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William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas & Mar[1]

Male Abt 1323 - 1384  (~ 61 years)


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  • Name William Douglas 
    Suffix 1st Earl of Douglas & Mar 
    Born Abt 1323  Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation Earl of Douglas 
    Buried 1384  Melrose Abbey Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Scotland
    Scotland 
    Died 1 May 1384  Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • {geni:about_me}

      ===BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY===


      '''William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas'''
      * Born 1327 Scotland
      * Died May 1384 Douglas, South Lanarkshire
      * Buried 1384 Melrose Abbey[1]
      * Father Sir Archibald Douglas
      * Mother Beatrice Lindsay
      * Spouse(s) Margaret, Countess of Mar
      * Issue: James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus (illegitimate)


      "William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas (c. 1327–1384) was a Scottish magnate"

      ==================================================================================

      Links:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Douglas,_1st_Earl_of_Douglas

      http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I6934&tree=Nixon

      http://www.thepeerage.com/p10949.htm#i109487

      ==================================================================================

      Citations / Sources:

      [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume IV, page 430. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.

      [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume IV, page 431.

      [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume IV, page 433.

      [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, page 310.

      [S18] Matthew H.C.G., editor, Dictionary of National Biography on CD-ROM (Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1995). Hereinafter cited as Dictionary of National Biography.
    • The son of Sir James "The Good", William succeeded his father as Lord of Douglas in 1330. He fell a Halidon Hill, 1333, leaving no heir. The title passed to his uncle, Hugh, the 2nd son of William "le Hardi".
    • Douglas Crest
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=4364b0f5-a574-49ee-a440-498be72c573f&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • William, 1st Earl of Douglas and Mar
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=f708b3f5-b992-48b3-abe7-4fae888d51a2&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • remains of Douglas Castle
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=86225bb6-d814-4447-a691-55aad51671bc&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • scotlandlion
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=5a31f6c0-6a6f-461e-b64a-5868d0613937&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • douglas
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=abd2d5a6-366d-4b81-89b4-793afe1dd0d1&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • Douglas_
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=efa9941f-3761-4c67-b2c0-dc6770d048ab&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • William, Earl of Douglas
    • Arms of William, 1st Earl of Douglas
    • Creation, 4 February, 1356
    • William, Lord of Douglas
    • William, Earl of Douglas
    • _P_CCINFO 1-20792
    • Justiciar of Scotland appointed by Robert the Bruce
    • William, Lord of Douglas
    • The son of Sir James "The Good", William succeeded his father as Lord of Douglas in 1330. He fell a Halidon Hill, 1333, leaving no heir. The title passed to his uncle, Hugh, the 2nd son of William "le Hardi".
    • saltire
      http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=7840a462-7376-45aa-8685-eab3bdae6d21&tid=18849986&pid=722256034
    • Nephew of Sir James, "The Good" and Hugh, "The Dull", William, was created the first proper Earl of Douglas in 1352. In 1353 William was responsible for the death of his kinsman Sir William Douglas, the famed "Knight of Liddesdale", from the
      Morton line of Douglases. William was a participant in a rebellion against King David II in 1363, but still managed to earn an appointment as Justiciar of Scotland under Robert II in 1371. An affair with his first cousin, Margaret Stewart,
      Countess of Mar and Angus, resulted in a son, George, who became the 1st Earl of Angus, founding the Red Douglas branch of the family. William died in 1384, leaving his titles and possessions to his son James.
