Dungal MacDouall (died before 1327/1328) was a fourteenth-century Scottish nobleman, and a member of the MacDouall family. He was a vigorous opponent of Robert I, King of Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence, and was knighted by Edward I, King of England for his services to the English Crown. Dungal was a close associate of John MacDougall, Lord of Argyll, whom he may have regarded as a kinsman. Dungal received grants of lands in England and Ireland after losing his own in Scotland. During his career, Dungal commanded Dumfries Castle and Rushen Castle, and is described by a contemporary record as "Captain of the army of Galloway". Dungal had a large family, and was succeeded by his son, Duncan.
The MacDoualls
Dungal was the head of the MacDouall family,Blakely (2009) p. 62; Oram (1992) p. 39. one of the most influential kindreds of Galloway.Blakely (2009) p. 62.
The precise location of the MacDoualls' lands are uncertain, although they seem to have been in Wigtownshire, since the fourteenth-century Chronicle of Lanercost reports that Dungal's son, Duncan, raised forces "beyond the Cree" in 1334.Daniels (2013) p. 92; Maxwell (1913) pp. 286–287; Stevenson (1839) p. 278.
As part of the summer campaign of the English forces in 1303, Robert Bruce VII, Earl of Carrick was ordered to assemble one thousand men from Kyle, Cunningham, and Cumnock; and a further one thousand from Carrick and Galloway.Penman (2014) p. 74; McNamee (2012a) ch. 3 ¶ 68; Barrow (2005) p. 184; Oram (1992) p. 37; Bain (1884) p. 348 § 1356; Stevenson (1870) p. 178 § 438. Amongst the men who Robert was working with were Gibbon MacCann, and Dungal himself, who were ordered to assemble two thousand men from Galloway.McNamee (2012a) ch. 3 ¶ 68; Blakely (2009) pp. 62, 67 n. 34; Barrow (2005) pp. 184–185; Oram (1992) pp. 36 n. 27, 37; Reid, RC (1958) pp. 52–53; Bain (1884) p. 268 § 1049; Stevenson (1870) p. 178 § 438.
In 1306, Robert Bruce asserted his claim to the Scottish throne. In the process he and his rival, John Comyn of Badenoch,Strickland (2008) pp. 84, 97–98; Barrow (2005) pp. 181–183. argued and Comyn was killed at Grayfriars Church in Dumfries.
Like other native Gallovdian clans, such as the MacCanns and MacCullochs, the MacDoualls were natural opponents of the Bruce cause.Traquair (1998) p. 144. Although the MacDoualls and MacCullochs profited in their support of the English, these families came to suffer after Robert's 1306 rise, when he later directed his vengeance against the MacDoualls of Galloway for the cruel deaths of Robert's brothers, Alexander and Thomas, who Dungal turned over to King Edward.Oram (1992) p. 37. Nevertheless, families such as the MacDoualls and MacCanns continued to oppose Robert on behalf of the English king they now fully supported, though they did it from England.
War with the Bruces
In January 1307, Dungal defeated a force of Bruce supporters who invaded Galloway, landing at Loch Ryan.Daniels (2013) p. 92; McNamee (2012a) ch. 5 ¶ 58; McNamee (2012b) ch. 2 ¶ 5; Brown (2008) p. 24; Strickland (2008) p. 101; Traquair (1998) pp. 144–145; Lydon (1992) p. 2; Oram (1992) p. 39. It is unknown if this strike was a mere maritime raid or the opening stage of a planned mainland campaign.Brown (2008) p. 24. One possibility is that the invading force was intended to divert attention from Robert's own landing.Barrow (2005) p. 220; Duffy (2002) p. 52. Another possibility is that the invading force was meant to annihilate the MacDoualls and MacCanns—if so, the attackers failed miserably.Barrow (2005) p. 220.
According to the Chronicle of Lanercost, the invasion force consisted of eighteen ships, and was led by Thomas Bruce, Alexander Bruce, Reginald Crawford, an unidentified Lord of Kintyre, and an unidentified Irish kinglet. This source reports that Dungal—described as "a chief among the Gallovidians"—defeated the invaders, who are stated to have landed on 9 February. The chronicle further relates that Dungal had the Lord of Kintyre and the Irish kinglet beheaded, and sent their heads to Edward I at Lanercost. Thomas, Alexander, and Reginald, are similarly stated to have been sent to the king and received a traitor's death.Penman (2014) pp. 104–105; Caldwell (2012) pp. 284–285; McNamee (2012b) ch. 2 ¶ 5; Brown (2008) p. 24; Scott (2009) ch. 8 ¶ 53; Duncan (2007) p. 152 n. 36–38; Barrow (2005) pp. 218–219; Strickland (2008) p. 101; Ingamells (1992) p. 53; Oram (1992) p. 39; Shead; Stevenson; Watt et al (1991) p. 434 n. 34; Reid, NH (1984) p. 294; Maxwell (1913) pp. 179–180; Mackenzie (1909) p. 402 n. 36; Chronicon Domini Walteri de Hemingburgh (1849) p. 252 n. 1; Stevenson (1839) p. 205. According to the fourteenth-century Guisborough Chronicle, the invaders had been "surprised by night".Reid, NH (1984) pp. 294, 337 nn. 49–50; Chronicon Domini Walteri de Hemingburgh (1849) p. 252.
The continuation of the Paris version of Flores historiarum gives a similar account of Dungal's actions, likewise naming his opponents as Bruce's brothers, Thomas, Alexander, and one Reginald, but differs by assigning the name Malcolm Makaill to the Lord of Kintyre, and notes two Irish chieftains.Caldwell (2012) pp. 284–285; Strickland (2008) p. 101; Ingamells (1992) p. 53; Luard (1890) p. 136; Yonge (1853) pp. 594–595 ch. 27. The fourteenth-century Gesta Annalia II merely relates that Thomas and Alexander were captured at Loch Ryan, and sent to King Edward who beheaded them at Carlisle.Duncan (2007) p. 152 n. 36–38; Skene (1872) p. 335 ch. 120; Skene (1871) p. 342 ch. 120.
The Chronicle of Lanercost states that Thomas, Alexander, and Reginald were executed at Carlisle on 17 February.Penman (2014) p. 105; Scott (2009) ch. 8 ¶ 53; Taggart (2004) pp. 95–96; Shead; Stevenson; Watt et al (1991) p. 434 n. 34; Maxwell (1913) pp. 179–180, 180 n. 1; Chronicon Domini Walteri de Hemingburgh (1849) p. 252 n. 2; Stevenson (1839) p. 205. As a result of his services to the English Crown, the same source further reports that Dungal was knighted by Edward at Carlisle on Easter Day, 26 March 1307.McNamee (2012b) ch. 2 ¶ 5; Strickland (2008) p. 101 n. 102; Oram (1992) p. 39; Maxwell (1913) pp. 181–182; Stevenson (1839) p. 207. Dungal is elsewhere recorded to have been rewarded with £40 on 3 February 1307 for the taking of Thomas, Alexander, and Reginald.Penman (2014) p. 105; McNamee (2012b) ch. 2 ¶ 5; Brown (2008) p. 47 n. 5; Duncan (2007) p. 152 n. 36–38; Ingamells (1992) p. 53; Lydon (1992) p. 2; Oram (1992) p. 39; Shead; Stevenson; Watt et al (1991) pp. 433–434 n. 33; Reid, NH (1984) p. 294; Paul (1908) p. 490; Mackenzie (1909) p. 402 n. 36; Bain (1884) p. 509 § 1915; Document 5/3/0 (n.d.a); Simpson; Galbraith (n.d.) p. 216 § 492 (xvi). Edward I is also recorded to have awarded Dungal with a grant of the forfeited lands of Brice Blair, the office of coroner of Ayr, and the lands of the Mark that had been previously held by Robert Boyd.Oram (1992) p. 39; Reid, RC (1958) p. 53; Palgrave (1837) pp. 318–319 § 143.
