Double Douglas

Gaelic Name: Dubhghlas
How to pronounce Dubhghlas

Ancient Douglas Tartan

Motto: Jamais arriere (Never behind)
Lands: Lanarkshire, Galloway, Dumfriesshire and Angus
Origin of Name: Place name, Lanark (Black stream)

The earliest recorded Douglas seems to be William of Douglas, whose name appears as a witness to charters between 1175 and 1211 around Lanarkshire


Surprise, surprise! I found a Douglas line on my maternal side. My 7th Great Grandmother through my maternal grandfather's side is a Douglas.
That makes any descendants of Mary Sandra ... a Double Douglas!

I was able to trace Elisabeth Douglas (1668-1714) back to the Good Sir James Douglas.   He was the greatest Captain under Robert the Bruce(1274-1329) in the War of Independence and is held as the third of Scotland’s finest patriots only after Bruce and William Wallace (1272-1305) of Braveheart fame.

The Douglas Clan history listed at  ScotClans

During these times the house of Douglas had expanded in its power and properties enormously. He was killed by the Moors of Spain in 1330 while attempting to reach the Holy Lands, where his King, Robert, had requested on his deathbed that his heart be buried.

His son was slain at the battle of Halidon Hill by the English in 1333, as was Sir Archibald. So it was Archibald’s son William who became the first Earl of Douglas in 1358, and also Earl of Mar through marriage. When he was killed at Otterburn in 1388 the second proper line of the Black Douglases had ended.

However, Sir James had also left an illegitimate son, Archibald the Grim, who took his half-brother’s place and became the 3rd Earl of Douglas. He was greatly respected and died in 1400.

His son, the 4th Earl, died fighting the English with France’s Charles VII and his younggrandsons were tricked and murdered in Edinburgh Castle by family enemies.

Modern Douglas Tartan

James, the 7th Earl, was a violent man and created many enemies, to his sons’ cost. The 8th Earl was stabbed to death by  James II Stewart(1430-1460), King of Scotland (your 14th great grand uncle). Three years later the King accused the family of treason and the earldom and entire estates of the Black Douglases were decimated.

Ruins of Douglas Castle
Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Douglas Castle

The Plantagenets

Royal Arms of The Plantagenets

Known as the Warrior Kings and Queens of England, the Plantagenets dynasty rose to prominence in the High Middle Ages and lasted through the end of the Late Middle Ages. Two cadet branches descend from the Plantagenets; The House of York and The House of Lancaster. 

The founder of this great dynasty is Geoffrey V Plantagenet (1113-1151),Count of Anjou (Angevin Empire) who is also your 25th Great Grandfather through my mothers line. 

Broom Shrub

The name "Plantagenet" comes from a 12th century nickname of Geoffrey's meaning Broom Plant. He received this nickname from the yellow sprig of Broom Blossom that he wore in his hat. Planta Genista (Genet in French) is the official name of the Broom Shrub.

                                                                                                                                  

Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk V (1092-1143), Count of Anjou and King of Jerusalem and his wife Ermengarde of Maine(1109-1126). He was knighted at the age of 15 in preparation for his marriage to Empress Matilda of England (1102-1167) daughter of Henry I (1133-1189), King of England and the widow of Henry V (1086-1125), King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor.

This marriage was intended to seal a peace treaty between England/Normandy and Anjou. According to several sources the marriage was a stormy one with frequent long separations. Matilda who was 11 years older than Geoffrey was known to be quite proud of her status as Empress. The marriage was thought to be unhappy, partly because Maude felt humiliated that she, an empress, was married to a mere Count. Their first son, Henry, was born five years after the wedding. Two more sons, Geoffrey and Guillaume followed in the next three years.

Writers of that time period have described Geoffrey as handsome, red-headed, jovial and a great warrior but it was also alleged that his charm camouflaged a cold and selfish character.

After the death of Matilda's father the English throne passed to next living male relative which was Matilda's cousin, Stephen of Blois (1092-1154). Geoffrey fought against King Stephen and conquered the Normandy from him and was from 1144 on Duke of Normandy. He also quelled several uprisings in Anjou during this time period.

Geoffrey and Henry went to Paris to pledge their alliance to King Louis VII in 1151. There, Henry met the Queen Eleanor for the first time and apparently fell in love, which would later result in one of the biggest scandals of their time. Queen Eleanor (Eleanor of Aquitaine (1177-1204), Queen of France, Queen of England) just happens to be your 23rd Great Grandmother from another line.

 Geoffrey and Matilda's firstborn,  Henry II, King of England(1133-1189) (the first Plantagenet king of England) succeeded King Stephen in 1154.

Geoffrey died on 07 SEP 1151 of fever. He was returning from a counsel meeting when he was suddenly taken ill. He collapsed on a couch, made bequests of gifts and charities and died. He was entombed at St. Julien's Cathedral in Le Mans, France. His tomb and remains were lost during the French Revolution.

Cathedral of St. Julien,  Le Mans, France