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Birth:          ABT 1312 Caldecot, Norfolk, England
Death:          16 Sep 1360 

Notes
ancestry.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_de_Bohun,_1st_Earl_of_Northampton
William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton, KG (c. 1312 – 16 September 1360) was an 
English nobleman and military commander.
Lineage[edit]

He was the fifth son of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Elizabeth of 
Rhuddlan. He had a twin brother, Edward. His maternal grandparents were Edward I of 
England and his first Queen consort Eleanor of Castile.

Life[edit]

William de Bohun assisted at the arrest of Roger Mortimer in 1330, allowing Edward III 
to take power. After this, he was a trusted friend and commander of the king and he 
participated in the renewed wars with Scotland.[1]

In 1332, he received many new properties: Hinton and Spaine in Berkshire; Great 
Haseley, Ascott, Deddington, Pyrton and Kirtlington in Oxfordshire; Wincomb in 
Buckinghamshire; Longbenington in Lincolnshire; Kneesol in Nottinghamshire; 
Newnsham in Gloucestershire, Wix in Essex, and Bosham in Sussex.

In 1335, he married Elizabeth de Badlesmere (1313 – 8 June 1356). Her parents 
Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere, and Margaret de Clare had both 
turned against Edward II the decade before. Elizabeth and William were granted some 
of the property of Elizabeth's first husband, who had also been Mortimer's son and 
heir.

William 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.

In 1349 he became a Knight of the Garter. He served as High Sheriff of Rutland from 
1349 until his death in 1360.[2]

Campaigns in Flanders, Brittany, Scotland, Victor at Sluys & Crecy[edit]

In 1339 he accompanied the King to Flanders. He served variously in Brittany and in 
Scotland, and was present at the great English victories at Sluys and was a 
commander at Crécy.

His most stunning feat was commanding an English force to victory against a much 
bigger French force at the Battle of Morlaix in 1342. Some of the details are in 
dispute, but it is clear that he made good use of pit traps, which stopped the French 
cavalry.

Renowned Diplomat[edit]

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 King David Bruce, King of Scots, who was 
held prisoner by the English.

Issue[edit]

1. Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford (1341-1373)
Mary de Bohun (1368-1394); mother of Henry V of England

2. Elizabeth de Bohun (c. 1350-1385); married Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel

In Historical Fiction[edit]

In Bernard Cornwell's series the Grail Quest, the Earl of Northampton plays a minor 
role as Thomas of Hookton's lord.

Parents
DE BOHUN Humphrey (1275 - 16 Mar 1322)
PLANTAGENET Elizabeth (7 Aug 1282 - 5 May 1316)

Siblings
DE BOHUN Eleanor (17 Oct 1304 - 7 Oct 1363)
DE BOHUN Margaret (3 Apr 1311 - 16 Dec 1391)
DE BOHUN William (ABT 1312 - 16 Sep 1360)

Marriage To DE BADLESMERE Elizabeth (1313 - 8 Jun 1356)
    m. 1335 Badlesmere Castle, Badlesmere, Kent, England

Notes

Parents
DE BADLESMERE Bartholomew (18 Aug 1275 - 14 Apr 1322)
DE CLARE Margaret (ABT 1 Apr 1287 - 22 Oct 1333)

Children by DE BADLESMERE Elizabeth 1313 - 8 Jun 1356
DE BOHUN Elizabeth (ABT 1350 - 3 Apr 1385)

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