William IV, Lord of Douglas facts for kids
William, Lord of Douglas was a young Scottish nobleman who lived a short life. He was the son of a famous knight, Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, but his mother's name is not known. After his father died in Spain in 1330, William was too young to rule his lands. So, his uncle, Sir Archibald Douglas, became his guardian and took care of him.
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What Do We Know About William?
Not much is known about William's life because it was so short.
Early Records of Lord Douglas
In 1331, official government records from the Lord Chamberlain of Scotland mentioned "Willelmus dominus de Duglas," which means William, Lord of Douglas. This shows he was recognized as the new Lord.
A Complaint Against William
There was also a complaint made by the monks of Coldingham Priory. They complained to King David II about William and his uncle, Sir Archibald. The monks said that some lands in Swinton, Berwickshire had been given to William's father, Sir James, unfairly. They believed these lands should have belonged to their priory.
William's Final Battle
William of Douglas joined his uncle, Sir Archibald, in a very important battle. His uncle had been chosen as the "Guardian of the Realm," which meant he was leading Scotland.
The Battle of Halidon Hill
William and his uncle went to the Battle of Halidon Hill. This was a big battle where many Scottish nobles and common soldiers fought. Sadly, William, his uncle, six earls, and many other knights and common people were killed there on July 19, 1333.
Who Inherited the Douglas Lands?
William died very young and was not married. Because he had no children, his title and lands went to another uncle, Hugh "the Dull." Hugh was a churchman, a Canon at Glasgow Cathedral and a parson in Roxburgh. He later gave much of the Douglas family's property to his cousin, William Douglas of Lothian.
The Douglas Family Seal
In 1778, during some digging at an old church called the Auld Kirk in North Berwick, something special was found. It was the stamp (or "matrix") used to make William, Lord Douglas's official seal.
The Heart of Bruce on the Seal
This seal stamp is very important because it shows the first time the symbol of the heart of Bruce was used in the Douglas family's coat of arms. This means that the Douglas family started using this symbol right after Sir James Douglas died. Sir James had been given the task of carrying Robert the Bruce's heart on a crusade.
