Thomas Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
Encyclopedia
Thomas Fleming, Earl of Wigtown (b. 1363 x 1367-1372; d. c. 1382) was the second person to hold the title earl of Wigtown
. He was the grandson of the previous earl, Sir Malcolm Fleming
, through the latter's only son (name not known). His mother was a woman named Marjorie.
Thomas had been the heir to the earldom since the death of his father in 1351. During King David II of Scotland
's captivity in England, Thomas was frequently used as a hostage, and spent many years in captivity, especially after the Treaty of Berwick
in 1357. Thomas subsequently had grave financial problems, probably due to the ransom he had to pay the English crown to be released. In 1367 Thomas was regranted the earldom, but was stripped of the rights of regality
enjoyed by his grandfather. Thomas sold the earldom to Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway and Earl of Douglas
in 1372. The recreation of the Lordship of Galloway for Archibald the Grim in 1369 had posed some conceptual problems for the earldom, as it fell within the old territories of the lordship. The Douglases were, moreover, much more successful than the Flemings at crushing resistance to the Bruce dynasty in the south-west.
Thomas thus had the unusual fortune of being demoted from the rank of a magnate
to that of a baron
. Thomas subsequently seems to have given away just about all of his remaining lands. He died without issue sometime in or before 1382.
Earl of Wigtown
The title of Earl of Wigtown was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation was in 1341, and was surrendered in 1372, when the second earl sold the earldom and territory to Archibald the Grim , Lord of Galloway...
. He was the grandson of the previous earl, Sir Malcolm Fleming
Malcolm Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
Malcolm Fleming, Earl of Wigtown was the son of Robert Fleming, a Stewart vassal and holder of the lands of Fulwood and Cumbernauld, who died sometime before 1314...
, through the latter's only son (name not known). His mother was a woman named Marjorie.
Thomas had been the heir to the earldom since the death of his father in 1351. During King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
's captivity in England, Thomas was frequently used as a hostage, and spent many years in captivity, especially after the Treaty of Berwick
Treaty of Berwick (1357)
The Treaty of Berwick, signed at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scotland, in 1357, officially ended the Second War of Scottish Independence. In this second phase of the Wars of Scottish Independence, which began in 1333, King Edward III of England attempted to install Edward Balliol on the Scottish throne, in...
in 1357. Thomas subsequently had grave financial problems, probably due to the ransom he had to pay the English crown to be released. In 1367 Thomas was regranted the earldom, but was stripped of the rights of regality
Regality
A regality was a territorial jurisdiction in old Scots law which might be created by the King only, by granting lands to a subject in liberam regalitatem, and also the tract of land over which such a right extended....
enjoyed by his grandfather. Thomas sold the earldom to Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway and Earl of Douglas
Earl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the extinct title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir Archibald Douglas, Guardian of Scotland...
in 1372. The recreation of the Lordship of Galloway for Archibald the Grim in 1369 had posed some conceptual problems for the earldom, as it fell within the old territories of the lordship. The Douglases were, moreover, much more successful than the Flemings at crushing resistance to the Bruce dynasty in the south-west.
Thomas thus had the unusual fortune of being demoted from the rank of a magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
to that of a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
. Thomas subsequently seems to have given away just about all of his remaining lands. He died without issue sometime in or before 1382.