refuge in
15640-605: Was agreed at Durham on 28 March 1424, to which James attached his own seal. The king and queen, escorted by English and Scottish nobles, reached Melrose Abbey on 5 April and were met by Albany, who relinquished his governor's seal of office. Throughout the 15th century, Scottish kings were financially constrained and James's reign was no exception. The Albany regency had been similarly limited, with Duke Robert governorship fees remaining unpaid. Royal patronage ceased entirely following James's capture, leading to irregular forms of political favours, such as Albany allowing nobles like
15776-575: Was also famous for its manufacture of pistols , but this eventually ceased due to the competition of manufacturers in, for example, Birmingham where production was cheaper. Today, these pistols are collected and can be found in major museums, including the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh . Allegedly a Doune pistol fired the first shot of the American War of Independence . Throughout the parish
15912-439: Was any general feeling of horror or condemnation aimed at the murderers. Possibly had the botched attempt at killing the queen succeeded and had Atholl taken control of the young king his attempted coup might have succeeded. The queen's small group of loyal supporters including the Earl of Angus and William Crichton ensured her continued hold of James. This in itself greatly reinforced her situation but Atholl still had followers. By
16048-454: Was appointed to hear the evidence that linked the prisoners to the rebellion in the Lennox. The four men were condemned, Walter on 24 May and the others on 25 May, and immediately beheaded in 'front of the castle'. James demonstrated a ruthless and avaricious side to his nature in the destruction of his close family, the Albany Stewarts, that yielded the three forfeited earldoms of Fife, Menteith and Lennox. An inquiry set up by James in 1424 into
16184-566: Was approached by an agent of the king to take the clan leadership but he refused to have any dealings with the king while his nephew was held prisoner led to John Mór's arrest and murder by the king's agent. The king's need for allies in the west and north led him to soften his approach towards the Lord of the Isles and, hoping that Alexander would now become a loyal servant of the crown, he was given his freedom. Alexander, probably under pressure from his close kinsmen Donald Balloch, John Mór's son, and Alasdair Carrach of Lochaber , led an attack on
16320-419: Was articulated by their speaker Sir Robert Graham , a former Albany attendant but now a servant of Atholl. The council then witnessed an unsuccessful attempt by Graham to arrest the king resulting in the knight's imprisonment followed by banishment but James failed to see Graham's actions as part of an extended threat. In January 1437, Atholl received yet another rebuff in his own heartlands when James overturned
16456-503: Was assassinated, prevented the legate from completing his commission. The king called a general council in July 1428 in Perth to raise funds for an expedition into the Highlands against the semi-autonomous Lord of the Isles . The council initially resisted granting James the funds — even with royal support from the powerful Earls of Mar and Atholl — but eventually gave in to the king's wishes. Although it seemed that an all-out attack on
16592-529: Was beaten at Inverlochy and Angus Moray's in a fierce battle near Tongue in Caithness. This was a serious setback for James and his credibility was adversely affected. In 1431, before the September uprising, the king had arrested two of his nephews, John Kennedy of Carrick and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, possibly because of a conflict between John and his uncle, Thomas Kennedy in which Douglas may have become involved. Douglas's arrest had raised tensions in
16728-650: Was captured by the English, and Albany became Regent once more. After this time, the number of charters issued at Doune suggest that the castle became a favoured residence. Albany died in 1420, and Doune, the dukedom of Albany, and the Regency all passed to his son Murdoch (1362–1425). The ransom for James I was finally paid to the English, and the King returned in 1424, taking immediate steps to gain control of his kingdom. Albany and two of his sons were imprisoned for treason , and then executed in May 1425. Doune Castle became
16864-457: Was carrying letters to Mary, Queen of Scots and Mary Seton . King James VI visited Doune on occasion, and in 1581 authorised £300 to be spent on repairs and improvements, the works being carried out by the master mason Michael Ewing under the supervision of Robert Drummond of Carnock , Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland . In 1593, a plot against James was discovered, and the King surprised
17000-451: Was created Earl of Menteith , and was granted the lands on which Doune Castle now stands. Building may have started any time after this, and the castle was at least partially complete in 1381, when a charter was sealed here. Robert was appointed Regent in 1388 for his elderly father, and continued to hold effective power during the reign of his infirm brother. He was created Duke of Albany in 1398. In 1406, Robert III's successor, James I ,
17136-418: Was created Lord Doune in 1570. Lord Doune's son, another James ( c. 1565 –1592), married Elizabeth Stuart, 2nd Countess of Moray around 1580, becoming Earl of Moray himself. The castle thus came to be the seat of its keepers, the Earls of Moray, who owned it until the 20th century. Mary, Queen of Scots , (reigned 1542–1567) stayed at Doune on several occasions, occupying the suite of rooms above
17272-423: Was dispatched to the Isles. Alexander probably realised that his position was hopeless and tried to negotiate terms of surrender but James demanded and received his total submission. From August 1429 the king delegated royal authority to Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar to keep the peace in the north and west. The Islesmen rose again in September 1431 and inflicted two important defeats on the king's men — Mar's army
17408-407: Was educated well during his imprisonment in England, where he was often kept in the Tower of London , Windsor Castle , and other English castles. He was generally well-treated and developed respect for English forms of governance. James joined Henry V of England in his military campaigns in France between 1420 and 1421. His cousin, Murdoch Stewart (Albany's son), an English prisoner since 1402,
17544-402: Was honoured by sitting immediately on the left of queen at the coronation banquet. In March, Henry began a circuit of the important towns in England as a show of strength, and during this tour James was knighted on Saint George's Day . By July, the two kings were back campaigning in France where James, evidently approving of Henry's methods of kingship, seemed content to endorse his claims to
17680-605: Was in Earl Walter's possession in the years between 1406 and 1416. The retreat from Roxburgh exposed the king to questions regarding his control over his subjects, his military competence and his diplomatic abilities yet he remained determined to continue with the war against England. Just two months after the Roxburgh fiasco, James called a general council in October 1436 to finance further hostilities through more taxation. The estates firmly resisted this and their opposition
17816-485: Was inevitably filled by individuals who were not involved in national politics. In the years between 1402 and 1406, the northern earldoms of Ross, Moray and Mar were without adult leadership and with Murdoch Stewart, the justiciar for the territory north of the Forth in an English prison, Albany found himself reluctantly having to ally with his brother Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan , and Buchan's son, Alexander, to counter
17952-437: Was planned as a courtyard with ranges of buildings on each side, although only the northern and north-western buildings were completed. These comprise a large tower house over the entrance, containing the rooms of the Lord and his family, and a separate tower containing the kitchen and guest rooms. The two are linked by the great hall. The stonework is almost all from the late 14th century, with only minor repairs carried out in
18088-606: Was seven years old when his mother died in 1401, and a year later his elder brother David, Duke of Rothesay , was probably murdered by their uncle Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany , after being held at Albany's Falkland Castle . James, now heir to the throne, was the only barrier to the Albany Stewarts' royal ambitions. In 1402 Albany and his close ally Archibald, 4th Earl of Douglas , were absolved of Rothesay's death allowing Albany's reappointment as King's Lieutenant. Albany rewarded Douglas for his support by allowing him to resume hostilities with England but their fortunes suffered
18224-452: Was taken in the winter of 1405–1406, James's departure from Scotland was unplanned. In February 1406 Bishop Wardlaw released James to Orkney and Fleming who, with their large force of Lothian adherents, proceeded into hostile Douglas east Lothian . James's custodians may have been displaying royal approval to further their interests in Douglas country. This provoked a fierce response from James Douglas of Balvenie and his supporters who, at
18360-523: Was traded for Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland , in 1416. However, Albany refused to negotiate James's release. James married Joan Beaufort , daughter of the Earl of Somerset , in February 1424, shortly before his release in April. His return to Scottish affairs was not altogether popular due to his service to Henry V in France, sometimes against Scottish forces. Noble families faced increased taxes to fund
18496-627: Was used as a set for Winterfell in the first season of the TV series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), an adaptation of the A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels by George R. R. Martin . The castle depicted the fictional "Castle Leoch" in the TV adaptation of the Outlander series of novels. The castle was also used as a location in Outlaw King , a 2018 historical action drama film about Robert
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