Douglas Tartan: One Of The Most Powerful Clans In Scotland

One of history's most illustrious clans, the powerful Douglases exercised power and military force from the Scottish lowlands to Sweden. The magnificent clan tartan is still worn by rifle units in the British Army, and more than two dozen castles were constructed to house the Douglas.

Douglas Clan

The Scottish Lowlands are home to the illustrious Clan Douglas.

Their leaders seized huge holdings throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, as well as in France and Sweden. They took their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire. The family has held many titles and is one of the most ennobled in the United Kingdom.

During the Late Middle Ages, the Douglases were one of Scotland's most influential families and unquestionably the most well-known family in lowland Scotland. They frequently held the true power behind the throne of the Stewart Kings. The titles of Earl of Douglas (Black Douglas) and, subsequently, Earl of Angus belonged to the rulers of the House of Douglas (Red Douglas).

The Lord Lyon does not officially recognize a chief for the clan. The current principal Douglas is the Duke of Hamilton, but because his last name is "Douglas-Hamilton" rather than just "Douglas," the Lyon Court's statutes forbid him from becoming the name's chief.

Clan Douglas' Castle

Douglas Castle in Lanarkshire served as the family's original center of power. The bones of several of the Earls of Douglas and Angus are kept at the Kirk of St. Bride at Douglas, Melrose Abbey, and the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

The Swedish branch has been one of Sweden's most illustrious noble families since the 17th century and is descended from Field Marshal Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge.

Origins Of Douglas

Clan Douglas

The surname of the family is believed to have originated from the settlement of Douglas, whose name is derived from the Gaelic words dubh, which means "dark, black," and glas, which means "stream" (in turn from Old Gaelic dub and glais). However, according to the 17th-century historian Frederic van Bossen, the name Douglas was first given to Lord Shulton, who lived in the eighth century, and it means "gray hairs in the old tongue." According to Frederic van Bossen, Lord Shulton was a Prince of Caledonia descendent through Adrolena of Shaultow.

William Douglas, Lord of Douglas in 1179, is unquestionably the ancestor of the family and the first recorded instance of the name Douglas. Between 1175 and 1199, he was there when the Kelso monks received a charter from the Bishop of Glasgow. Two of his sons, Sir William de Douglas, his grandson, participated in the 1263 Battle of Largs against the Norsemen.

According to an ancient legend, Sholto Douglas, the first chief of the Douglas, assisted the Scottish king in winning a war in the year 767. This is unsupported and most likely made-up history.

Theobald the Fleming, who in 1147 gained the estates around Douglas Water in Lanarkshire in exchange for services for the Abbot of Kelso, who owned the barony and lordship of Holydean, was most likely the real ancestor of Clan Douglas.

The names of the Douglas family were Arkenbald and Freskin, and they were thought to be related to the Clan Murray, which was thought to be descended from a Flemish knight by the name of Freskin. He was most likely the father of the original William Douglas.

However, it has been argued that the properties awarded to Theobald the Fleming were not the territories from which the Douglas family later descended, despite the Douglases' alleged Flemish ancestry.

Douglas Tartan

Douglases today can carry that celebrity air about them by donning the classic Douglas clan tartan colors. Browse this collection of Douglas clan tartan items and more!

Douglas Tartan Skirt

Douglas Tartan Quilt. Buy products here.

Douglas Tartan Slippers. Buy products here.

Douglas Ancient Clan Tartan Round Rug. Buy products here.

Douglas Clan Tartan Sweatpants with Side Stripe. Buy products here.

Douglas Ancient Clan Tartan Ceramic Ornament. Buy products here.

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