    • Argent, a man's Heart, Gules, on a Chief, Azure, three Mullets of the Field.
    • William Douglas was 1st earl of Douglas and Mar. A Scottish nobleman; he was nephew of Sir James de Douglas, lord of Douglas. About 1348 he returned to Scotland from France and recaptured the Douglas lands from the English. Later he took part in the negotiations for the ransom and release of David II . In 1354 he succeeded to the estates of his father and uncle and to the lands of his kinsman, William Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale, whom he had slain. Douglas engaged in French-incited raids on the English border and fought (1356) for the French in the battle of Poitiers. In 1358 he was made earl of Douglas, and after the accession of Robert II he was made justiciar S of the Forth and received the lands of the earl of Fife. At the death of his wife's brother in 1374 he received the lands and title of the earl of Mar. Douglas had an illegitimate son by Margaret Stuart, countess of Angus in her own right. This was George Douglas, who became 1st earl of Angus.
    • Creation, 4 February, 1356
    • Argent, a man's Heart, Gules, on a Chief, Azure, three Mullets of the Field.
    • Nephew of Sir James, "The Good" and Hugh, "The Dull", William, was created the first proper Earl of Douglas in 1352. In 1353 William was responsible for the death of his kinsman Sir William Douglas, the famed "Knight of Liddesdale", from the
      Morton line of Douglases. William was a participant in a rebellion against King David II in 1363, but still managed to earn an appointment as Justiciar of Scotland under Robert II in 1371. An affair with his first cousin, Margaret Stewart,
      Countess of Mar and Angus, resulted in a son, George, who became the 1st Earl of Angus, founding the Red Douglas branch of the family. William died in 1384, leaving his titles and possessions to his son James.
    • Arms of William, 1st Earl of Douglas
    • Invalid baptism temple code: PRO.
    • William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas1 (M) b. circa 1330, d. May 1384, #109487d. May 1384|p10949.htm#i109487|Sir Archibald Douglas|b. b 1298d. 19 Jul 1333|p10949.htm#i109489|Beatrice Lindsay|b. b 1318|p10949.htm#i109490|Sir William \\'Le Hardi\\' of Douglas|b. b 1274d. 1298|p10950.htm#i109493||||Sir Alexander Lindsay|b. b 1303|p10950.htm#i109491||||');"Pedigree Last Edited=31 Mar 2004
      William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay.2 He was born circa 1330.1 He married Margaret, Countess of Mar, daughter of Donald, 8th Earl of Mar and Isabella Stewart , before 13 November 1357.2 He died in May 1384 at Douglas, Scotland.1 He was buried at Melrose.2 On 26 May 1342 he inherited the vast Douglas family estates from his uncle, Hugh Douglas.1 He murdered Sir William Douglas in August 1353, without male issue.3 In August 1353 he slew his kinsman, William Douglas.1 He fought in the Battle of Poitiers on 19 September 1356, where he was wounded.1 Through his marriage, William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas gained the title of Earl of Mar before 13 November 1357. He was created 1st Earl of Douglas [Scotland] on 26 January 1357/58.2 He held the office of Warden of the Marches.2
      Children of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas and Margaret, Countess of Mar:
      James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas + b. c 1358, d. 14 Aug 1388 Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar + b. c 1360, d. 1408
      Children of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas and Margaret Stewart, Countess of Angus :
      George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus + b. b 1378, d. a Sep 1402 Joan Douglas + b. b 1382
      Citations
      [S6 ] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume IV, page 430. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
      [S6 ] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume IV, page 431.
      [S6 ] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, page 310.
    • William of Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, was born c1323. His first marriage was to Margaret, Countess of Mar (dau of Donald, 8th Earl of Mar). Whether through death, affair, or divorce, either before or after Margaret of Mar, he was also
      associated with and possibly married to Margaret Stewart. He also had at least one other child at some point either by marriage or affair.

