Hugh the Dull, Lord of Douglas facts for kids
Hugh the Dull (born in 1294, died sometime between 1333 and 1346) was a Scottish nobleman. He was also a cleric, which means he was a church official or priest.
Hugh was the second son of William the Hardy, who was a close friend of the famous Scottish hero William Wallace. Hugh's older brother was Sir James Douglas, a brave knight known as a hero of the Scottish Wars of Independence. His younger brother was Sir Archibald Douglas, who was a leader of Scotland and a commander at the Battle of Halidon Hill.
Hugh's Early Life
Hugh of Douglas first appears in history in 1296. When he was just two years old, his father's lands in England were taken away. Young Hugh was then held in a place called Stebbing in Essex, England.
We don't hear much about Hugh again until 1325. At that time, he was a canon (a type of priest) at Glasgow Cathedral. He also seemed to be the local priest for the town of Roxburgh.
Becoming Lord of Douglas
Hugh's nephew, William, and his brother, Sir Archibald, both died at the Battle of Halidon Hill. This meant that Hugh was next in line to become the Lord of Douglas, inheriting the family's lands and title.
However, Scotland was in the middle of the Second War of Scottish Independence. Much of the southern part of the country was controlled by King Edward III of England and Edward Balliol. Balliol had agreed to be King Edward's servant and had given away many Scottish lands to England. These lands included areas where the Douglas family owned property.
King Edward had given the Douglas lands to another English noble, Robert de Clifford. But the people of Douglas, led by William Douglas of Lothian, fought back strongly. This meant Clifford could not take control of the lands.
Hugh the Dull likely went to France for safety. He joined the young Scottish King David II at a castle called Château Gaillard. Hugh's young nephews, William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas and Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas, also found safety there. By 1337, King Edward III had already given Hugh's priest job in Roxburgh to someone else.
The Knight of Liddesdale
By 1337, William Douglas of Lothian had become very powerful in the Scottish Borders. He used clever fighting methods, much like Hugh's brother James. William of Lothian called himself the Lord of Liddesdale.
It is believed that Hugh, who was a priest and not a warrior, gave William of Lothian control over the Douglas lands in the south. In 1342, William of Lothian wanted more official power. He convinced Hugh to give him most of the Douglas lands and all the power to manage them. Hugh officially gave up his lordship to his nephew William, who was still in France. This made William of Lothian the guardian of the Douglas family's interests.
Later Life and Legacy
Hugh dedicated a church to St John the Baptist at a place called Crookboat. This was near where the Douglas Water meets the Clyde. He gave the church many gifts, including the right for the priest to receive the best cheese from every house on Douglas Moor.
Hugh of Douglas then went back to his duties as a priest in Roxburgh. He died quietly at a time that is not exactly known. After the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, King Edward III once again controlled southern Scotland. Hugh's priest job was then given to someone else.
Hugh, Lord of Douglas, was quite different from the rest of his family, who were mostly warriors. His nickname "the Dull" might simply come from the fact that he was a priest. This meant he lived a quieter life than his fighting relatives. In fact, there were no other priests in the main Douglas family for about 100 years after him.
