In 1357, this Sir William was made Earl Douglas, and by marriage became Earl of Mar. He died in 1384. His son,james, 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar, fell at Otterburn, 1388. His own natural son became progenitor of the marquesses of Queensbury, whilst he was succeeded under entail by Archibald "the Grim," 3rd Earl, natural son of "Good Sir James." The 4th Earl was created Duke of Touraine in France, and married Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert III. William, 6th Earl and 2nd Duke, was finally slain by Chancellor Crichton at the "Black Dinner" at Edinburgh Castle, in 1440. William, 8th Earl, who married the "Fair Maid of galloway," maintained magnificent sway at Threave Castle, and was killed at Stirling Castle by James II, in 1452. The Earldom was forfeited when James, 9th Earl, was defeated at Arkinholm, in 1445. The Chiefship of this great family then fell to the Earls of Angus, of whom the 5th is celebrated as "Bell the Cat," leader of the rude barons who opposed the cultured court of James III. William, 11th Earl of Angus, was created Marquis of Douglas, in 1633. A Dukedom of Douglas followed in 1703, but expired in 1761, when the "Douglas Cause" arose over succession to the vast estates.
The Duke of Hamilton (paternally a Douglas) then became Earl of Angus and heir-male of the House of
Douglas. He is Chief of the Hamiltons. The estates, after the great litigation known as "The Douglas
Cause," devolved on the heir-female who was as Representtator of the House of Douglas awarded the arms of
Douglas of Douglas, and was later created Lord Douglas of Douglas, and awarded the Chief Arms of the House
of Douglas, whose daughter and eventual senior co-heiress married the 11th Earl of Home.