      children by Margaret of Mar



      1. James Douglas of Drumlanring

      2. unknown (m. Alexander Montgomerie)



      (children by Margaret Stewart)



      1. George Douglas



      children by Unknown



      1. Margaret Douglas (m. Sir Herbert Herries)



      Margaret Stewart later (c1368) married Thomas of Mar.

      William, 1st Earl of Douglas, died May 1384.
    • William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas (c.1327-1384), was a Scottish nobleman.

      He was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay, and nephew of "Sir James the Good", Bruce's trusted deputy. He was educated in France, and returned to Scotland in 1348. In 1353 he killed his kinsman Sir William Douglas of Liddesdale, a knight, in Ettrick Forest. Liddesdale was known as the "Flower of Chivalry", and had been warden of the western Marches, along the English border, during the minority of King David II. He had helped drive English invaders from the area, but had lost the king's favour when he murdered Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, sherriff of Teviotdale. Some of his lands passed to his kinsman and murderer.

      Douglas was created Earl of Douglas in 1358, a year after marrying Margaret, sister and heiress of Thomas, Earl of Mar, which brought him the estates of Mar. He styled himself Earl of Mar, until his own elevation to the peerage.

      During a short truce with the warden of the English marches he had served in France, being wounded at Poitiers in 1356, where Scottish troops supported the French as part of the Auld Alliance. He was one of the securities for the payment of David II's ransom following the battle of Neville's Cross, and in consequence of the royal misappropriation of some moneys raised for this purpose, Douglas was for a short time in rebellion in 1363. In 1364 he joined David II in seeking a treaty with England which would have written off Scotland's debt to England in return for depriving his nephew Robert the Steward, formerly an ally of Douglas, of the succession. Edward III's son Lionel of Antwerp would have taken the Scottish throne, although the independence of Scotland was to be guaranteed, and a special clause provided for the restoration of the English estates of the Douglas family.

      The plan never succeeded, and on the accession of Robert II, Douglas was nevertheless reconciled, becoming justiciar of southern Scotland. The last years of his life were spent in making and repelling border raids. He died at Douglas in May 1384, leaving a son James, who succeeded him as earl, and a daughter, Isabel, who became Countess of Mar in her own right.

      William Douglas also fathered an illegitimate son by his wife's sister-in-law, Margaret Stewart, widow of Thomas of Mar and Countess of Angus in her own right. The son, George, inherited the estates of Angus, and was later created Earl of Angus.


      [edit] References
      This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
      thepeerage.com
      Peerage of Scotland
      Preceded by:
      New Creation Earl of Douglas
      1358-1384 Succeeded by:
      James Douglas
    • Nephew of Sir James, "The Good" and Hugh, "The Dull", William, was created the first proper Earl of Douglas in 1352. In 1353 William was responsible for the death of his kinsman Sir William Douglas, the famed "Knight of Liddesdale", from the Morton line of Douglases. William was a participant in a rebellion against King David II in 1363, but still managed to earn an appointment as Justiciar of Scotland under Robert II in 1371. An affair with his first cousin, Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar and Angus, resulted in a son, George, who became the 1st Earl of Angus, founding the Red Douglas branch of the family. William died in 1384, leaving his titles and possessions to his son James.
    • William, Earl of Douglas
      Nephew of Sir James, "The Good" and Hugh, "The Dull", William, was created the first proper Earl of Douglas in 1352. In 1353 William was responsible for the death of his kinsman Sir William Douglas, the famed "K night of Liddesdale", from the Morton line of Douglases. William was a particip ant in a rebellion against King David II in 1363, but still managed to earn an appointment as Justiciar of Scotland under Robert II in 1371. An affair with hi s first cousin, Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar and Angus, resulted in a son, George, who became the 1st Earl of Angus, founding the Red Douglas branch of t he family. William died in 1384, leaving his titles and possessions to his son James.


      1st Earl of Douglas and Mar; 1st Earl of Angus; Lord of Liddesdale

      "On the death of his brother-in-law [Thomas Stewart] he obtained possession of the historical earldom of Mar and transmitted it, along with his own heredit ary titles and estates, to his son James, the hero of Otterburn, 'the dead man that won a fight' one of the most renowned in Scottish history. The Douglas est ates were inherited by Archibald 'the Grim,' the kinsman of Earl James, while t he earldom of Mar passed to his sister, Isabella, wife of Sir Malcolm Drummond, brother of Annabella, Queen of Scotland, wife of Robert III.

      Though he is o ften shown as having married Margaret of Mar, daughter of Donald of Mar, that i s questionable. He had illegitimate children with Margaret Stewart, whose fathe r was Earl of Mar, but she was Countess of Angus (having inherited this title f rom her brother). Widely varying dates of birth for the legitimate children mak e it possible that he was, in fact, married twice.

      " ... son of the Regent w ho fell at Halidon Hill, and nephew of the 'Good Sir James,' returned from Fran ce, where he had been bred to arms, soon after the battle of Neville's Cross an d the captivity of the Scottish king, and, with the hereditary valour and energ y of his house, succeeded in expelling the English from Douglasdale, and in the course of time from Ettrick Forest, Tweeddale, and Teviotdale. He was created Earl of Douglas by King David in 1357. He faithfully supported the cause of nat ional independence, and even went so far as to unite with the Steward and the E arl of March in a formal bond to compel David to change his counsellors and to give up his intrigues for altering the succession to the crown in favour of one of the sons of the English king. He made a pilgramage to the shrine of St. Tho mas-a-Becket in the year 1363; but, unlike some others of the great Scottish ba rons, who made such pilgramages a pretext for treasonable intrigues with the En glish Government, Douglas continued steadfast in his adherence of his country's cause, and resolutely opposed the atempts of the unworthy son of Robert Bruce to betray it to the enemy. On the accession of Robert II, the son of the Stewar d and Marjory Bruce, the Earl of Douglas unexpectedly put forth pretensions to the crown, but abandoned them on finding that they were not likely to meet with public support. As a reward for the promptitude of his submission, the King's eldest daughter was promised in marriage to his eldest son, and the Earl himsel f was appointed Justicular of Scotland south of the Forth, and Warden of the Ea st Marches. This great noble, one of the best of his race, died in 1384 at an a dvance age. He was succeeded by his eldest son by his wife the Countess of Mar. "
      The Great Historic Families of Scotland, James Taylor 1
      Event: Title (Facts Pg) 1371 Justiciar Of Scotland Appointed By Robert The Bruce 1[Belcher.FTW]

