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The origins of the Douglas Scotti and Scoti Douglas families are
said to stem from Sholto Douglas
the (mythical) progenitor of Clan Douglas, 'a powerful and warlike
family in medieval Scotland'. This apparently mythical man apparently
took part in a mythical battle, where he was given a surname.
A
(mythical) battle took place: "in 767, between King Solvathius rightful king of Scotland and a pretender Donald
Bane. The victory was so nearly Donald's when a certain noble man,
disdaining to see so bad a cause have good successe, struck in for the
king and turned the fortunes of the day. When the king inquired about
the knight who had done such valuable service, somebody exclaimed
'Sholto du glasse!'...'Behold the black gray man!'."
The
(mythical?) Sholto had two (mythical?) sons, William and Marius (Mario).
In the year 773 king Charlemagne started a military campaign against
the Lombards in Italy, because they were not respecting an agreement
made with Pepin the Short, Charlemagne's father, to give part of their
land to the state of the Church. He asked for help from king of Dál
Riata (Western Scotland) Eochaid IV (1). The latter asked his cousin
Count William of Douglas to recruit and bring to France a brigade of
4,000 men, which he did. But soon thereafter he had to return to
Scotland to govern the family clan, leaving his command to his younger
brother Marius Douglas, who at the time was described as courageous,
tall, strong and with a reddish beard.(2)
The army of the Franks
crossed the Alps and took base in the Benedictine Abbey of Novalesa, in
the high valley of Dora Riparia. Mario Scoto, as he was known in Italy,
discovered a small path through forests between the mountains which was
absolutely unusable by the army, but perfect for the Scottish
highlanders. After walking quietly for three days along the path, Mario
Scoto and his men attacked the Lombards by surprise from the back, while
king Charlemagne attacked with the cavalry from the front. It was a
major victory for the Franks which marked the decline of the Lombards in
Italy.
In the spring of 774, Pope Adrian I and the king
Charlemagne decided to meet. With a small escort, amongst whom Mario
Scoto was present, Charlemagne travelled the ancient via Cassia to Saint
Peter's Basilica where he was received and blessed by the pope. Mario
Scoto was Catholic as were the majority of Scotsmen at the time and at
the service of his king became himself a defender of the Faith. He
became an appreciated military advisor and distinguished himself in the
Spanish campaign and in the battle against the Saxons at the confluence
of the Weser with the Aller in which of the 5,000 Saxons, only the 500
who chose to be baptised were spared their lives.
Towards the end
of the century Mario Scoto retired from the army, married an Italian
noblewoman called Marozia and, for his devotion to the pope, settled in
Rome where he was granted the honor to escort the pope. He was therefore
present when in April 799 Pope Leo III was assaulted and kidnapped near
the church of San Lorenzo in Lucina. Mario Scoto was able to find the
pope in a monastery on the Aventine Hill and rescued him and returned
him to his throne at the Holy See. The scene was later painted in
Bologna by Giuseppe Antonio Caccioli.
On Christmas Day 800 Mario Scoto was invested Count of Bagnacavallo in
Romagna and was granted the privilege to ornate his family crest, which
already had the rampant leopard of Scotland, with the three
fleur-de-lis, characteristic symbol of the French kings.
The
family still conserves a very ancient portrait of a soldier with the
following encryption in Latin: "Marius de Calveis, Scotus, Carl Mag M
Dux Familiam Marescotti Fundavit ANN D. DCCC" (Marius of Galloway,
Scottish, military commander under Carlemagne, founder of the Marescotti
family. AD 800)
In the 9th century the Marescotti people (name
derived from Mario Scoto) carried the title of counts of Bagnacavallo, a
large fiefdom between the Lamone and Savio rivers. Charlemagne had
received vast lands in the Bologna area and had later distributed them,
as was the custom in those days, to the veterans of his army.
Returning to the elder brother, William, we note two versions of the
story.
Said to be Count William Douglas, who left France
'to recruit and bring to France a brigade of 4,000 men, which he did (3)'.
