|
This page is a stub, and a
starter page
Steeped in the intricate tapestry of
French history, the Douglas family stands as an enduring
testament to resilience, legacy, and the fusion of cultures.
With roots tracing back centuries, their narrative intertwines
with pivotal moments in France's rich heritage, weaving a story
of nobility, influence, and adaptation.
Originating from
Scotland, the Douglas family found a new home and purpose within
the borders of France, entwining their fate with the country's
tumultuous yet captivating past. Their journey traverses epochs,
marked by alliances with French monarchs, valiant exploits in
war, and the embrace of French culture and society.
From
the medieval bFrom the medieval battlegrounds where their
valorous acts earned honor and acclaim to the opulent salons of
Parisian high society, the Douglas family navigated the
intricate web of aristocratic life. Their presence echoed
through the grand halls of châteaux and estates, leaving an
indelible imprint on the landscapes they inhabited.
Despite the winds of change that swept across the country, the
Douglas family adapted and endured, preserving a heritage that
melds Scottish roots with the essence of France. Their story
epitomizes the ebb and flow of history, a testament to the
enduring allure of a family steeped in tradition, loyalty, and
the ever-evolving fabric of French society.
Join us on an
exploration of the Douglas family's journey through time,
unraveling the threads of their legacy woven intricately into
the vibrant tapestry of France's past. Delve into the tales of
triumphs and challenges, the cultural fusion, and the lasting
impact of a family whose history echoes through the annals of
both Scottish and French heritage.
Charlemagne and the
Lombardy Campaign in 773
During
Charlemagne's campaign against the Lombards in 773, there's no
historical evidence to suggest that the Scots directly joined
his army. At that time, Scotland was a separate kingdom, and
Charlemagne's military endeavors primarily involved forces from
within his own Frankish Kingdom and its neighboring regions,
such as the Franks, Bavarians, Saxons, and other allies within
the Frankish Empire. However, family lore states that he asked
for help from king of Dál Riata (Western Scotland) Eochaid IV.
The latter asked his cousin 'Count William of Douglas' to
recruit and bring to France a brigade of 4,000 men, which he
did.
These men would have passed through France as they
made their way to Italy, and, again, family lore suggests that
there was time for the Douglases to father children along the
way.
100 Years War (1337–1453)
More certainly, the arrival in France of the Scots to fight
in the 100 Years war resulted in the Douglases making their
mark.
The involvement of Scots in the Hundred Years'
War was significant. While Scotland was often entangled in its
own conflicts, many Scots fought in France during this prolonged
conflict between England and France (1337–1453). One of the most
notable figures was Sir William Douglas, known as the "Flower of
Chivalry," who fought for the French against the English. The
Auld Alliance between Scotland and France also influenced
Scottish participation. The alliance, a longstanding agreement
between the two countries, meant that when France was at war
with England, Scots were often called upon to aid their ally.
Scottish involvement wasn’t uniform, though. While many fought
for the French, some Scottish mercenaries also served in English
armies, like the White Company led by Sir John Hawkwood.
Overall, the Scots’ involvement in the Hundred Years' War was
multifaceted, with individuals fighting on both sides, primarily
influenced by political alliances and personal ambitions.
The Earl of Douglas, Duke of Touraine
The leader of the Scottish
expeditionary force was Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas
(called Archambault Douglas in French texts). Obviously, Charles
VII had little money with which to reward his supporters,
although his supporters were few. One way to express his
gratitude was to bestow honours; and giving fiefs was a way to
help them support the costs of war far from home.
The
earl of Douglas was made Constable of France in 1421. By Letters
Patent of April 19, 1424, he was given the duchy of Touraine to
hold in peerage by him and his heirs male of the body (Père
Anselme 3:231), and gave homage the same day. The earl was
killed at the battle of Verneuil on August 17, 1424. His only
son Archibald, who had been made count of Longueville, succeeded
as 5th earl of Douglas; he had left France for Scotland in 1423,
and at the time of his father's death a rumor reached France
that he had died without children; the king assumed the title
extinct and gave the duchy to Louis d'Anjou on Nov. 21, 1424.
When the news were disproved, the 5th earl was allowed to retain
the title of duke of Touraine (Dictionary of National Biography,
s.v. Archibald Douglas, Père Anselme, 3:231). He died in 1439.
His only two sons, William and David, were executed for treason
in 1440 in Edinburgh and the descent of the 4th earl was
extinct.
George Douglas, Earl of Dunbarton
The family that possessed an estate and castle at Montréal-en-Bugey,
in France, it is claimed, is descended from
George Douglas, Earl
of Dunbarton, Knight of the Order of St. Andrew, Gentleman
of the Bedchamber to the British King and Lieutenant-General in
the Royal Armies, who appears to have followed James II into
exile. The Gazette de France says that he died at Saint-Germain-en-Laye
on the 21st of March, 1692/79)
Several others were granted titles and their
associated lordships. Most, if not all, are documented in the
Douglas Archives.
For more, see the
Early History of
the Douglas family in France.
Heraldry
Some of the Douglas families matriculated arms in France.
Some, such as the 4th earl of Douglas, incorporated their French
arms into their Scottish arms.
The 4th earl of Douglas used two
arms on his seals: one was Quarterly Douglas and Galloway, en
surtout Murray of Rothwell (Stevenson and Wood), another was
Quarterly Douglas, Galloway, Murray and Annandale (Catalogue of
Seals, 16054). One seal, attributed to him, shows a modified
version: Quarterly France, Douglas, Annandale, Galloway with the
title of duke of Touraine, earl of Douglas and of Longueville in
the legend. However, both Laing (suppl. 282) and the catalogue
of the British Museum (16055) date it to 1421, which is
impossible; moreover, the title of count of Longueville was
given to the 4th earl's son. I suspect that the latter seal
belonged to Archibald, 5th earl. In any event, the 4th earl did
use those arms with a French quarter, since a seal of his widow
Margret, daughter of Robert III king of Scots, shows Quarterly
France, Douglas, Annandale, Galloway impaling Scotland, and the
title of duchess of Touraine (on a document dated 1425; Laing).
Both the 5th and 6th earls used the same shield with a
quarter of France and the title of duke of Touraine (Stevenson
and Wood). No other earl of Douglas did so.
It is not
clear where the escutcheon comes from. This was the first time
that a French king conferred a peerage on someone who was not of
royal blood. Hitherto, the differenced arms of France became
associated with the peerage, so that the arms of Touraine,
Burgundy modern, Anjou, Berry, Alençon, as provinces, are all
differenced versions of the arms of France. In other words,
there were no arms of Touraine proper to be borne by a
non-royal.
Although there is no evidence to that effect,
I suspect that the reason for the escutcheon is the same as that
for the escutcheon of the Stuarts of Darnley, which is well
documented, and for the quarter of the Kennedy of Bargany. Thus,
the escutcheon of France is not a mark of peerage, and does not
represent the duchy of Touraine (or the seigneurie of Aubigny in
the case of the Darnley), but a special augmentation conferred
by the king independently of any fief.
|