      [My Family.FTW]

      William, Earl of Douglas
      Nephew of Sir James, "The Good" and Hugh, "The Dull", William, was created the first proper Earl of Douglas in 1352. In 1353 William was responsible for the death of his kinsman Sir William Douglas, the famed "K night of Liddesdale", from the Morton line of Douglases. William was a particip ant in a rebellion against King David II in 1363, but still managed to earn an appointment as Justiciar of Scotland under Robert II in 1371. An affair with hi s first cousin, Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar and Angus, resulted in a son, George, who became the 1st Earl of Angus, founding the Red Douglas branch of t he family. William died in 1384, leaving his titles and possessions to his son James.


      1st Earl of Douglas and Mar; 1st Earl of Angus; Lord of Liddesdale

      "On the death of his brother-in-law [Thomas Stewart] he obtained possession of the historical earldom of Mar and transmitted it, along with his own heredit ary titles and estates, to his son James, the hero of Otterburn, 'the dead man that won a fight' one of the most renowned in Scottish history. The Douglas est ates were inherited by Archibald 'the Grim,' the kinsman of Earl James, while t he earldom of Mar passed to his sister, Isabella, wife of Sir Malcolm Drummond, brother of Annabella, Queen of Scotland, wife of Robert III.

      Though he is o ften shown as having married Margaret of Mar, daughter of Donald of Mar, that i s questionable. He had illegitimate children with Margaret Stewart, whose fathe r was Earl of Mar, but she was Countess of Angus (having inherited this title f rom her brother). Widely varying dates of birth for the legitimate children mak e it possible that he was, in fact, married twice.

      " ... son of the Regent w ho fell at Halidon Hill, and nephew of the 'Good Sir James,' returned from Fran ce, where he had been bred to arms, soon after the battle of Neville's Cross an d the captivity of the Scottish king, and, with the hereditary valour and energ y of his house, succeeded in expelling the English from Douglasdale, and in the course of time from Ettrick Forest, Tweeddale, and Teviotdale. He was created Earl of Douglas by King David in 1357. He faithfully supported the cause of nat ional independence, and even went so far as to unite with the Steward and the E arl of March in a formal bond to compel David to change his counsellors and to give up his intrigues for altering the succession to the crown in favour of one of the sons of the English king. He made a pilgramage to the shrine of St. Tho mas-a-Becket in the year 1363; but, unlike some others of the great Scottish ba rons, who made such pilgramages a pretext for treasonable intrigues with the En glish Government, Douglas continued steadfast in his adherence of his country's cause, and resolutely opposed the atempts of the unworthy son of Robert Bruce to betray it to the enemy. On the accession of Robert II, the son of the Stewar d and Marjory Bruce, the Earl of Douglas unexpectedly put forth pretensions to the crown, but abandoned them on finding that they were not likely to meet with public support. As a reward for the promptitude of his submission, the King's eldest daughter was promised in marriage to his eldest son, and the Earl himsel f was appointed Justicular of Scotland south of the Forth, and Warden of the Ea st Marches. This great noble, one of the best of his race, died in 1384 at an a dvance age. He was succeeded by his eldest son by his wife the Countess of Mar. "
      The Great Historic Families of Scotland, James Taylor 1
      Event: Title (Facts Pg) 1371 Justiciar Of Scotland Appointed By Robert The Bruce 1
    • William, Earl of Douglas
      Nephew of Sir James, "The Good" and Hugh, "The Dull", William, was created the first proper Earl of Douglas in 1352. In 1353 William was responsible for the death of his kinsman Sir William Douglas, the famed "Knight of Liddesdale", from the Morton line of Douglases. William was a participant in a rebellion against King David II in 1363, but still managed to earn an appointment as Justiciar of Scotland under Robert II in 1371. An affair with his first cousin, Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar and Angus, resulted in a son, George, who became the 1st Earl of Angus, founding the Red Douglas branch of the family. William died in 1384, leaving his titles and possessions to his son James.


