Clan Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Douglas |
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| Dùbhghlas | |||
Crest: On a chapeau, a green salamander surrounded by fire
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| Slogan | "A Douglas! A Douglas!" | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Lanarkshire, Lothian, Scottish Marches, Angus, Moray, Galloway and Dumfriesshire | ||
| Plant badge | Rue | ||
| Pipe music | Dumbarton's Drums | ||
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| Douglas has no chief, and is an armigerous clan | |||
| Historic seat | Douglas Castle | ||
| Last Chief | His Grace Archibald Douglas The 1st Duke of Douglas |
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| Died | 21 July 1761 | ||
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Clan Douglas is a very old and important family from the Scottish Lowlands. Their name comes from the village of Douglas in Lanarkshire.
The Douglas family grew to control huge areas across Scotland, and even parts of France and Sweden. They became one of the most powerful families in Scotland during the Late Middle Ages. They often held great influence over the Stewart kings.
The main leaders of the Douglas family were known as the Earls of Douglas (the "Black Douglas" branch) and later the Earls of Angus (the "Red Douglas" branch). Today, the Clan Douglas does not have a chief officially recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The main Douglas family member is currently the Duke of Hamilton, but his last name is "Douglas-Hamilton," which means he cannot be the official chief of the Douglas name.
The original home of the family was Douglas Castle in Lanarkshire. Many important Douglas leaders are buried at the Kirk of St Bride in Douglas, and also at Melrose Abbey.
Contents
- History of the Douglas Clan
- Clan Chief
- Douglas Castles
- Important Titles Held by Douglases
- Douglas Tartans
- Douglas in Popular Culture
- See also
History of the Douglas Clan
How the Douglas Name Began
The name Douglas likely comes from the Scottish Gaelic words dubh (meaning "dark" or "black") and glas (meaning "stream"). So, it means "dark stream," probably referring to the Douglas Water river.
The first clear record of the Douglas name is William Douglas in 1179. He is believed to be the ancestor of the family. His grandson, Sir William de Douglas, had two sons who bravely fought against the Norsemen at the Battle of Largs in 1263.
Some old stories say the first Douglas chief was Sholto Douglas in the year 767. However, this story is not proven and is likely just a legend.
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The old Douglas Castle in South Lanarkshire
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The Douglas Water, which means 'dark stream'
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The Clan Murray coat of arms
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The first coat of arms for Clan Douglas
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A later Clan Douglas coat of arms from 1330, showing the Heart of King Robert the Bruce
Fighting for Scottish Freedom
During the Wars of Scottish Independence, Sir William Douglas the Hardy was in charge of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The English army attacked, and Douglas was captured. He was freed only after agreeing to accept Edward I of England as Scotland's ruler. But he soon joined William Wallace to fight for Scotland's freedom. He was captured again and died in 1298 as a prisoner in the Tower of London.
The "Good" Sir James Douglas
William Douglas the Hardy's son, James Douglas, was known as "The Good Sir James." He was also called "The Black Douglas" by the English because of his fierce fighting. He learned to use clever guerrilla warfare tactics against the English.
In 1313, Sir James Douglas took Roxburgh Castle back from the English. He was given a high honor and fought bravely at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The English even had a lullaby about him: "Hush ye, hush ye, little pet ye. Hush ye, hush ye, do not fret ye. The Black Douglas shall not get ye."
A Crusader's Journey
Before he died, King Robert the Bruce asked Sir James Douglas to take his heart to the Holy Land. This was a way to make up for an earlier wrong deed. In 1330, Sir James was on his way when he joined a battle against the Moors in Spain. He was killed in the Battle of Teba.
King Robert the Bruce's heart was brought back to Scotland and buried at Melrose Abbey. Sir James Douglas's bones were also returned to Scotland. Later, the image of Bruce's heart was added to the Douglas family's coat of arms. This showed their bravery and honored their connection to King Robert the Bruce.
Sir Archibald Douglas, a Scottish Leader
Sir James's younger brother, Sir Archibald Douglas, became a leader of Scotland in 1333. He led the Scottish army at the Battle of Halidon Hill that year, where they were defeated. He was known for a great victory during the Weardale campaign, where he led the Scottish army into England and took many valuable things.
Sir James 'The Good' Douglas's son, William, became Lord of Douglas but died young at Halidon Hill. Later, William Lord of Douglas, a nephew, became the first Earl of Douglas. His son, James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, married Isabel, a daughter of King Robert II of Scotland, which made the family even more important. In 1388, he was killed fighting bravely at the Battle of Otterburn.
