People of Medieval Scotland
1093 - 1371

William Douglas, lord of Liddesdale (d. 1353)

Biography
The eldest son of Sir James Douglas of Lothian and his wife Joan [family name unknown]. Douglas was a very active leader of the campaigns against Balliol partisans in Scotland after 1332. He led the vanguard of the force, under the command of Sir Andrew Murray, that defeated and killed David Strathbogie, titular earl of Atholl, at Culblean in Aberdeenshire on 30 November 1335. Thereafter campaigned in Fife and Lothian and was involved in the assaults that took Cupar Castle and the burgh of Perth in 1339 and Edinburgh castle in 1341. Well rewarded by David II after his return to Scotland in 1341, with title to the earldom of Atholl and the barony of Dalkeith. In 1342 he obtained the lordship of Liddesdale, effectively surrendering his claim to Atholl to Robert the Steward in exchange. William was one of the Scottish lords captured at Neville’s Cross alongside David II on 17 October 1346. From 1348 Douglas was involved in the promotion of schemes to secure David’s release and allowed to return to Scotland to press for acceptance of these terms in 1350 and 1351-2 but they were rejected by a Scottish parliament in March 1352. Returned to imprisonment in England Douglas obtained his freedom by offering his allegiance to Edward III on 17 July 1352 with the proviso that he would not serve in war against Scots. Back in Scotland by August 1353 William was killed by his cousin William Douglas, later first earl of Douglas, at Williamhope, Ettrick Forest. He was buried at Melrose Abbey. Douglas married an Elizabeth [family name unknown] and the couple had a daughter, Mary, who married but died childless. William’s lands passed, under the terms of an entail he had drawn up in 1351, to his nephew, establishing the Douglas lineage of Dalkeith [later earls of Morton]. https://doi-org.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/10.1093/ref:odnb/7923
Floruits
1323 × 1346

Total number of associated factoids: 60

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Date Short Summary Role Witnesses Source
20 Apr. 1323 Concession and remission of 8 marks with 5s. and 10d. from rent of Calder Clere and Kingscavil Beneficiary Alexander Fraser (II), chamberlain (d.1332); Bernard, abbot of Arbroath, chancellor; James Douglas, lord of Douglas (d.1330); Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray (d. 1332); Walter Stewart (III) (d.1327) 1/53/252 (RRS, v, no. 224)
23 Sept. 1323 Confirmation of 9-year mortgage of Whitfield (PEB) Beneficiary 1/53/275 (RRS, v, no. 245)
10 May 1329 Gift of Eshiels (PEB) Beneficiary Adam More, knight; Gilbert Hay (II), lord of Errol, constable (d.1333); James Douglas, lord of Douglas (d.1330); Robert Keith, marischal (d.1343); Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray (d. 1332); Walter of Twynham, chancellor 1/53/431 (RRS, v, no. 378)
18 Jul. 1341 Gift of earldom of Atholl (PER) Beneficiary Alexander Seton, knight (mid 14C); David Lindsay (IV) of Crawford, knight (d. x1357); Duncan (IV), earl of Fife (d.1353); Malcolm Fleming, earl of Wigtown (d. 1357x62); Philip of Meldrum, knight (14C); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/23 (RRS, vi, no. 31)
11 Aug. 1341 Gift of barony of Kilbucho with Newlands (PEB) Beneficiary Alexander Ramsay; John de Bonville, knight; Maurice Murray, earl of Strathearn (d. 1346); Philip of Meldrum, knight (14C); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/24 (RRS, vi, no. 32)
22 Sept. 1341 Gift of lands in Eskdale and Ewesdale (DMF) Beneficiary Duncan (IV), earl of Fife (d.1353); Malcolm Fleming, earl of Wigtown (d. 1357x62); Maurice Murray, earl of Strathearn (d. 1346); Patrick (V), earl of Dunbar/March and Moray (d.1369); Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/28 (RRS, vi, no. 36)
6 Jan. 1342 Gift of barony of Dalkeith (MLO) Beneficiary John de Bonville, knight; Malcolm Ramsay, knight (14C); Maurice Murray, earl of Strathearn (d. 1346); Patrick (V), earl of Dunbar/March and Moray (d.1369); Philip of Meldrum, knight (14C); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/40 (RRS, vi, no. 42)
19 Jan. 1342 Gift of lands of John de Mowbray Beneficiary John Randolph, earl of Moray, lord of Annandale and Man (d. 1346); Patrick (V), earl of Dunbar/March and Moray (d.1369); Philip of Meldrum, knight (14C); Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/41 (RRS, vi, no. 43)
14 Feb. 1342 Delivery of sasine of Liddesdale (ROX) named person (transaction) 1/54/42 (RRS, vi, no. 44)
16 Feb. 1342 Gift of Liddesdale (ROX) Beneficiary Duncan (IV), earl of Fife (d.1353); John Randolph, earl of Moray, lord of Annandale and Man (d. 1346); Malcolm Fleming, earl of Wigtown (d. 1357x62); Patrick (V), earl of Dunbar/March and Moray (d.1369); Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/43 (RRS, vi, no. 45)
29 May 1342 Gift of Douglasdale (LAN), Carmichael (LAN), Selkirk Forest (SLK), Lauderdale (BWK), Bedrule (ROX), Eskdale (ROX), Staplegordon (DMF), Buittle in Galloway (KCB), Romanno (PEB), and of the (burgh) ferme of Rutherglen (LAN) named person (transaction) Adam Murray, master, bishop of Brechin, chancellor (d. 1349/50); Alexander of Kinninmonth, bishop of Aberdeen (d. 1344); Duncan (IV), earl of Fife (d.1353); Patrick (V), earl of Dunbar/March and Moray (d.1369); Robert Keith, marischal (d.1343); Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); Thomas de Chartres (Charteris), chancellor (d. 1346) 1/54/49 (RRS, vi, no. 51 )
Oct. 1346 X 1349 Gift of barony of Roberton (LAN) Beneficiary Adam Murray, master, bishop of Brechin, chancellor (d. 1349/50); Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); William Landellis, bishop of St Andrews (d. 1385); William Rae, bishop of Glasgow (d. 1367); William, bishop of Aberdeen (d. 1350) 1/54/118 (RRS, vi, no. 490)
Oct. 1346 X 1349 Gift of Dalruscan and Robertmore (DMF) Beneficiary Adam Murray, master, bishop of Brechin, chancellor (d. 1349/50); Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); William Landellis, bishop of St Andrews (d. 1385); William Rae, bishop of Glasgow (d. 1367); William, bishop of Aberdeen (d. 1350) 1/54/119 (RRS, vi, no. 491)
20 Oct. 1360 Inspection of charter of William Douglas, lord of Liddesdale, to his nephew James Douglas, of Aberdour (FIF) named person (transaction) Hugh of Eglinton, knight; John of Preston, knight (14C); Patrick of Leuchars, bishop of Brechin (d. 1383); Robert Erskine, chamberlain; William Douglas, earl of Douglas and Mar (d. 1384); William Landellis, bishop of St Andrews (d. 1385) 1/54/269 (RRS, vi, no. 242)
14 Dec. 1366 Inspection of charter of William Douglas of Liddesdale to James Douglas named person (transaction) 1/54/509 (RMS, i, no. 252)
10 Dec. 1368 Command to hold inquest into right of James Douglas to succeed to baronies of Kilbucho and Newlands (PEB) named person (transaction) 1/54/583 (RRS, vi, no. 417)
23 Oct. 1369 Gift of Eshiels and Quilt (PEB) named person (transaction) Archibald Douglas, lord of Galloway, earl of Douglas (d. 1400); Patrick of Leuchars, bishop of Brechin (d. 1383); Robert Erskine, chamberlain; Robert [Stewart] II, king of Scots (d. 1390); Walter of Leslie, knight; William Douglas, earl of Douglas and Mar (d. 1384); William Landellis, bishop of St Andrews (d. 1385); William of Dissington, knight 1/54/642 (RRS, vi, no. 455)


