The Battle of Arkinholm, 1455

The Battle of Arkinholm was a small but significant conflict that took place in Scotland in 1455. It was fought between the supporters of King James II of Scotland and the Black Douglases, a powerful aristocratic family that had previously held a great deal of influence in the country. The Black Douglases had already suffered some losses before the battle, with the king’s supporters taking their castle at Abercorn and some allies defecting. The head of the family, James Douglas, Earl of Douglas, had gone to England to seek support, but his three younger brothers were at the battle.

There is some uncertainty about the leadership of the royal army. Some accounts suggest it was led by George Douglas, Earl of Angus, head of the Red Douglas family and a senior aristocrat, while others describe it as a force of local Border families, including the Johnstones, Carruthers, Maxwells, and Scotts, who had previously been dominated by the Black Douglases but now rebelled against them. The Laird John Johnstone of Johnstone in Annandale is said to have led this force.

The battle itself was relatively small, involving only a few hundred troops. Of the three Douglas brothers, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, was killed and his head presented to the king, Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde, was captured and executed shortly afterwards, and John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie, escaped to England.

The aftermath of the battle saw the Black Douglases attainted, with the last few castles held by them falling and the family ceasing to be a significant force in Scotland. The Earl of Angus was awarded the earldom of Douglas, which had previously been held by the Black Douglases, along with the original possessions of his ancestors in Douglasdale. Thomas Carruthers, the second son of John Carruthers, received a charter for the lands of Corry in recognition of his services at the Battle of Arkinholm. These lands had been forfeited from George Corry due to his involvement in the Albany-Douglas invasion.

Overall, the Battle of Arkinholm was a significant step in the struggle to establish a relatively strong, centralized monarchy in Scotland during the Late Middle Ages. It marked the end of the Black Douglases’ power and influence in the country and allowed the Earl of Angus and other supporters of the king to gain more control. The victory also resulted in the granting of land and titles to those who had supported the king in the battle. A song about the battle has been recorded by The Corries, with words by George Weir and music by Roy Williamson.