2nd Earl of Douglas James Douglas

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 4268

Notes:

Sir James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar (c. 1358 - 14 August 1388) was an influential and powerful magnate in the Kingdom of Scotland.

Early life:

He was son and heir of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas and Margaret, Countess of Mar. By the time his father had made over lands in Liddesdale to him in 1380, he had been knighted, being known as Sir James Douglas of Liddesdale. Earlier his father had been in dispute with King Robert over the latter's succession to King David II, but returned to royal favour by concluding a marriage contract between his son and the Princess Isabel, thus binding the Douglases close to the throne.

Earl of Douglas and Mar:

In May 1384, the 1st Earl of Douglas died from a fever, and his son inherited. Around the same time a French embassy arrived in Scotland to negotiate a truce between Franco-Scots Allies and England. While deliberations were taking place in Edinburgh, a further party of French knights arrived at Montrose. These adventurers led by Geoffroi de Charny, sent word to the court at Edinburgh, from Perth where they had marched to, in which they offered their services against the English. The new Earl of Douglas, and Sir David Lindsay mustered their men joined forces with the French knights and led a raid into England where the ravaged lands belonging to the Percy Earl of Northumberland, and the Mowbray Earl of Nottingham. While this Chevauchée was happening, the Scots agreed to the tripartite truce on the 7th July which was to last until May the following year. De Charny and his knights returned to France but promised to Douglas that they would return as soon as possible.

In 1385 when the truce expired, Douglas made war on the English. The French were as good as their word and had previously arrived at Leith with a contingent of Chivalry, armour and monies. The French under Jean de Vienne, Admiral of France joined forces with the Scots. Finding that the army of Richard II of England was numerically superior to the Franco-Scots, Douglas allowed the English to advance to Edinburgh, wisely refusing battle, the English army destroyed the Abbies of Melrose, Newbattle and Dryburgh, as well as burning the burgh's of Haddington and the capital itself. Douglas contented himself with a destructive counter-raid on Carlisle and Durham, leading the French, and the men of Galloway, under his cousin Archibald the Grim. Disputes soon arose between the allies, and the French returned home at the end of the year.

1386 saw squabbling between the Earl of Northumberland, and John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville de Raby over the wardenship of the Eastern March. Roger de Clifford, 5th Baron de Clifford, the warden of the Western March, was engaged to keep the peace between the rivals. While Clifford was away from his duties in the west, Douglas accompanied by the Earl of Fife led a force deep into Cumberland, and raided and burnt the town of Cockermouth.

Otterburn and death:

Invasion of England:

In 1388 Richard II had domestic troubles with his recalcitrant barons and was occupied far to the south, and the time seemed right for invasion to avenge the destruction of 1385.

The Scots, following an agreement made between the nobility at Aberdeen, mustered at Jedburgh in August, including the levies of the earls of Fife, March, Moray and those of Archibald the Grim. Upon finding from an English spy, that the English warden Percy was aware of the muster, and was planning a counter strike, the Scots command decided to split the army, with Fife leading the main body into Cumberland, while a smaller mounted force under Douglas was to go east and despoil Northumberland.

Douglas' force entered England through Redesdale and proceeded south to Brancepeth laying waste to the countryside. From there the turned east to encircle Newcastle.

Newcastle was held by Northumberland's sons, Sir Henry Percy, known as "Hotspur", and his brother Sir Ralph Percy. Northumberland himself remained at Alnwick Castle, hoping to outflank Douglas should he attempt to return to Scotland.

Thes Scots, without the siege equipment to invest the Castle, encamped around it. The week that followed saw constant skirmishes and challenges to single combat between the two sides, that culminated when Douglas challenged Hotspur to a duel. In the ensuing joust Douglas successfully felled Hotspur and was able to capture his pennon. According to Froissart, Douglas announced that he would "carry [the pennon] to Scotland and hoist it on my tower, where it may be seen from afar", to which Hotspur retorted "By God! You will never leave Northumberland alive with that."

Battle of Otterburn:

The following day the Scots struck camp and marched to Ponteland where they destroyed its castle, and then on to Otterburn just 30 miles from Newcastle, Douglas appeared to be tarrying to see whether Hotspur would react.

Douglas chose his encampment in a wood with an eye to protect his force from English archery. But on the evening of the 5th of August, the Percies surprised the Scots and a bloody moonlit battle ensued. Douglas was mortally wounded during the fight, but because of the confusion of fighting in darkness this fact was not transmitted to his men who carried on the battle. Froissart gives account in detail of the various individuals wounded, captured or killed, but what is known is that the Scots won the encounter taking Hotspur and many others prisoner. Douglas body was found on the field the following day. The Scots, albeit saddened by the loss of their leader, were heartened enough by the victory, to frighten off English reinforcements led by Walter Skirlaw, the Bishop of Durham the following day.

Douglas body was then removed back across the Border and he was interred at Melrose Abbey.

The battle, as narrated by Jean Froissart, forms the basis of the English and Scottish ballads The Ballad of Chevy Chase and The Battle of Otterburn.

