The Mark of Douglas The Douglas Scotti, Italy Artist's Images Douglas Documents

The Story of Guillelmo de Duglas  794 AD In the late 8th century the youngest son of Sholto Duglas of Scotland journeyed to Piacenza in what is now Italy. A soldier of fortune, he  set out to follow Emperor Charlemagne on his conquests of present day Europe.   Once a simple soldier in search of adventure, Guillelmo de Duglas matured into a great leader of men. His prowess as a brave warrior and loyal lieutenant earned him many promotions. While in service to his emperor, he fell ill during a major campaign and was taken to nearby Piacenza to recover. Here he met and married the only daughter of a prominent local baron . Guillelmo de Duglas resided in Italy for the remainder of his sixty years, fathering many children with his bride. Their numerous descendants are among the Italian nobility today and are known as the Douglas Scotti and Scotti Douglas, many still residing on Duglas lands and living in the family’s surviving fortresses. A portrait of Marco Antonio Douglas Scotti; used with permission of Princess Luisa Anguissola Scotti; taken at Castello e Rocca de Agazzano. a former Douglas Scotti stronghold in northern Italy. The recently restored ruins of the former fortress at Agazzano The medieval stronghold of Fombio near Piacenza, another Scotti Douglas castle Photo image of the letter written by Marco Antonio Douglas Scotti in 1622 to his Douglas cousins in Scotland; by permission of the Earl of Home from the Douglas Estates records Bastardino castle was a former Douglas Scotti stronghold and is a private club in the ducato of Piacenza today The ancient walled village and medieval fortress of the 'Lord of Douglas'. using the description from a 14th century document of the Ducato of Piacenza The ancient armorial bearings of the Douglas Scotti, two gold stars astride a bend appear over the front gates of the family palace at Piacenza that is now occupied by the city's police department