William (Douglas) Douglas Lord of Nithsdale (bef. 1362 - 1392)

Born before 1362 in Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Egidia Stewart — married 1387 in Scotland

Descendants

Died 1392 after age 30 in Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

William (Douglas) Douglas Lord of Nithsdale is a member of Clan Douglas.

William Douglas, Lord of the Nithsdale, was the natural and eldest son of Archibald Douglas, 3rd earl of Douglas and an unknown mistress.^[1][2][3] His exact birthdate is unknown, but as he must have reached his majority before 1384 (when he was awarded an annuity in return for his continuing military service in the border conflicts)^[4] and was probably born before his father married Joanna Moray, a birthdate sometime before 1362 is likely.

Military Career and Lands Held

William Douglas was actively involved in the border wars on the western marches during 1384-1385, earning an almost legendary reputation for his skills in combat.^[2][4][5] He is said to have been knighted before 1384.^[4]

In 1388 he was put in command of a maritime expedition to retaliate for raids which the Irish had made upon the coast of Galloway.^[4][5][6] He set sail for Ulster with 500 men and, landing at Carlingford, burnt the town to the ground and captured the castle, returning to Scotland with 15 Irish ships which he had filled with the spoils of war.^[4][5] On his return trip he also attacked and plundered the Isle of Man.^{[4][5] [6]}

On his return to Galloway, Douglas (with a large contingent of his men) immediately joined forces with his father, who had just begun an invasion of England from the western marches.^[5][7] James, 2nd earl of Douglas, simultaneously led an invasion of England from the eastern marches and was slain at Otterburn.^[5] Archibald the Grim succeeded as the 3rd earl of Douglas, and William of Nithsdale was now the eldest son of one of the most powerful men in southern Scotland.^[4]

Marriage and Children

In 1387 King Robert II recognized Sir William's military prowess by permitting his marriage to Egidia, one of the king's younger daughters who was held to be "one of the most beautiful women of her time."^[6][8] In celebration of their marriage Douglas was granted the royal lordship of Nithsdale, which did not include extensive properties but gave him important jurisdictional authority which included the positions of warden, sheriff, justiciar, and chamberlain for all of the area between Galloway and Annandale.^[4] On 26 December 1387 William Douglas and his wife were also granted an annuity of £300 from the royal customs.^[4] From his father, Douglas received a grant of the barony of Herbertshire, near Stirling.^[5]

There were only two children from this marriage:

• William Douglas of Nithsdale; died after 26 August 1419^[9][10]
• Egidia Douglas; married (1) c.1407 Henry St Clair;^[9][11]married (2) after 29 April 1418 Alexander Stewart;^[9][12] died after 1438^[9]

Death

Although later historians have suggested that Douglas was murdered in 1391 by Thomas de Clifford, with whom he may or may not have fought a duel the previous year,^[4][13] these speculations have been proven untrue. Clifford is known to have died before November 1391.^[9] Sir William Douglas of Nithsdale drew his share of the burgh rents of Dumfries for most of 1392 so was still living at that time.^[14] He appears in no further written records after 1392.

Sources

1. ↑ Paul, Sir James Balfour. The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1904), vol. 3, p. 163.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Fraser, Sir William. The Douglas Books. Edinburgh: by the author (1885), vol. 1, p. 355.
3. ↑ Maxwell, Sir Herbert. A History of the House of Douglas., London: Freemantle Co. (1902), vol. 1, p. 126.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9} Macdonald, Alastair J. Douglas, Sir William, lord of Nithsdale. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online edition (23 Sep 2004), available here by subscription.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Paton, Henry. Douglas, William (d. 1392?). Dictionary of National Biography archive edition online.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Fraser, Sir William. The Douglas Books. Edinburgh: by the author (1885), vol. 1, p. 356.
7. ↑ Wyntown's Cronykil, B.ix. caps.vii and viii, cited in Fraser, Sir William. The Douglas Books. Edinburgh: by the author (1885), vol. 1, p. 356.
8. ↑ Maxwell, Sir Herbert. A History of the House of Douglas., London: Freemantle Co. (1902), vol. 1, p. 127.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} Paul, Sir James Balfour. The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1904), vol. 3, p. 164.
10. ↑ Johnston, G. Harvey. The Earls of Douglas." The Heraldry Of The Douglases : With Notes On All The Males Of The Family, Descriptions Of The Arms, Plates And Pedigrees.' Edinburgh: W. & A.K. Johnston (1907), p. 15.
11. ↑ Fraser, Sir William. The Douglas Books. Edinburgh: by the author (1885), vol. 1, p. 358.
12. ↑ Stuart, Andrew. Genealogical History of the Stewarts. London: A. Strahan (1798), p. 449.
13. ↑ Fraser, Sir William. The Douglas Books. Edinburgh: by the author (1885), vol. 1, p. 357.
14. ↑ Burnett, George. Rotuli Scaccarii Regum Scotorum. Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House (1880), vol. 3, p. 281, 332.

See also:

• Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands online database, Chapter 6.b., The Earls of Douglas.

• William Douglas of Nithsdale, Wikipedia