Marriage and issue:

Douglas married the Princess Isabel, a daughter of King Robert II of Scotland. He left no legitimate male issue. His natural sons William and Archibald became the ancestors of the families of Douglas of Drumlanrig and Douglas of Cavers. His sister Isabel, inherited the lands and earldom of Mar, and the unentailed estates of Douglas. Isabel arranged for the Bonjedward estate to be passed to their half-sister, Margaret, who became 1st Laird of Bonjedward.

The earldom and entailed estates of Douglas reverted by the patent of 1358 to Archibald Douglas, called "The Grim", cousin of the 1st Earl and a natural son of The "Good" Sir James Douglas.

From: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Douglas,_2nd_Earl_of_Douglas)

Buried:
Melrose Abbey

Died:
Battle of Otterburn

James — Isabella Stewart. [Group Sheet]

1. William Douglas was born Aft 1373, Scotland; died 1427.
2. Archibald Douglas was born 1328; died Dec 1400, Dumfries-shire, Scotland.
3. Archibald Douglas

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 4262

Notes:

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

Early Life:

He was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay, and nephew of "Sir James the Good", Bruce's trusted deputy. From the time of his father's death at Halidon Hill, he is decribed as being a ward of his kinsman and godfather, William Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale and being educated in France. In 1342 under pressure from Liddesdale, his uncle Hugh the Dull resigned the Lordship of Douglas to him, though Liddesdale rapaciously administered his estates while in his wardship, and assumed direct ownership of some of the Douglas territories. Douglas returned to Scotland, upon reaching his majority in 1348, and immediately started to put his house in order. In 1346/47 following the Battle of Neville's Cross, King David II, and other nobility, including Liddesdale, were held captive by the English. Edward Baliol was using the opportunity to ravage the whole of the south of Scotland. Douglas gathered his men and drove the English out from his ancestral lands of Douglasdale. Douglas went in in the style of his uncle the Good Sir James for the following few years to wage guerrilla war against the English in the Ettrick and Jedforests. Douglas is next heard of being one of the commissioners to treat with the English for the release of King David.

Death of the Knight of Liddesdale:

In 1353 Baliol was ensconced at Buittle in his ancestral territories in Galloway, Douglas lead a raid there to eject him as due to Baliol's forfeiture those lands had been made over to Sir James Douglas in 1324. Following this raid, returning through the Forest, Douglas came across Liddesdale hunting on what Douglas viewed as his desmesne. This was the match that lit the fuse of years of resentment at Liddesdale's assumption of the Douglas patrimony not withstanding Liddesdale's murder of Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie. Liddesdale once in high standing with the Crown, had fallen into disfavour following his murder of Ramsay and another Knight, Sir David de Barclay. Liddesdale was set upon and killed. In February 1354, William of Douglas received a new charter from King David bestowing all the lands held by his uncle Sir James, his father Sir Archibald, and Liddesdale itself.

War with England and Battle of Poitiers:

In 1355 the truce with England expired and Douglas with the Earl of Dunbar and March, whose lands had been ravaged, decided to take Norham Castle in retaliation. One of Douglas' captains, Sir William Ramsay of Dalhousie, was instructed to despoil the lands around Norham and burn the town in an effort to entice the garrison out to battle. Ramsay did so and the English under the castle's constable, Sir Thomas Grey of Heaton and Lord Dacre, gave chase. Douglas and March meanwhile were encamped seven miles away in woodland to the south of Duns, when Ramsay had reached them. The English pursuers were ambushed by the Scots force, and completely overwhelmed. Following this Battle of Nesbit Moor, Douglas and March joined with the Earl of Angus in making an assault upon Berwick, but the Scots had to retire from there before the advancing army of Edward III. King Edward laid waste to the Lothians in an event that would be known as the "Burnt Candlemas". His supply lines were overstretched, and following the sinking of his fleet, and the Scots scorched earth policy, Edward had to turn homewards, but not before being ambushed and nearly taken by Lord Douglas's men outside Melrose. Following Edward's retreat into England, Douglas arranged a truce with William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton that would last until Michaelmas.

He also arranged a Safe conduct to visit the captive King David. Following this Douglas crossed with a large following to France and took up arms with Jean le Bon against the Black Prince. Douglas was present at the Battle of Poitiers where he was knighted by the French King. Douglas fought in the King's own Battle, but when the fight seemed over Douglas was dragged by his men from the melee. Froissart states that "... the Earl Douglas of Scotland, who fought a season valiantly, but when he saw the discomfiture he departed and saved himself; for in no wise would he be taken by the Englishmen, he would rather there be slain". After the defeat there Douglas escaped, but left a number of his men either slain or captive, including his first cousin latterly the 3rd Earl of Douglas, Archibald the Grim.

Douglas returned to Scotland by mid Autumn, and was involved in peace negotiations with the English, one aspect of the treaty was the creation of March Wardens of which Douglas was one. Under the auspice of this office, Douglas seized Hermitage Castle in Liddesdale from the English in response to their depredations on Eskdale. Douglas was part of the parliament that met at Berwick in 1357, which finalised the release of King David through the Treaty of Berwick, Douglas himself being one of the securities for his release.

