Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Douglas
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| Countess of Argyll | |
Portrait of Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll. It was painted by Adrian Vanson in 1599
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| Born | 1574 Lochleven Castle, Scotland |
| Died | 3 May 1607 (aged 32-33) |
| Noble family | Douglas |
| Spouse(s) | Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll |
| Issue | Lady Annabel Campbell Lady Anne Campbell Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll |
| Father | Sir William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton |
| Mother | Agnes Leslie |
Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll (1574 – 3 May 1607) was an important Scottish noblewoman. She was the first wife of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. Agnes was the mother of three of his children. Her son, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, became a key leader in Scotland. He was very influential during a time of conflict called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Lady Agnes was known for her great beauty. People even called her a "pearl of Lochleven".
Her Family and Early Life
Lady Agnes Douglas was born in 1574. Her birthplace was Lochleven Castle in Scotland. She was one of eleven children. Her parents were Sir William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton, and Agnes Leslie. Agnes had four brothers and six sisters. She and her sisters were famous for their beauty. They were known all over Scotland as the "pearls of Lochleven".
Her grandmother, Margaret Erskine, had a child with King James V of Scotland. This child was James Stewart, Earl of Moray. He later became a Regent of Scotland.
Before Agnes was born, Mary, Queen of Scots, was held prisoner at Lochleven Castle. This was from June 1567 to May 1568. Agnes's father was in charge of the castle. Her mother was a close friend to the queen. Queen Mary escaped from Lochleven. She was helped by Agnes's uncle, George Douglas, and a cousin, Willy Douglas.
Agnes's father became the 6th Earl of Morton in 1588. He inherited the title after his relative, Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Morton, passed away. The title had been taken away from the family earlier. But it was given back to the Douglas family in 1586.
Marriage and Children
Agnes Douglas married Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. Their wedding took place on 24 July 1592. It was held at Dalkeith Palace. Agnes was a Roman Catholic. She later influenced her husband to become Catholic too. This happened in 1618, many years after her death.
Even though Agnes was Catholic, her husband led royal troops. They fought against Catholic rebels in the Battle of Glenlivet. This battle happened on 3 October 1594. Argyll's forces were defeated by a smaller group of rebels.
Agnes and Archibald had three children:
- Lady Annabel Campbell (died 1652). She married Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian. They had two daughters.
- Lady Anne Campbell (died 14 June 1638). She married George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly. They had seven children.
- Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll (April 1607 – 27 May 1661). He became a very important leader in Scotland. He was a key figure in the Covenanter movement. This was during the English Civil War. In 1626, he married Lady Margaret Douglas. They had four children. Archibald faced serious charges and was executed in 1661.
Agnes Douglas passed away on 3 May 1607. This was about a month after her only son, Archibald, was born. She was buried at Kilmun Parish Church. Her husband married again in 1610. His second wife was Anne Cornwallis. They had three more children together.
Agnes Douglas in Art
In 1599, Agnes was twenty-five years old. A famous Flemish artist named Adrian Vanson painted her portrait. This beautiful painting is now shown at the National Gallery of Scotland.
Images for kids
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Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, the only son of Agnes Douglas and an influential Covenanter