But soon thereafter we note he had to return to Scotland to govern the
family clan, leaving his brother in charge. However, we note
elsewhere that William remained in Piacenza due to bad health and
married a daughter of Antonio Spettino, and William fought
with the army of Charlemagne against Desiderius, was in Piacenza
and married the only daughter of the Lord of the castle of Spettino
becoming the founder of the "Scots".
 Chart
showing the origins of the Douglas Scotto from a
presentation
David Hume writes:
William Douglas father of the honourable
familie of the SCOTI in Italy.
This William was son to the first
Hugh, and grandchild to Sholto, younger brother to the second Hugh: he
it is that was father to the noble familie of the Scoti in Placenza in
Italy, which fell out thus, as it is related by the Italian Historians,
agreeing with ours.
Achaius king of Scotland having succeeded to
Solvathius, did enter into league with Charlemaigne, which league hath
continued betwixt the Scots and French without breach on either side
ever since untill these our dayes; whereupon when the Emperour Charles
went into Italy to represse the insolencies of Desiderius King of the
Lombards committed against the Sea of Rome, Achaius as his confederate
did send him foure thousand choice men under the conduct of his brother
William, a pious and valarous young Prince.
Amongst other of his
Captains that went with him, this William Douglas was one of the chief,
and had the leading of the men of armes. The Emperour having restored
Pope Leo the third to the dignity of his Seat, as he returned through
Tuscanie, amongst other his notable acts, he restored also the
Commonwealth of Florence to their former libertie; in which exploit the
valour and actions of the Scottish Prince William were much remarked:
the Florentines to shew their thankfulnesse to the Emperour took to
their Armes the Red Lillie, a part of the French Armes, the colour only
being changed: And in memorie of the valour of Prince William they did
institte publike playes yearely, in which they crowned a Lion with
great ceremonie and pomp, ordaining also that certain Lions should be
kept upon the charges of the common Thesaurarie, because William had a
Lion for his Armes, which is also the Armes of the Kings of Scotland.
They have also a prophesie in Florence, which saith,
While
crowned Lions live in Florence field, *
To forraine Armes their State
shall never yeeld.
This Prince William, brother to Achaius King
of Scotland, passed into Germanie, and gave himselfe wholly to the
warres, where for his service by his sword, having obtained large
Territories, he led a single life all his dayes, and thinking to make
Christ his heire, he founded and doted fifteen Abbacies for those of the
Scottish Nation. It is he (saith Major) who is named in songs made of
him, Scottish Gilmore. Now while as the Emperour and Prince William
were in their returne from Italy towards France, William Douglas in his
voyage through Plaisance did fall into a heavie disease, and not being
able to go along with the Emperour, stayed at Plaisance till he
recovered his health. And then considering the toile and danger of so
long a journey, as it would be into his own Countrey, he resolved
rather to remain there, then to hazzard his person any more, which such
travell would have greatly endangered: wherefore to gain the good will
of the Citizens of Plaisance, and to strengthen himselfe (being a
stranger) by a good alliance, he took to wife a daughter of Antonio
Spettino, one of the most eminent and honourable houses in that Citie:
by her he had many children, of whom are descended those of the most
noble Familie of the Scoti, who are so called by reason of this William,
their Ancestour, who was a Scottishman, the name of his Country being better knowne, and more remarkable, then either his own proper name, or the name of his Familie. This originall of the Scoti in Plaisance is collected and confirmed,
1. by the testimonie of the Italian Writers;
2. by the tree and genealogie of that familie;
3. and by their Coat of Arms which they give, being the same with the ancient Coat of the Douglasses, with some difference.
The Douglas Scotti became very rich merchants since the 13th century
had acquired vast possessions and important representatives in the
government of the city of Piacenza .
The family was feudal in the
fifteenth century of the counties of Agazzano and Vigoleno , whose
rights were also recognized by the Visconti with whom they had several
clashes.
The Scotti family joined the Gonzaga family thanks to
the marriage of Giovanni Maria Scotti , Count Vigoleno , with Luigia
Gonzaga , daughter of Francesco I , of the royal line of Novellara ,
giving birth to the Scotti- Gonzaga family.
