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The Douglas earls of Angus and their role in Scotland's history has intrigued many Scottish historians since the sixteenth century. The sudden disgrace and forfeiture of the sixth Earl carried out by James the fifth, as well as the proscription of the earls of Douglas enacted by James the second, seemed with the patriotism displayed by their ancestors Sir James Douglass during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
The volte-face of tThe volte-face of the Douglases was attributed to vaulting ambition which led them to aspire to become virtual rulers of the kingdom, but, fortunately for Scotland,, the Stewart kings triumphed over their too powerful subjects. This interpretation has been challenged by historians of the family, most notably David Hume of Godscroft, who defended the political actions of the Douglases upon. the grounds of necessity and self-preservation. Both these views of Scottish history assumed that the earls of Douglas and of Anqus had a consistent policy which was scrupulously followed by them; only the aims of the Douglases, were in dispute.
The problem with this standard interpretation is that the policies, or rather, assumed policies, of the comital families of Douglas and of Angus, were judged upon the basis of historical hind-sight. The disgrace and forfeiture passed upon them in 1455 and in 1528 were believed to be the result of machinations, whether perfidious or not, which aroused the king's ire.
In this study, the main emphasis has been placed upon the actual historical evidence available for analysis in order to determine whether a definite policy was actually puzzled by the Douglases or not. In the light of the documentary record, to assume that an all-embracing political programme was followed by these noble families seems an unwarranted supposition.
The earls of Angus like their social equals, were interested in acquiring lands and property but there is no evidence to suggest that this was a direct result of a grand plan to rule Scotland.
The twin bases of social action in mediaeval Scottish society were the ownership of property, especially estates, and the ties of blood relationship, between individuals. How the earls, of Angus built up their power in acquiring lands; to whom did they parcel out estates to gain political support; how many beneficiaries of the earls' generosity were, kinsmen are important questions which shall be discussed in this work. The role of consanguinity is an important factor which cannot be underestimated, but in many instances was an imponderable one. Men both the earls of Douglas and of Angus were involved in civil strife against their sovereigns in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries they did not receive the wholehearted support of their kinsmen. Kinship and feudal dependence were not alone indicative of political commitment.
This two volume study by Dr. Michael Garhart Kelly examines the
situation in mediaeval Scotland.
The publication contains maps
and family trees.
Volume 1 [pdf
3mb]
Volume 2 [pdf 3mb]
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