George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus
Encyclopedia
George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus, Lord Douglas, Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest (c. 1417 – 12 March 1463) was a Scottish
Nobleman. He was the son of William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus
and Margaret Hay of Yester
. Known as the Great Earl of Angus, he succeeded to the Earldom following the death of his childless brother James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus
in 1446. He was to become the first Red Chief of Douglas.
which represented the "Black" line, whereas Angus represented the "Red" Line. Both branches were descended through bastardy from William the Hardy, Lord of Douglas. The Earl of Douglas descended through Archibald the Grim, an illegitimate son of Sir James Douglas
. The 4th Earl of Angus' grandfather was an illegitimate child of William, 1st Earl of Douglas
.
Although the representatives of both lines of the House wore the "three stars argent" and "Man's Heart gules" on their arms the 4th Earl of Angus and the 8th Earl of Douglas were third cousins. Angus had closer ties with the House of Stewart than his Douglas cousins however, being the great-grandson of Robert III of Scotland
through his grandmother Princess Mary of Scotland, Countess of Angus. This was to have major implications in the downfall of the Black Douglases and the rise of the Red line.
and his brother Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
on a punitive raid into England and despoiled the countryside as far as Alnwick
which they burnt and "come hame wele". This was in response to attacks led by the Earl of Northumberland
and Robert Ogle in which they had burnt Dunbar Castle
in the east, and by the Earl of Salisbury
who had laid waste to Dumfries
in the west. The score was evened in July when the Douglases invested Warkworth Castle
and "did gret scaith" and the victory over Northumberland at the Battle of Sark
.
This action in 1448 would be the last time that the two branches of the House of Douglas would act in partnership, and ride together against their hereditary foes of Percy and Neville.
, by his monarch James II
while under assurances of safe-conduct. Other notable magnates assisted the drunken King James in the act. The whole of Douglasdale rose in rebellion under the late Earl's younger brothers, James the new 9th Earl of Douglas
, his twin Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
, and the younger Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
, and John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie
. During this time of intermittent internecine strife in Scotland, it would have been expected that Angus would have thrown his lot in with his Douglas cousins. If this had been the case it could have spelled disaster for the House of Stewart. Contemporary opinion would not have been surprised if he had, but as alluded above the ties of kinship were closer between Angus and King James were close, being first cousins within one degree. A magnate as powerful as Angus could not abstain from declaring himself either way. So, when the rebellion began in earnest in early 1455, and the King took to the field against the Douglas brothers, Angus came out in full support of his Monarch, and was given high command within the Royal army. It has been suggested that Angus accompanied the King at the siege of Abercorn
. Following the defection of James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton
, Douglas' chief lieutenant to the King's side, the Earl of Douglas fled to England in an attempt to gain support from Henry VI of England
. Douglas' brothers stayed in Scotland to continue the struggle. The brothers had appeared in force in Annandale and King James sent Angus to deal with them. Angus mustered the Border Clan
s and encountered the rebels on the 18th of May near Langholm
. The ensuing Battle of Arkinholm
was a rout for the Douglas brothers, Moray was killed and Ormonde captured (to be executed soon after) and only Balvenie escaped to England. That summer the Black Douglases were attainted and their estates declared forfeit. Angus appended his seal to the charter in token of approval.
In 1460, Angus accompanied King James' to the siege of English held Roxburgh Castle
. The castle, as well as having been a thorn in the side of successive Scottish monarchs, also contained a garrison loyal to the House of York
, James had decided to back the House of Lancaster
.
On the 3rd of August James' queen, Mary of Gueldres had arrived to inspire enthusiasm amongst the besiegers. Perhaps too much, James overseeing the cannonade to greet his wife, was standing too close to one of the bombard
s when it exploded, killing him, and wounding his constant companion Angus.
Angus, though wounded, was still able to take command of much of the siege, and the castle was successfully stormed and taken within the week. Furthermore, he was able to attend the coronation of James III
at Kelso Abbey
on the 10th of August, where he placed the Crown upon the nine year old King's head, as was his right as Lord Abernethy
, apparently proclaiming: "There! Now that I have set it upon your Grace's head,let me see who will be so bold as to move it."