Since he had no direct heir, his titles went to an illegitimate son of his great-uncle, George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus. This started the "Red Douglas" branch of the family.
The 1400s: Power and Conflict
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Arms of Sir James Douglas
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Arms of Sir Archibald Douglas
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Arms of the Earl of Douglas
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Arms of the Duke of Douglas
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Arms of the Duke of Hamilton
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Arms of the Earl of Morton
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Arms of Douglas of Mar
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Arms of Douglas of Mains
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Arms of Douglas of Mar as Marquess and Duke of Queensberry
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Battles with England
Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas helped make the family even stronger. He successfully defended Edinburgh Castle against Henry IV of England in 1400.
His son, Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, fought against King Henry IV of England at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 and was captured. In 1423, he led 10,000 Scottish soldiers to help Charles VII of France fight the English. He was made a lieutenant-general in Joan of Arc's French army and given the title Duke of Touraine. Sadly, he was defeated and killed at the Battle of Verneuil in 1424.
The Black Dinner
In 1440, a sad event called the Black Dinner happened. The 16-year-old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas, and his younger brother were invited to dinner with the young King James II of Scotland. During the meal, a black bull's head, a sign of death, was brought in. Despite the young King's protests, the two brothers were taken outside, given a quick, unfair trial, and executed. This event allowed James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas to gain their wealth and titles.
Clan Fights
In 1448, Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormond led a Scottish army to victory against the English at the Battle of Sark.
The Douglas family also had long-standing feuds with other clans. They had a big fight with Clan Colville. To get revenge for a murder, the Douglases attacked the Colvilles' castle, killing many. William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas personally executed Richard Colville.
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Tantallon Castle, a home of the "Red Douglases" from 1389 to 1699
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The ruins of Balvenie Castle, a Douglas stronghold from 1362 to 1455
The King and the Earl
In 1452, King James II of Scotland invited William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, to Stirling Castle. The King accused the Earl of plotting against him. When Douglas refused to deny the plot, the King attacked him. The Earl was then killed by the King's guards. A stained glass window with the Douglas family crest now looks over the spot where he is said to have fallen.
Feud with the Royal Stewarts
In 1455, James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas (from the Black Douglas line) rebelled against the King. But his forces were defeated at the Battle of Arkinholm by the King's army, which was led by George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus (from the Red Douglas line). This battle marked the end of the powerful Black Douglas branch. The Red Douglases then took over the original Douglas lands.
The 1500s: More Conflicts
In 1513, many Douglases fought at the Battle of Flodden. Two of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus's sons and 200 Douglas men were killed there.
In 1526, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, defeated Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch, the chief of Clan Scott, at the Battle of Melrose. Scott was trying to free the young King James V of Scotland from Douglas's control.
In 1530, Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig fought a duel with Sir Robert Charteris, the chief of Clan Charteris. This was a famous fight, watched by the King himself.
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, became a guardian for King James V of Scotland by marrying the King's widowed mother, Margaret Tudor. In 1545, Angus led his forces to victory against the English at the Battle of Ancrum Moor.
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, a nephew of the 6th Earl of Angus, was a strong opponent of Mary, Queen of Scots. He became a powerful leader of Scotland in 1572. He was known for being very strict. He was later accused of being involved in the death of Queen Mary's second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and was executed in 1581.
The 1600s: Civil War and New Branches
During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas, who was Catholic, supported King Charles I. In 1633, he was made Marquess of Douglas. After a battle in 1645, he joined James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and barely escaped with his life.
In 1660, William Douglas, the brother of the second Marquess of Douglas, became the Duke of Hamilton through marriage. Over time, many Douglas titles, like Marquess of Douglas and Earl of Angus, passed to the Dukes of Hamilton. Because their last name became "Douglas-Hamilton," they cannot be the official chief of Clan Douglas.
In 1689, James Douglas, Earl of Angus, formed a new army regiment. This regiment bravely defeated a larger enemy force at the Battle of Dunkeld.
The 1700s: Jacobite Risings
In 1703, the Marquess of Douglas title was raised to a Dukedom. Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas, had no direct heir, so his Dukedom ended when he died.
During the Jacobite risings in the 1700s, the Douglas family continued to support the British Government. Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas, led soldiers at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. Douglas Castle was burned down by the Highland armies of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite rising of 1745.
