Douglas
Douglas - A Famous Scottish Family Name
Douglas: The Gaelic name dubh glas means "dark water". The origins of the Douglas family are uncertain, though they may have come from the same stock as the Murrays. The first of whom anything definitive is known is William de Douglas, who witnessed charters between 1175 and 1213. His grandson, Sir William 'the Hardy', was the first to assume the title Lord of Douglas; he supported the Baliol and the Wallace risings against the English Edward I, and was imprisoned and died in the Tower of London in 1298. His son, SIr James 'the Good', fought for Robert Bruce, sharing command at Bannockburn and being knighted on the field in 1314. He was also knicknamed 'Black' Douglas, perhaps from his dark complexion, or perhaps on account of his more excessive barbarities after victories. After Bannockburn he continued the war against the English for many years, invading and laying waste the northern counties. In 1330 he was killed by Moors in Andulusia while on his way to carry Bruce's heart to the Holy Land as Bruce had requested. The 'bloody heart' in the Douglas coat of arms stems from this event. After his son, the inheritance went to his brother Sir Hugh, who was a churchman; a re-grant of the lands was therefore made to Hugh's nephew William in 1342 and he was made the first Earl of Douglas in 1358.
The Earls of Douglas: Sir Williams son James, who was as constantly at war with the English as his predecessors, died at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 without issue, and the earldom of Douglas was then bestowed on Archibald 'the Grim' an illegitimate son of the 'Good' Sir James. The Douglas power by this time was so great that it often seemed to exceed that of the Scottish king. It received a setback in the time of the next earl, who was nicknamed the 'Tyneman' (or 'losing man') owing to his ill-luck in battle while following the family feud against English Hotspurs. The 6th earl and his brother were both beheaded in Edinburgh Castle, after a banquet to which they had been invited by King James II of Scotland. The earldom then went to an elderly great-uncle, James the 'Gross'. His son William restored the Douglas power and estates to such purpose that King James II of Scotland deemed in necessary to murder him with his own hands in Stirling Castle in February 1452. William's brother James promptly came out in open warfare with the king, but his brothers and adherents were routed and in 1455 the earldom of Douglas was forfeited. The fall of the great house of 'Black' Douglas was a turning point in the fortunes of the Scottish. Much of the Douglas land then went to the 'Red' Douglas branch, the Earls of Angus, who were descended from the illegitimate issue of the first Earl of Douglas.
The Marquisate of Douglas: When the 8th Earl of Angus died without male isue in 1588, the estates went to another branch, William Douglas of Glenbervie. In 1633 his grandson William was created Marquis of Douglas by Charles I, and the 3rd Marquis was created Duke of Douglas in 1703. He was, however, childless, and the marquisate went to the Duke of Hamilton. The Dukedom passed to one of his sister's twin sons, after considerable dispute and a decision in the House of Lords 1771. When the 4th baron died without male issue, the Earls of Home succeeded to the Douglas estates; in 1963 the 14th Earl of Home reverted as a commoner to the title of Sir Alec Douglas-Home.
Back to