      1st Earl of Douglas and Mar; 1st Earl of Angus; Lord of Liddesdale

      "On the death of his brother-in-law [Thomas Stewart] he obtained possession of the historical earldom of Mar and transmitted it, along with his own hereditary titles and estates, to his son James, the hero of Otterburn, 'the dead man that won a fight' one of the most renowned in Scottish history. The Douglas estates were inherited by Archibald 'the Grim,' the kinsman of Earl James, while the earldom of Mar passed to his sister, Isabella, wife of Sir Malcolm Drummond, brother of Annabella, Queen of Scotland, wife of Robert III.

      Though he is often shown as having married Margaret of Mar, daughter of Donald of Mar, that is questionable. He had illegitimate children with Margaret Stewart, whose father was Earl of Mar, but she was Countess of Angus (having inherited this title from her brother). Widely varying dates of birth for the legitimate children make it possible that he was, in fact, married twice.

      " ... son of the Regent who fell at Halidon Hill, and nephew of the 'Good Sir James,' returned from France, where he had been bred to arms, soon after the battle of Neville's Cross and the captivity of the Scottish king, and, with the hereditary valour and energy of his house, succeeded in expelling the English from Douglasdale, and in the course of time from Ettrick Forest, Tweeddale, and Teviotdale. He was created Earl of Douglas by King David in 1357. He faithfully supported the cause of national independence, and even went so far as to unite with the Steward and the Earl of March in a formal bond to compel David to change his counsellors and to give up his intrigues for altering the succession to the crown in favour of one of the sons of the English king. He made a pilgramage to the shrine of St. Thomas-a-Becket in the year 1363; but, unlike some others of the great Scottish barons, who made such pilgramages a pretext for treasonable intrigues with the English Government, Douglas continued steadfast in his adherence of his country's cause, and resolutely opposed the atempts of the unworthy son of Robert Bruce to betray it to the enemy. On the accession of Robert II, the son of the Steward and Marjory Bruce, the Earl of Douglas unexpectedly put forth pretensions to the crown, but abandoned them on finding that they were not likely to meet with public support. As a reward for the promptitude of his submission, the King's eldest daughter was promised in marriage to his eldest son, and the Earl himself was appointed Justicular of Scotland south of the Forth, and Warden of the East Marches. This great noble, one of the best of his race, died in 1384 at an advance age. He was succeeded by his eldest son by his wife the Countess of Mar."
      The Great Historic Families of Scotland, James Taylor
    • http://www.landersgen.com/landers/169/30769.htm

      William Douglas

      * Born: Abt 1323, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland 631
      * Unmarried: Margaret Stewart
      * Died: May 1384 about age 61 631


      William had a relationship with Margaret Stewart, daughter of Thomas Stewart, of Angus and Margaret St. Clair. (Margaret Stewart was born about 1354 631 and died on 23 Mar 1418 631.)
    • 1st Earl of Douglas.
    • William succeeded his father as Lord of Douglas in 1330. He fell at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, leaving no heir. The title passed to his uncle, Hugh, the 2nd son of William "de Hardi".
    Person ID I6000000000120179673  Ancestors of Donald Ross
    Last Modified 17 Oct 2020 

    Father Archibald 'The Tyneman' Douglas,   b. Abt 1297, Douglas Castle, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jul 1333, Battle of Halidon Hill, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 36 years) 
    Mother Beatrice Lindsay of Crawford,   b. Abt 1302, Crawford, Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1352, Erskine, Renfrewshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 50 years) 
    Married 1320  1st Husband Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F6000000004553992076  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Stewart, 4th Countess of Angus, Lady Abernethy (suo iure),   b. Between 1325 and 1354,   d. 23 Mar 1418  (Age ~ 93 years) 
    Children 
     1. George Douglas,   b. Abt 1376, Tantallon Castle, near Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1403  (Age ~ 27 years)
    Last Modified 14 Mar 2021 
    Family ID F6000000010935898811  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart