William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas

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Seal of William, 1st Earl of Douglas depicting the heart of Robert Bruce
Coat of arms Douglas, Earl of Mar

William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas ( 1330 - May 1384 in Douglas , South Lanarkshire ) was a Scottish nobleman .

William was a son of the Scottish regent Sir Archibald Douglas , who had fallen in 1333, and his wife Beatrice, daughter of Alexander Lindsay of Crawford. He was also the nephew of the general and military leader Sir James of Douglas († 1330), as well as of Hugh "the Dull" of Douglas († 1347), who left the lands of the family to him in May 26, 1342. In August 1353 he slew his third cousin Sir William Douglas of Liddlesdale .

William fought at the Battle of Poitiers on September 19, 1356, in which he was wounded.

In 1357 he married Margaret, 10th Countess of Mar , daughter and at that time already heiress of Domhnall, 8th Earl of Mar and his wife Isabella (or Isabel) Stewart. As a result of his marriage he became 1357 he himself carried the courtesy title Earl of Mar and took the administration of the Earldom from their right ( iure uxoris ). On January 26, 1358 he was raised to a peer by David II as Earl of Douglas . He also held the Scottish office of Warden of the Marches .

William Douglas was one of the most ardent advocates of Scottish independence and fought against the government of David II, which was considering an English prince for the Scottish throne.

William was only married once, although individual historians (possibly due to similar names) ascribe other marriages before 1357. From the marriage to Margaret:

Also mentioned are: An unproven marriage with Margaret (or Agnes) Dunbar, from whom his son James is said to be descended from. Another marriage with his sister-in-law Margaret Stewart, Countess of Angus , daughter of Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus and widow of Thomas, 9th Earl of Mar has not been proven, but at least this liaison existed: he had both one with her Son George , later 1st Earl of Angus and founder of the so-called "Red Line" of the Douglas family; and a daughter Margaret, who in 1404 received land from her half-sister Isabel .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The Scots Peerage , Volume 3, p. 141
  2. ^ The Scots Peerage , Volume 3, p. 147
predecessor Office successor
Hugh of Douglas Laird of Douglas
1342-1384 		James Douglas
Margaret Earl of Mar
(de iure uxoris)
1357-1384 		Margaret
New title created Earl of Douglas
1358-1384 		James Douglas
personal data
SURNAME Douglas, William, 1st Earl of Douglas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Douglas, William Douglas 1st Earl of
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Scottish nobleman
DATE OF BIRTH around 1330
DATE OF DEATH May 1384
Place of death Douglas , South Lanarkshire