Angus' had already become enormously powerful during the reign of James II and during the Regency for his son, his power continued to grow.
The Scots parliament had decreed following the forfeiture of the Black Douglases, that no Douglas should have the hereditary right to the wardenship of the Marches, Angus continued to exercise command over the East and Middle Marches, and was appointed lieutenant of the Realm by the Queen-regent Mary of Gueldres.
In the following year Angus spent a great deal of time consolidating his estates, placing trusted vassals in charge of the more far flung estates. 1462 saw Angus receive all of the goods lands and rents of the adherents of the forfeited Douglases in Roxburghshire, apart from those already owned by his brother William Douglas of Cluny
.
In the same year Angus was involved in negotiations with the Lancastrian Henry VI of England
. Henry had obtained a bond from Angus to aid him with "a stipulated force for the recovery of that realm [England] from Henry's rebels and enemies". For Henry's part he promised Angus, on the recovery of his kingdom "to make the saide erle sufficiently and suerly after the lawes of England a duke withynne the said reavme of England, with stile, astate, honure and name of a duke", the dukedom was to come with a castle and land to the value of 2000 marks.
Angus was unable to pursue his plans for an English dukedom, when he died on the 12th of March 1463 at Abernethy.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
Nobleman. He was the son of William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. The son of George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus and Princess Mary of Scotland, he was a grandson of King Robert III....
and Margaret Hay of Yester
Yester Castle
Yester Castle is a ruined castle, located south east of the village of Gifford in East Lothian, Scotland. The only remaining structure is the subterranean Goblin Ha' or Hobgoblin Ha' ...
. Known as the Great Earl of Angus, he succeeded to the Earldom following the death of his childless brother James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus
James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus
James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus, Lord of Liddesdale and Jedburgh Forest was a Scottish Nobleman. He was the son of William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus and Margaret Hay of Yester....
in 1446. He was to become the first Red Chief of Douglas.
Red Douglas and the Stewart connection
The chief line of the family were the Earls of DouglasEarl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the extinct title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir Archibald Douglas, Guardian of Scotland...
which represented the "Black" line, whereas Angus represented the "Red" Line. Both branches were descended through bastardy from William the Hardy, Lord of Douglas. The Earl of Douglas descended through Archibald the Grim, an illegitimate son of Sir James Douglas
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Sir James Douglas , , was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.-Early life:...
. The 4th Earl of Angus' grandfather was an illegitimate child of William, 1st Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas was a Scottish magnate.-Early Life:William Douglas was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay, and nephew of "Sir James the Good", Robert the Bruce's trusted deputy...
.
Although the representatives of both lines of the House wore the "three stars argent" and "Man's Heart gules" on their arms the 4th Earl of Angus and the 8th Earl of Douglas were third cousins. Angus had closer ties with the House of Stewart than his Douglas cousins however, being the great-grandson of Robert III of Scotland
Robert III of Scotland
Robert III was King of Scots from 1390 to his death. His given name was John Stewart, and he was known primarily as the Earl of Carrick before ascending the throne at age 53...
through his grandmother Princess Mary of Scotland, Countess of Angus. This was to have major implications in the downfall of the Black Douglases and the rise of the Red line.
Douglases united
In June 1448, Angus joined with his kinsmen the Earl of DouglasWilliam Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, 2nd Earl of Avondale was a Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas and Beatrice Sinclair....
and his brother Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde was a Scottish Soldier and nobleman, a member of the powerful Black Douglases.He was the fourth son of James the Gross, 7th Earl of Douglas and his wife Beatrice Lindsay, daughter of Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney...
on a punitive raid into England and despoiled the countryside as far as Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
which they burnt and "come hame wele". This was in response to attacks led by the Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland was an English nobleman and military commander in the lead up to the Wars of the Roses. He was the son of Henry "Hotspur" Percy, and the grandson of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland...
and Robert Ogle in which they had burnt Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland, situated over the harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian.-Early history:...
in the east, and by the Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, jure uxoris 5th Earl of Salisbury and 7th and 4th Baron Montacute, KG, PC was a Yorkist leader during the early parts of the Wars of the Roses.-Background:...
who had laid waste to Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
in the west. The score was evened in July when the Douglases invested Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle is a ruined medieval building in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. The town and castle occupy a loop of the River Coquet, less than a mile from England's north-east coast...
and "did gret scaith" and the victory over Northumberland at the Battle of Sark
Battle of Sark
The Battle of Sark was fought between England and Scotland in October 1448. A large battle, it was the first significant Scottish victory over the English in over half a century, following the Battle of Otterburn of 1388...
