William Douglas of Drumlanrig facts for kids
Sir William Douglas, 1st of Drumlanrig (born around 1378 – died around 1421) was a brave Scottish knight. He was the son of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, a powerful Scottish leader. Sir William became an important figure in Scotland, known for his skills in battle and his diplomatic missions.
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Becoming a Knight and Early Adventures
Sir William Douglas received the lands of Drumlanrig from his father in the 1380s. By the time he was about 20 years old, he had already become a knight. This was a big honor in those days!
In 1405, he even got special permission from Henry IV of England to attend a knightly tournament in London. Imagine the excitement of competing against other knights!
Helping Scotland and King James
For several years, Sir William often traveled to England. He went there for important reasons, like helping to arrange peace agreements or acting as a hostage to ensure deals were kept. He also handled important talks between Scotland and England.
His cousin, Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, gave him more lands in Hawick in 1407. This was likely a thank you for his important work. In 1412, Sir William went back to the English court. His mission was to help free James I of Scotland, who had been captured by the English when he was just a boy.
Fighting in France
The Douglas family was famous for fighting battles against the English near the Scottish border. However, these battles became less common after the 1380s. A new opportunity for military fame appeared in France. There, a big war was happening between France and England.
The French leader, Dauphin Charles, invited Sir William to help. Sir William gathered about 450 Scottish soldiers and sailed to France. They joined the French army to fight against the English.
Battles and Legacy
In 1420, Sir William led a Scottish force in a battle at Fresnay. Sadly, they lost this battle, and his battle flag was captured by the English.
However, he was also part of a big Scottish and French victory against the English. This happened at the Battle of Baugé in 1421. Sir William likely died in France that same year. Some old records might say he died in 1427, but that was actually the year his son officially became his heir. The records noted that Sir William had passed away six years earlier.
Family Life
Sir William Douglas had one son, William Douglas, 2nd of Drumlanrig, who later inherited his father's title. He also had a daughter named Marion Douglas, who was born around 1402. She married a man named Robert de Chisholm.
There are different stories about who Sir William married. Some historical accounts suggest he married Elizabeth Stewart. Other stories mention he might have married Jean Murray and, after her death, Jacoba Douglas.
Sir William in Stories
Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig appears briefly in a historical novel called 'Lion Let Loose' (1967) by Nigel Tranter. In the book, his role in trying to free King James I of Scotland is mentioned.
The author describes him as a "big, forceful red-headed bull of a man." In one part of the story, he speaks to King James while they are fighting on opposite sides in France. Sir William explains why the Scots are there: Think you we were ever fighting for France? ... We fight for Scotland only. We'd liefer fight the English here, in France, than on our own Scots soil! That's the whole of it.
This shows that even when fighting far from home, Sir William's main loyalty was always to Scotland.