In 1308, King Robert sent his one remaining brother, Sir Edward Bruce, into Galloway to have their revenge on Dungal MacDouall for the loss of their two brothers. James Douglass went with Sir Edward and they attacked the MacDoualls and their English allies at night, chasing them from Galloway. After that success, King Robert made his brother, Lord of Galloway.
Edward I's remorseless executions of King Robert's brothers (one of whom, Alexander, was a priest), and his supporters may be explained by his disgust at the idea of Scottish independence and Bruce's slaying of John Comyn, an act the English king regarded as sacrilegious.Strickland (2008) pp. 97–104; Calendar of the Patent Rolls (1898) p. 436; Bain (1884) pp. 473 § 1757, 477 § 1776. Although chivalrous compassion became fashionable in England in the twelfth century,Gillingham (2004) p. 114. and spread into Scotland and Wales by the thirteenth century, there was no comparable political transformation in Gaelic Ireland.Gillingham (2004) p. 128. The Bruces' connections with the Gaelic world may have enabled the English Crown to treat adherents of the Bruces as if they were Irish.Strickland (2008) p. 101, 101 n. 102; Gillingham (2004) p. 132. In truth, Edward was ruthless and without mercy, even to women and resented any desire for Scotland to be free. Thus, he may have used the Gaelic connection as an excuse. Such a possibility may be exemplified by the battlefield executions doled out by Dungal.Strickland (2008) p. 101, 101 n. 102.
In March 1306/1307, on account of his success campaigning in support of the English, Dungal successfully petitioned Edward I to grant his like-named younger brother the marriage of the daughter and heir of Hugh Chaumpaigne.Oram (1992) p. 39; Reid, RC (1958) p. 53; Bain (1884) pp. 506–507 § 1905. The same month, Dungal is recorded to have successfully requested a pardon for Elias Vaux, for the latter's part in the killing of Nicholas, son of Robert Goyt.Reid, RC (1958) p. 53; Calendar of the Patent Rolls (1898) p. 508; Bain (1884) p. 510 § 1919.
Further defence of Galloway
Dungal's actions in support of the English may exemplify the Gallovidians stance against the Bruce cause. As a result of this opposition, Robert oversaw a campaign against the Gallovidians, commanded by his brother, Edward, who was later made Lord of Galloway. This operation appears to have been unleashed after the death of Edward I in July, and after the succeeding Edward II concluded a campaign of his own late in August, returning to Carlisle on 1 September.McNamee (2012a) ch. 5 ¶ 129; Duncan (2007) p. 268 n. 239–351. The Bruce campaign is partly evidenced by an English order, dated 25 September, commanding that refugee Gallovidians be allowed to feed their flocks in Inglewood Forest.McNamee (2012a) ch. 5 ¶ 129; Blakely (2009) p. 62; Scott (2009) ch. 10 ¶ 16; Duncan (2007) p. 268 n. 239–351; Barrow (2005) p. 224; Traquair (1998) p. 151; Reid, NH (1984) p. 299; Calendar of the Close Rolls (1892) p. 2; Bain (1887) p. 3 § 14. Five days later, Edward II ordered John, Earl of Richmond to quash the Bruce campaign in Galloway, since several English supporters—namely John St John, Dungal, and Donald MacCann—had alerted the English Crown of the dire situation in the region.Scott (2009) ch. 10 ¶ 16; Duncan (2007) p. 268 n. 239–351; Traquair (1998) p. 151; Shead; Stevenson; Watt et al (1991) p. 445 n. 54; Reid, NH (1984) pp. 299, 338 n. 76; Reid, RC (1958) p. 53; Bain (1887) p. 3 § 15; Palgrave (1830) p. 370; Rymer; Sanderson (1818) p. 8; Document 1/28/0 (n.d.).