.
This action in 1448 would be the last time that the two branches of the House of Douglas would act in partnership, and ride together against their hereditary foes of Percy and Neville.
The Douglas Rebellion
In 1452 the 8th Earl of Douglas was murdered at Stirling CastleStirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
, by his monarch James II
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
while under assurances of safe-conduct. Other notable magnates assisted the drunken King James in the act. The whole of Douglasdale rose in rebellion under the late Earl's younger brothers, James the new 9th Earl of Douglas
James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas
James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas, 3rd Earl of Avondale KG was a Scottish nobleman, last of the 'Black' earls of Douglas. He was a twin, the older by a few minutes, the younger was Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray....
, his twin Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray was a Scottish nobleman during the reign of King James II of Scotland. He was one of the five brothers from the Black Douglas family who clashed with the king....
, and the younger Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde
Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde was a Scottish Soldier and nobleman, a member of the powerful Black Douglases.He was the fourth son of James the Gross, 7th Earl of Douglas and his wife Beatrice Lindsay, daughter of Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney...
, and John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie
John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie
John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie was the youngest of the five formidable Black Douglas brothers, who clashed with King James II of Scotland.-Early life:...
. During this time of intermittent internecine strife in Scotland, it would have been expected that Angus would have thrown his lot in with his Douglas cousins. If this had been the case it could have spelled disaster for the House of Stewart. Contemporary opinion would not have been surprised if he had, but as alluded above the ties of kinship were closer between Angus and King James were close, being first cousins within one degree. A magnate as powerful as Angus could not abstain from declaring himself either way. So, when the rebellion began in earnest in early 1455, and the King took to the field against the Douglas brothers, Angus came out in full support of his Monarch, and was given high command within the Royal army. It has been suggested that Angus accompanied the King at the siege of Abercorn
Abercorn
Abercorn is a village and parish in West Lothian, Scotland. Close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth, the village is around west of South Queensferry.-History:...
. Following the defection of James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton
James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton
James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, 6th Lord of Cadzow was a Scottish nobleman, scholar and politician.-Early life:...
, Douglas' chief lieutenant to the King's side, the Earl of Douglas fled to England in an attempt to gain support from Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. Douglas' brothers stayed in Scotland to continue the struggle. The brothers had appeared in force in Annandale and King James sent Angus to deal with them. Angus mustered the Border Clan
Border Reivers
Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo–Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ranks consisted of both Scottish and English families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality...
s and encountered the rebels on the 18th of May near Langholm
Langholm
Langholm , also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Esk and the A7 road.- History:...
. The ensuing Battle of Arkinholm
Battle of Arkinholm
The Battle of Arkinholm was fought on May 1, 1455, at Arkinholm near Langholm in Scotland, during the reign of King James II of Scotland.Although a small action, involving only a few hundred troops, it was the decisive battle in a civil war between the king and the Black Douglases, the most...
was a rout for the Douglas brothers, Moray was killed and Ormonde captured (to be executed soon after) and only Balvenie escaped to England. That summer the Black Douglases were attainted and their estates declared forfeit. Angus appended his seal to the charter in token of approval.
Ascendancy of the Red Douglas
Following the acts of attainder Angus received the vast fiefdom and superiority of the Lordship of Douglas, obtaining a charter of confirmation in 1457In 1460, Angus accompanied King James' to the siege of English held Roxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle was a castle sited near Kelso, in the Borders region of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire.-History:The castle was founded by King David I. In 1174 it was surrendered to England after the capture of William I at Alnwick, and was often in English hands thereafter. The Scots made...
. The castle, as well as having been a thorn in the side of successive Scottish monarchs, also contained a garrison loyal to the House of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
, James had decided to back the House of Lancaster
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
.