In 1414, Emperor
Sigismondo received the Douglas title in memory of the ancient Scottish
origin of the family, divided into several branches, among which:
• Douglas
Scotti of Sarmato
•
Douglas Scotti of
Vigoleno
Amongst notable family members was
Ranuccio Scotti
Douglas (1597-1659), bishop of Fidenza
1. The king in question was more probably Áed Find. It seems there might
have been some confusion during the middle ages on the rulers of
Dalriata.
2. Galeazzo Ruspoli, I Ruspoli, Gremese Editore, 2001. page
10
3. To France? or to Italy?
Letter to the Earl of Angus
My
honourable Lord, William Douglas,
When I had the honour
to see you at Orleans, I promised to send you the tree of the
family of the Scoti of Piaisance, which
is descended of the illustrious house of Douglas: but because I
have not hitherto had a convenient opportunity of sending it
safely, I have not yet paid this debt. Now therefore having
found the occasion of this gentleman, my friend, who was to go
into England, I would delay no longer to send the tree or
genealogy; which I have done, beseeching your Lordship, as you
promised me, to honour me with the tree of the house of Douglas
in Scotland, at least, so much of it as the iniquity of times
past, and the wars in that kingdom have suffered to remain
undefaced and undestroyed, and I shall rest your Lordship's
obliged for this favour.
The old arms of the Scoti in
Piaisance, were conformed to the old arms of the Douglas, as may
be seen in the foresaid city, in the church of Saint Lawrence.
But when the Ghelfs and Ghibellines did war one against another
in Italy, the Scoti, as partners of the French, were chosen to
be heads of the Ghelfs in Piaisance. And because all things of
an odd or unequal number were taken for Ghibelline, they were
constrained to change the number of three stars, into either
four or two. But esteeming that it was not fit to increase the
number, they resolved to take one from them; in the place of
which (in memory of it) they put a white or argent bar, which
beginning at the right hand, is drawn along, and ends at the
left: for if it had begun at the left, and ended at the right
hand, it had been Ghibelline. The field which was given by the
emperor Henry IV. together with a pelican for the crest, which
is the crest of the Scoti only, who carry it at this hour, and
the field of the whole family generally.
I have thought
good to make this short digression, that your Lordship might
have some knowledge wherefore this change was made in our coat:
your Lordship should do me a singular favour, if you would be
pleased to write unto me of the receipt of this tree, in the
arms of which the coronet it wanting, because the crest is the
place where it should be, and to honour me with your letters,
which you may send to my noble captain the Duke of Nevers, and
so they shall come safe to me; for which favour I shall be
particularly obliged to your Lordship.
So kissing your
Lordship's hands, together with these of your brethren and
children, I pray the Lord to bless you with all happiness and
prosperity.
Your Lordship's humble Servant and Cousin,
Mark Antonia Scoto, Count d' Agazano.
Paris, 8th May,
1622.
This tree was received by the Earl of Angus, who
did also send to him the tree of the house of Douglas. |
David Hume writes:
Now, besides all this which we have said, the evidences and monuments, charters and writs of privilege of their house do witness the same; for in the privileges granted to them by the emperor Henry IV. and Sigismund, as also by Giovanni Maria Duke of Milan, the sirname of Douglas is expressly inserted with the titles of Earls given to three several persons of that house, first Francisco, created Conte de Vigolino, Giovanni, his brother, Conte d' Agazano, by the said Duke, and to Alberto, expressly intitled, Conte de Douglas et Vigolino, by Sigismund the emperor.
Now, after all this, I hope we may justly say with John Lesly, Bishop of Ross, that the Scoti in Plaisance are come of the Douglases in Scotland. And thus much ,for William the second, son to Hugh the first, and grandchild to Sholto.
See also:
•
Extract from The History of the House and Race of Douglas and Angus, by
David Hume (pdf)
• Italian members of the
Douglas family
• Origins
of the name Scotti
For more on the Douglas Scotti families of Italy, see our
Italy portal.
Downloads:
•
Restoration of Piacentini Palaces: Palazzo Douglas Scotti, Scala of
St. George (Pdf; in Italian)
•
Footprints of the Douglas Scotti; A Scottish Warrior Journeys to
Piacenza in Northern Italy in 794 - The Douglas castles (Pdf; in
English)
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