Douglas Castle burned down again in 1755. The Duke started building a new castle, but he died in 1761, and the Dukedom ended. The titles of Marquess of Douglas and Earl of Angus then went to James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton. His family later added Douglas back to their name, becoming the Douglas-Hamilton branch.
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Dalkeith Palace, a Douglas family home since 1341
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Hamilton Palace (built 1916, torn down 1927)
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Lennoxlove House, the current home of the Duke of Hamilton
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Elizabeth II opening the Scottish Parliament in 2011, with Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton carrying the Crown of Scotland
The 1900s: World Wars
In 1895, Alfred Douglas-Hamilton became the Duke of Hamilton. During World War I, Hamilton Palace, the family's main home, was used as a hospital.
During World War II, his sons made history. Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk, Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton, and Lord David Douglas-Hamilton all became squadron leaders or higher in the Royal Air Force. Lord David Douglas-Hamilton was killed in action in 1944. The 14th Duke of Hamilton was also the first person to fly over Mount Everest.
His son, Angus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton, also served in the Royal Air Force. The current Duke is Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton.
The Swedish Douglas Family
A branch of the Douglas family moved to Sweden. This started with Robert Douglas (1611–1662), who became an officer in the Thirty Years' War in 1627. He became a field marshal in Sweden in 1657. He was given the title of Count, which is the highest title for non-royalty in Sweden.
He built Stjärnorp Castle in Sweden, which is still a family home today, along with Ekensholm Castle and Rydboholm Castle. The Swedish Douglas family has been very important in Sweden since the 1600s, with many famous members, including foreign ministers and important business leaders.
Through marriage, a Swedish Count Carl Israel Wilhelm Douglas also gained Langenstein Castle in Germany. His descendants still live there today.
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Stjärnorp Castle, Östergötland (Sweden)
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Ekensholm Castle, Södermanland (Sweden)
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Rydboholm Castle, Uppland (Sweden)
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Langenstein Castle, Baden (Germany)
Clan Chief
Currently, Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton, is the main heir to the Douglas family. However, he cannot officially be called the chief of Clan Douglas. This is because the Lord Lyon King of Arms requires a chief to have the single last name "Douglas." The Duke of Hamilton is actually the Chief of Clan Hamilton.
To learn about past chiefs of Clan Douglas, you can look at the lists for the Earl of Douglas (before 1455) and the Earl of Angus (after 1455).
Douglas Castles
The Douglas family owned many castles throughout history. Here are some of them:
- Aberdour Castle, Fife (partially standing).
- Balvenie Castle, Moray (ruins).
- Bothwell Castle, South Lanarkshire (ruins).
- Bowhill House, Selkirkshire (still standing).
- Dalkeith Castle, Mid-Lothian (changed over time).
- Douglas Castle, South Lanarkshire (very few ruins left).
- Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries and Galloway (still standing).
- Hermitage Castle, Roxburghshire (restored ruins).
- Langenstein Castle, Germany (still a home for the Swedish-German branch).
- Lennoxlove House, East Lothian (still standing, home of the Duke of Hamilton).
- Loch Leven Castle, Kinross (ruins).
- Morton Castle, Nithsdale, Dumfries and Galloway (ruins).
- Neidpath Castle, Peeblesshire.
- Rydboholm Castle, Sweden (home to the Swedish branch).
- Stjärnorp Castle, Östergötland, Sweden (partially ruined, home to the Swedish branch).
- Tantallon Castle, East Lothian (partially ruined, a home of the Red Douglases).
- Threave Castle, Dumfries and Galloway (ruins).
Important Titles Held by Douglases
The Douglas family has held many important titles over the centuries, including:
- Duke of Hamilton
- Duke of Queensberry
- Marquess of Douglas
- Marquess of Queensberry
- Earl of Douglas
- Earl of Angus
- Earl of Morton
- Earl of Selkirk
- Baron Penrhyn
Douglas Tartans
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Douglas Tartan (modern). This tartan was worn by a British Army Regiment called The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). It is also worn by the Royal Gurkha Rifles today. |
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Douglas tartan, as shown in a book from 1842 called the Vestiarium Scoticum. |
Douglas in Popular Culture
- The 1899 novel The Black Douglas by Samuel Rutherford Crockett features the "Black Dinner."
- In the Highlander novel Scotland the Brave, a character named James Douglas is part of Clan Douglas.
- The "Black Dinner" event helped inspire the "Red Wedding" in George R. R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire, which was also shown in the TV show Game of Thrones.
See also
