Biography of William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl 1300-1353

Paternal Family Tree: Douglas

Around 1300 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl was born to James Douglas of Hermiston and Lothian and Joan at Liddlesdale.

Before 20 Apr 1323 [his father] James Douglas of Hermiston and Lothian died.

Battle of Dornock

On 25 Mar 1333 the Battle of Dornock was fought between the supporters of the seven year old King David II of Scotland (age 9), son of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland, and the supporters of Edward Balliol I King Scotland (age 50), supported by the English, commanded by Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 43). The English army quickly overwhelmed the Scottish force. William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 33) was captured and spent two years in prison.

In 1337 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 37) was captured at Hermitage Castle, Newcastleton.

In 1339 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 39) visited King Edward "Longshanks" I of England at Château Gaillard [Map].

Before 1340 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 40) and Elizabeth Maxwell Countess Atholl (age 4) were married. The difference in their ages was 35 years.

Around 1340 [his daughter] Mary Douglas Countess Mar was born to William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 40) and [his wife] Elizabeth Maxwell Countess Atholl (age 5) at Liddlesdale.

In 1341 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 41) was captured at Edinburgh Castle [Map].

In Jul 1342 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 42) was created 1st Earl Atholl. [his wife] Elizabeth Maxwell Countess Atholl (age 7) by marriage Countess Atholl.

Battle of Neville's Cross

                    On 17 Oct 1346 at the Battle of Neville's Cross near Durham, County Durham [Map] the English inflicted a heavy defeat on the Scottish army that had invaded England in compliance with their treaty with the French for mutual support against England.
                
                    The English army included: William Deincourt 1st Baron Deincourt (age 45), Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope Masham (age 34), Ralph Hastings (age 55), Ralph Neville 2nd Baron Neville of Raby (age 55), Archbishop William Zouche, Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy (age 45) and John Mowbray 3rd Baron Mowbray (age 35).                

                    Of the Scottish army King David II of Scotland (age 22), John Graham Earl Menteith and William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 46) were captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map].                

                    Neil Bruce, John Randolph 3rd Earl Moray (age 40), David Hay 6th Baron Erroll (age 28) and Edward Keith of Sinton (age 66) were killed.                

                    John Graham Earl Menteith was present.

After 17 Oct 1346 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 46) was imprisoned at Tower of London [Map].

In 1351 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 51) was released.

In Aug 1353 William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 53) was killed by William Douglas 1st Earl Douglas (age 30) at Ettrick Forest, Ettrick.

Before 1357 Hugh Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 22) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Maxwell Countess Atholl (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Dacre Gilsland.

On 01 Jan 1370 [his former wife] Elizabeth Maxwell Countess Atholl (age 35) died at Naworth Castle [Map].

[his father] James Douglas of Hermiston and Lothian and [his mother] Joan were married.

Ancestors of William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl 1300-1353