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Date Short Summary Role Source
20 Apr. 1323 Son of James Douglas of Lothian [Familial relationship] subject (relationship) 1/53/252 (RRS, v, no. 224)
20 Apr. 1323 Heir of James Douglas of Lothian [Tenurial and lordship relationship] subject (relationship) 1/53/252 (RRS, v, no. 224)
23 Sept. 1323 Son of James Douglas of Lothian [Familial relationship] object (relationship) 1/53/275 (RRS, v, no. 245)
23 Sept. 1323 Heir of James Douglas of Lothian [Tenurial and lordship relationship] subject (relationship) 1/53/275 (RRS, v, no. 245)
10 May 1329 Son of James Douglas of Lothian [Familial relationship] subject (relationship) 1/53/431 (RRS, v, no. 378)
20 Oct. 1360 Nepos (nephew/grandson) of William Douglas, lord of Liddesdale (d. 1353) [Familial Relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/269 (RRS, vi, no. 242)
14 Dec. 1366 Daughter of William Douglas, knight [Familial relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/510 (RRS, vi, no. 365)
14 Dec. 1366 Heir of William Douglas, knight [Tenurial & lordship relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/510 (RRS, vi, no. 365)
10 Dec. 1368 Uncle of James Douglas, knight [Familial relationship] subject (relationship) 1/54/583 (RRS, vi, no. 417)
23 Oct. 1369 Uncle of James Douglas, lord of Dalkeith [Familial relationship] subject (relationship) 1/54/642 (RRS, vi, no. 455)
23 Oct. 1369 Uncle of Henry Douglas [Familial relationship] subject (relationship) 1/54/642 (RRS, vi, no. 455)
7 Apr. 1370 Daughter of William Douglas [Familial relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/678 (RMS, i, no. 310)
7 Apr. 1370 Heir of William Douglas, lord of Liddesdale [Tenurial & lordship relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/678 (RMS, i, no. 310)
7 Apr. 1370 Daughter of William Douglas, lord of Liddesdale [Familial relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/679 (RRS, vi, no. 465)
7 Apr. 1370 Heir of William Douglas, lord of Liddesdale [Tenurial & lordship relationship] object (relationship) 1/54/679 (RRS, vi, no. 465)