- 4th Earl of Hereford
- AKA: Humphrey VII de Bohun
- Married Princess of England
- Veteran of many Scottish Wars
- Veteran and Captive of the Battle of Bannockburn
- Casualty of the Battle of Boroughbridge
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford was born 1276 in England to Humphrey de Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford (c1249-1298) and Maud de Fiennes (c1254-c1298) and died 16 March 1321 of unspecified causes. He married Elizabeth of Rhuddlan (1282-1316) 1 November 1302 JL in Westminster Abbey, Greater London, England.
Humphrey (VII) de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford was a member of a powerful Anglo-Norman family of the Welsh Marches and was one of the Ordainers who opposed Edward II's excesses.
Biography
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, was a prominent nobleman and military commander in medieval England. Born around 1276, he was a member of the powerful Bohun family, a lineage that played a significant role in English politics and military affairs during the 13th and 14th centuries. His life and career were deeply intertwined with the major events of his time, particularly the conflicts between the English monarchy and the baronial class, as well as the wars with Scotland and France.[1]
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, remains a significant figure in the study of medieval English nobility, illustrating the complexities of feudal loyalty, military service, and political power in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Early Life and Background
Family: Humphrey de Bohun was the son of Humphrey de Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford, and Maud de Fiennes. The Bohun family had substantial lands and influence in England and the Welsh Marches. His father was a key figure in the military campaigns of King Edward I, particularly in Wales.
Heritage: Through his family, Humphrey had connections to the English royal family and other European nobility. This background positioned him to play a significant role in the politics and military campaigns of his era.
Titles and Estates
Earl of Hereford: He inherited the title of Earl of Hereford upon his father's death in 1298. Other Titles: He also held the titles of Earl of Essex and Lord High Constable of England, which gave him significant military and political responsibilities.
Military and Political Career
- Scottish Wars: Humphrey participated in Edward I's campaigns against Scotland, including the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, where the English achieved a significant victory against the Scots led by William Wallace.
- Baronial Opposition: Like many nobles of his time, Humphrey's relationship with the monarchy was complex. He was involved in baronial opposition against royal authority, particularly against the fiscal and administrative policies of Edward II.
- Role in the Ordinances of 1311: He played a role in the formulation of the Ordinances of 1311, which were intended to limit the power of Edward II and reform the royal administration.
- Battle of Bannockburn: Humphrey participated in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, a disastrous defeat for the English against Robert the Bruce's Scottish forces. Humphrey taken captive.
- Battle of Boroughbridge - Death: Humphrey de Bohun died in 1322, likely at the Battle of Boroughbridge, during the rebellions against Edward II.
Other Historical Significance
- Feudal Power: Humphrey's life exemplifies the power and influence of the feudal nobility in medieval England and their often contentious relationship with the monarchy.
Military Impact: His participation in key battles of the Scottish Wars highlights the ongoing conflicts that shaped the British Isles during this period.
- Political Influence: His involvement in baronial reform efforts demonstrates the ongoing struggle for power and governance between the nobility and the crown.
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, thus remains a significant figure in the study of medieval English nobility, illustrating the complexities of feudal loyalty, military service, and political power in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Marriage and Issue
Marriage: Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, married Elizabeth Plantagenet, a daughter of King Edward I and Eleanor of Castile. This marriage was a strategic alliance that brought the Bohun family closer to the English royal family. They married on 14 November 1302 at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England
Children: Humphrey and Elizabeth had several children, including:
- Hugh de Bohun (1303-1305) - died young
- Eleanor de Bohun (1304-1363), who married James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde.
- Humphrey de Bohun (1305-1305) - died young
- John de Bohun, 5th Earl of Hereford (1306-1335), who became the 5th Earl of Hereford but died childless. He was succeeded by his brother.
- Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford (c1309-1361) who later held the title of 6th Earl of Hereford.
- Margaret de Bohun (1311-1391), who married Hugh Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon.
- Other daughters who made advantageous marriages, strengthening the family's alliances and influence.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Hugh de Bohun (1303-1305) | |||
| Eleanor de Bohun (1304-1363) | 17 October 1304 | 7 October 1363 | James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde (c1305-1337) Thomas Dagworth (?-1352) |
| Humphrey de Bohun (1305-1305) | |||
| John de Bohun, 5th Earl of Hereford (1306-1335) | 23 November 1306 Pleshey Castle, Essex, England, United Kingdom | 20 January 1336 | Alice FitzAlan (1314-c1385) Margaret Basset (-aft1347) |
| Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford (c1309-1361) | 6 December 1309 England | 15 October 1361 England | |
| Margaret de Bohun (1311-1391) | 3 April 1311 Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales | 16 December 1391 | Hugh de Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon (1303-1377) |
| William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton (c1312-1360) | 1312 | 16 September 1360 | Elizabeth de Badlesmere (1313-1356) |
| Edward de Bohun (1312-1334) | |||
| Eneas de Bohun (1314-aft1322) | |||
| Isabel de Bohun (1316-1316) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford (1276-1321) | 1276 England | 16 March 1321 | Elizabeth of Rhuddlan (1282-1316) |
See Also
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
- Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford at thePeerage
- Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Humphrey-VIII-de-Bohun-4th-Earl-of-Hereford/6000000003087955559, retrieved 01 Jan 2024
- Bohun Family Genealogy, TudorPlace.com.ar, http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/BOHUN.htm, retrieved 01 Jan 2024
- Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford at Find A Grave
Notable Ancestors
Notable Descendants
Peerage Tables
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Earl of Hereford and Essex |
Lord High Constable 1298–1322 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Hereford and Essex |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Humphrey de Bohun |
Earl of Hereford Earl of Essex 1298–1322 |
Succeeded by John de Bohun |
Primary sources
- Flores historiarum. H. R. Luard, ed. (vol. iii, 121) London: 1890.
- Vita Edwardi Secundi. (117–119) N. Denholm-Young, Ed. and Tr.
References
- ^ Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 84. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Families.
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
