Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Douglas, Archibald (1296?-1333)
DOUGLAS, Sir ARCHIBALD (1296?–1333), regent of Scotland, youngest son of Sir William of Douglas, ‘the Hardy’ [q. v.], by his second wife, Eleanor of Lovain, and brother of Sir James Douglas, ‘the Good’ [q. v.], was one of the Scottish leaders during the minority of David II. He surprised and completely defeated Edward de Baliol, who had just been crowned king of Scotland, at Annan, on 16 Dec. 1332. He was appointed regent of Scotland in March 1333. The leadership of Douglas was impetuous rather than skilful, and lost the Scots the battle of Halidon, 19 July 1333. Douglas was slain there with many of his companions, including the son and successor of Sir James Douglas. Douglas married Beatrice, daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay of Crawford, who was afterwards the wife of Sir Robert Erskine of Erskine, and so ancestress of the Erskines, earls of Mar. Their eldest son, John, dying young, their second son, William, became first earl of Douglas [q. v.], and their daughter Eleanor was five times married, becoming Countess of Carrick, and also ancestress of the lords Torphichen; her fifth husband was Sir Patrick Hepburn of Hailes, ancestor of the earls of Bothwell.
[Wyntoun's Cronykil; Scalacronica; Chronicon de Lanercost; Knighton apud Twysden; Fordun à Goodall; Fraser's Douglas Book.]