On the 3rd of August James' queen, Mary of Gueldres had arrived to inspire enthusiasm amongst the besiegers. Perhaps too much, James overseeing the cannonade to greet his wife, was standing too close to one of the bombard
Bombard
Bombard may refer to:*The act of carrying out a bombardment*Bombard , a type of late medieval siege weapon.*Bombard , a contemporary double reed instrument used to play traditional Breton music....
s when it exploded, killing him, and wounding his constant companion Angus.
Angus, though wounded, was still able to take command of much of the siege, and the castle was successfully stormed and taken within the week. Furthermore, he was able to attend the coronation of James III
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
at Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey
Kelso Abbey is what remains of a Scottish abbey founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Scotland in the reign of Alexander I. It occupies ground overlooking the confluence of the Tweed and Teviot waters, the site of what was once the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
on the 10th of August, where he placed the Crown upon the nine year old King's head, as was his right as Lord Abernethy
Lord Abernethy
The Lord of Abernethy was from the 12th century to the 14th century the hereditary holder of the church and lands of the Scottish monastery at Abernethy. It gradually evolved alongside the title Abbot of Abernethy, displacing that term in extant sources by the end of the 13th century...
, apparently proclaiming: "There! Now that I have set it upon your Grace's head,let me see who will be so bold as to move it."
Angus' had already become enormously powerful during the reign of James II and during the Regency for his son, his power continued to grow.
The Scots parliament had decreed following the forfeiture of the Black Douglases, that no Douglas should have the hereditary right to the wardenship of the Marches, Angus continued to exercise command over the East and Middle Marches, and was appointed lieutenant of the Realm by the Queen-regent Mary of Gueldres.
In the following year Angus spent a great deal of time consolidating his estates, placing trusted vassals in charge of the more far flung estates. 1462 saw Angus receive all of the goods lands and rents of the adherents of the forfeited Douglases in Roxburghshire, apart from those already owned by his brother William Douglas of Cluny
William Douglas of Cluny
William Douglas of Cluny was the son of William, 2nd earl of Angus and Margaret Hay.William Douglas was appointed guardian to King James III, during his minority, and received from him, before 1462, some of the spoil accruing from the forfeiture of the Earl of Douglas and his adherents...
.
In the same year Angus was involved in negotiations with the Lancastrian Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. Henry had obtained a bond from Angus to aid him with "a stipulated force for the recovery of that realm [England] from Henry's rebels and enemies". For Henry's part he promised Angus, on the recovery of his kingdom "to make the saide erle sufficiently and suerly after the lawes of England a duke withynne the said reavme of England, with stile, astate, honure and name of a duke", the dukedom was to come with a castle and land to the value of 2000 marks.
Angus was unable to pursue his plans for an English dukedom, when he died on the 12th of March 1463 at Abernethy.
Offices held
- Angus was a commissioner sent to treat with the English twice, in 1449 and in 1459.
- Ambassador to England in 1451
- Warden of the East and Middle Marches 1455–1462
Marriage and issue
George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus married prior to his accession, Isabella Sibbald. They had nine children:- Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of AngusArchibald Douglas, 5th Earl of AngusArchibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus , was a late medieval Scottish magnate. He became known as "Bell the Cat"...
- John Douglas
- Anne Douglas, married William Graham, 3rd Lord Graham
- Isabella Douglas, married Sir Alexander Ramsay
- Elizabeth Douglas, married Sir Robert Graham of Fintry
- Margaret Douglas, married sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy
- Janet Douglas, married 1st Duncan Scott younger of BuccleuchBuccleuchBuccleuch may refer to* the village of Buccleuch, Scottish Borders* Duke of Buccleuch, created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1663. The Chief of Clan Scott, and a claimant to the chieftaincy of the House of Douglas...
, 2nd George Leslie, 1st Earl of RothesGeorge Leslie, 1st Earl of RothesGeorge Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman.Created Lord Leslie in 1445, the title of Earl of Rothes was created in 1458 in the Peerage of Scotland for him.-References:*Dictionary of National Biography... - Egidia Douglas
- Alice Douglas