- William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton
William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton (ca. 1312-1360) was an English
nobleman and military commander.Lineage
He was the fifth son of
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford andElizabeth of Rhuddlan . He had a twin brother, Edward.His maternal grandparents were
Edward I of England and his firstQueen consort Eleanor of Castile.Many Lands & Titles
In 1332 he received many new properties:
Hinton andSpaine inBerkshire ;Hasley ,Ascot ,Dedington ,Pyrton andKirklington inOxfordshire ;Wincomb inBuckinghamshire ;Longbenington inLincolnshire ;Kneesol inNottinghamshire ;Newnsham inGloucestershire ,Wix inEssex , andBosham inSussex .He was created
Earl of Northampton in 1337, one of the six earls created by Edward III to renew the ranks of the higher nobility. Since de Bohun was a younger son, and did not have an income suitable to his rank, he was given an annuity until suitable estates could be found.Campaigns in Flanders, Brittany, Scotland, Victor at Sluys & Crecy
In 1339 he accompanied the King to
Flanders . He served variously inBrittany and inScotland , and was present at the great English victories at Sluys and was a commander at Crécy.Renowned Diplomat
In addition to being a warrior, William was also a renowned diplomat. He negotiated two treaties with France, one in 1343 and one in 1350. He was also charged with negotiating in Scotland for the freedom of David Bruce, prisoner of the English.
Succession
De Bohun was succeeded by his son Humphrey, who also succeeded his uncle and became 7th Earl of Hereford.
His daughter
Elizabeth de Bohun was married toRichard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel .De Bohun's wife and the mother of his children was
Elizabeth de Badlesmere , daughter of Bartolomew De Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere, and Margaret de ClareReferences
*cite book| last=Le Melletier| first=Jean| title=Les Seigneurs de Bohun| date=1978| pages=6, 17, 43-44
*cite book| last=Easles| first=Richard| coauthors=Shaun Tyas, eds.| title=Family and Dynasty in Late Medieval England| publisher=Shaun Tyas, Donington| date=2003| pages=152
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