The castle was founded by King David I. In 1174 it was surrendered to England after the capture of William I at Alnwick, and was often in English hands thereafter. The Scots made many attempts to regain the fortress. On 19 February 1314 it was retaken by Sir James Douglas (the "Black Douglas") by disguising his men as cows, but was later lost again. The castle was Edward III of England's base of operations during his 1334 winter campaign against the Scots. Henry V of England made repairs to the castle after a Scottish siege in 1417. In 1460 James II was killed whilst bombarding the castle, when one of his own cannons exploded. However Roxburgh was stormed, and James' queen Mary of Guelders had the castle demolished.