In November 1187, James joined the Third Crusade as leader of a detachment of French, Flemish, and Frisian crusaders arriving by ship on the Palestinian coast near Acre around 10 September 1189.

[2] At the Battle of Arsuf, James was thrown from his saddle and, after slaying fifteen enemy warriors, was himself cut down.

The next day, a search party of Hospitallers and Templars found his body on the battlefield.

It was taken back to Arsuf and buried there in a ceremony attended by Richard the Lionheart and Guy of Lusignan.

[1]: 474 He married Adela (died 1185), daughter of Bouchard of Guise, and was the father of: