The power of the Black Douglases, lost after the execution of the 6th Earl, has been restored by the 8th Earl, who has recovered the lordships of Wigtown, Wigtownshire, Galloway and Bothwell by marriage (by papal dispensation) to his cousin, Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway (daughter of the 5th Earl).
He was soon high in favor with James II, and had procured the disgrace of Sir William Crichton, presumed murderer of his kinsman the 6th Earl, by an alliance with his rival, Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar.
James II had reached adulthood in 1449, yet in many ways his "active kingship" has differed little from his minority.
The Douglases had used his coming of age as a way to throw the Livingstons out of the shared government, as the young had king taken revenge for the brief arrest of his mother (a means to remove her from political influence) that had occurred in 1439.
Douglas and Crichton had continued to dominate political power, and the king's ability to rule without them remains arguably limited.
James has not acquiesced with this situation without argument, however, and between 1451 and 1455 he will struggle to free himself from the power of the Douglases.
James II had raided the Douglas lands in 1452 during the Earl’s absence on a pilgrimage to Rome.
Despite this, their relations seemed outwardly friendly.
However, in 1452, the king sends one of Douglas's friends, Sir William Lauder of Haltoun, with an invitation to Douglas to come to Stirling Castle under a safe-conduct, in itself, however, a proof of strained relations.
Jameson February 22 there demands the dissolution of a league into which Douglas has entered with Alexander Lindsay, the 'Tiger' earl of Crawford, and John of Islay.
Upon Douglas's refusal, the king murders him with his own hands, stabbing him twenty-sixtimes, and his body is thrown out of a window.
Since Douglas dies without issue, his titles pass to his brother James.
He denounces his brother's murderers and takes up arms against the king, and he and his brothers attack Stirling, driving a horse through the town with the safe conduct given to William attached to its tail.
He is forced to back down when some allies desert him.
