William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William, Earl of Douglas
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| Duke of Touraine(de jure) Earl of Wigtown Lord of Galloway Lord of Bothwell, Selkirk and Ettrick Forest, Eskdale, Lauderdale, Liddesdale and Annandale Count of Longueville (de jure) Lord of Dun-le-Roi (de jure) |
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Arms of the 6th Earl of Douglas
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| Predecessor | Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas |
| Successor | James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas |
| Born | 1424 Scotland |
| Died | 24 November 1440 (age 16) murdered at Edinburgh Castle |
| Buried | 1440 St Bride's Kirk Douglas, South Lanarkshire |
| Noble family | Douglas |
| Spouse(s) | Janet Lindsay |
| Father | Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas |
| Mother | Euphemia Graham |
William, 6th Earl of Douglas (born around 1424 – died 24 November 1440) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held many titles, including Earl of Douglas, Earl of Wigtown, and Lord of Galloway in Scotland. He also had claims to titles in France, like Duke of Touraine and Count of Longueville. William was the oldest son of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas and Lady Eupheme Graham.
Contents
Who Was William Douglas?
William Douglas was a young nobleman from a very powerful family in Scotland. His family, the House of Douglas, owned a lot of land and had a lot of influence. William inherited these important titles and lands when he was still a teenager.
William's Family and Titles
William was born in Scotland around 1424. His father, Archibald Douglas, was a very important person who even served as a regent for the young King James II. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king is too young or unable to rule himself.
When William's father passed away, William became the 6th Earl of Douglas. This meant he was in charge of many areas across Scotland, including:
He also married Lady Janet Lindsay, who was the daughter of David, Earl of Crawford.
The Black Dinner
After William's father died, power in Scotland was shared by a few important people. These included Sir William Crichton, Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar, and James Douglas, Earl of Avondale. James Douglas was William's great-uncle.
These leaders were worried about how much power the Douglas family had. They decided to try and reduce the family's influence. They invited William and his younger brother, David, to Edinburgh Castle.
What Happened at Edinburgh Castle?
At Edinburgh Castle, a terrible event known as the 'Black Dinner' took place on November 24, 1440. During this dinner, William and his brother David were unfairly accused of crimes. Despite the young King James II's protests, the two boys were tragically put to death. William was only about 16 years old.
After William's Death
After William and David's deaths, their lands and titles were divided.
- The areas of Annandale and Bothwell went back to the King.
- Galloway went to Margaret Douglas, who was William's sister.
- The main Douglas lands and the title of Earl of Douglas went to William's great-uncle, James Douglas, the Earl of Avondale. Many people believed he was the main person behind the 'Black Dinner'.
