douglas
 

Archibald, the Fourth Earl of Douglas, was born in 1369, younger son to Archibald, the Third Earl of Douglas, and Jean Moray.  Douglas married Margaret Stuart, daughter of the Scottish monarch Robert III, in 1390.  They had two children together:  Archibald (who at his father's death became the Fifth Earl of Douglas) and Elizabeth.  Interestingly, Douglas was once suspected and tried for the murder of David Stuart, Margaret's older brother and heir apparent of Scotland, but little is known about the incident beyond that Douglas was acquitted.

Though Shakespeare depicts him as a fearsome warrior, the historical Douglas was actually nicknamed "Tyneman," which means "loser," because of his lack of military skills.  He was still highly involved in military action, though, successfully defending Edinburgh against Henry IV's invasion of Scotland in 1400.  In 1402, Douglas fought against Hotspur at Holmedon Hill and was defeated and captured.  Hotspur had fought against Douglas's grandfather, James, years earlier at the Battle of Otterburn, but that conflict had a much different outcome, with Hotspur soundly defeated and taken prisoner, though James himself was killed in the effort. 

Douglas was released from the Percys' captivity on the condition that he would fight with them against the King at Shrewsbury.  Douglas survived the battle, but he injured himself falling down a hill as he was trying to get away and ended up captured by the English forces.  He was finally released in 1408; because he was a Scot, he could not be considered a traitor against England, and therefore they had no cause to execute him. 

After gaining his freedom, Douglas continued to fight against the English.  In 1423, he joined with France in an alliance against England, becoming a lieutenant general in the French army and also the Duke of Touraine.  The next year, however, Douglas suffered defeat at Verneuil and was killed in battle at the age of 56.

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