Earl of Douglas and Mar:

Douglas was created Earl of Douglas on the 26th January 1358. 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 and appointed Justiciar South of the Forth in 1372. The last years of his life were spent in making and repelling border raids. He died at Douglas in May 1384.

Marriage and Issue:

William, Earl of Douglas married in 1357, Margaret, Countess of Mar and had two children:

James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas (1358-1388)
Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar (1360-1408)

The Earl of Douglas also fathered an illegitimate son by his wife's sister-in-law, Margaret Stewart, widow of Thomas, Earl of Mar and Countess of Angus in her own right:

George Douglas, inherited the estates of Angus and was later created Earl of Angus.
Margaret Douglas, received in 1404 the lands of Bonjedward from her sister Isabel of Mar.

From: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Douglas,_1st_Earl_of_Douglas)

Buried:
Melrose Abbey

William — Margaret of Mar. Margaret (daughter of Domhnall II of Mar and Isabella Stewart) died Abt 1391. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 188

Notes:

Margaret of Mar (died c. 1391) was Countess of Mar, an ancient Earldom in Scotland, in her own right.

She was a daughter of Domhnall II of Mar and after the death of her childless brother Thomas became Countess of Mar. She had married William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, who was succeeded by their son, James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas and Earl of Mar and Garioch in right of his mother, and when he fell, leading the Scots at the battle of Otterburn.

She was succeeded by her daughter, Isabel, who became Countess of Mar, possessed the Lordship of the Garioch, and also became the Countesss of the unentailed lands of the House of Douglas.

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• Reference Number: 10561

Notes:

Sir Archibald Douglas was the son of Sir William 'Le Hardi' of Douglas. He was born before 1298. He died on 19 July 1333, slain.

He held the office of Regent of Scotland between April 1333 and July 1333.

Archibald — Beatrice Lindsay. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 8774

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• Name: Donald II
• Reference Number: 81

Notes:

Domhnall (or Donald) II of Mar (c. 1302 in Saline, Fife - 11 August 1332) was Regent of Scotland for just over a week during the minority of David II.

His father was Gartnait, Earl of Mar, and his mother was Christina Bruce, sister of Robert I of Scotland. In 1332 the regent, Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, died. On August 2 Domhnall was elected as the new regent at a meeting of the Scottish nobles at Perth.

Following the invasion of Edward Balliol, with the support of Edward III of England, Mar led the Scots loyalists to confront them. He was defeated and killed at the Battle of Dupplin Moor, only nine days after his election as regent.

Through his marriage to Isabella Stewart they had a son Thomas, and a single daughter, Margaret, who succeeded her brother and became in her turn Countess of Mar.

From: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domhnall_II,_Earl_of_Mar)

Died:
Battle Of Dupplin Moor

Domhnall — Isabella Stewart. Isabella (daughter of Alexander Stewart) was born Abt 1300, Scotland; died 1347, Scotland. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 13595

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• Reference Number: 10562

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• Reference Number: 8777

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• Name: Gartnait mac Domhnaill
• Reference Number: 130

Notes:

Gartnait of Mar - Gartnait mac Domhnaill (Gartnait, Donald's son) - was the eighth known Mormaer of Mar, ruling from somewhere around 1301, perhaps as early as 1297, until his death in 1305. He was a son of Domhnall I of Mar, brother of Isabella of Mar and brother-in-law of Robert I of Scotland.

We last hear of his father alive in 1297, and we hear of his son Gartnait as Mormaer perhaps in 1302, and definitely by 1305. Gartnait himself is known to have collaborated with Edward in some form during the crackdown of 1297, but this does not necessarily mean any break with his father or with Robert I, whom his fathered supported.

In 1302, a document containing terms of reconciliation between Edward I of England and Robert stipulates that Robert should act as warden of Gartnait,1 implying that Gartnait's father Domhnall had just died. However, he was married to Robert's sister Christina Bruce, perhaps in 1295.

Garnait — Christina Bruce. Christina (daughter of Robert De Brus, VI and Margaret of Carrick) was born Abt 1273, Seton, East Lothian, Scotland; died Abt 1356. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 2327

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Christina (or Christian) Bruce (c. 1273 Seton, East Lothian, Scotland - 1356/1357) the second daughter of Robert de Brus, jure uxoris Earl of Carrick and Marjorie of Carrick, and an older sister of King Robert the Bruce.

Along with the king's other female relatives, she was captured shortly after his rebellion. However, she avoided the fate of her sister Mary Bruce and Isabella MacDuff (the Countess of Buchan), who were imprisoned in cages, but was sent to a convent in Lincolnshire.

She was married three times. Her husbands were Gartnait, Earl of Mar, (d. 1305) Christopher Seton (d. 1306), and lastly Sir Andrew Murray.

In 1335, during the Second War of Scottish Independence, she commanded the garrison of Kildrummy Castle and successfully held the castle against the forces of the pro-Balliol forces led by David of Strathbogie prior to their defeat by her husband, Sir Andrew Murray, at the Battle of Culblean.

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• Reference Number: 13602