Battle of Arkingolme

The battle of Arkingolme occurred on May 1, 1455 , near Langolm in Scotland, during the reign of King James II of Scotland .

Although it was a small battle in which several hundred people took part, it was a decisive battle in the civil war between the king and the Black Douglas , Scotland's most powerful aristocratic family name. Since the victory went to the king's supporters, this was an important step in establishing a relatively strong centralized monarchy.

The Black Douglas suffered some losses before the battle. The royal forces captured their castle in Abercorn, and some allies, such as the Hamilton, switched sides. The head of the surname, James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas , went to England for support, but his three younger brothers participated in the battle.

There is some confusion as to who commanded the royal army. According to some reports, its leader was George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus, head of the Red Douglas surname, cousin of Earl Douglas. However, other reports describe the royal army as consisting of local Border families, the Johnstone, Maxwell, and Scott, who had been ruled by the Black Douglas before, but now they rebelled against them, and were headed by their laerd John Johnston of Annandale, who inherited his father in 1455.

Of the three Douglas brothers: Archibald Douglas, Earl of Morea was killed in battle and his head was presented to the king. Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormanda, was captured and executed immediately after the battle. And John Douglas, Lord Balveni, fled first to Araill, to the Earl of Ross, who remained the only friend of the family, and then to England.

Shortly after the battle, the Black Douglas were outlawed, their last few castles fell, and they no longer posed a serious threat to Scotland.