Alan Buxhull facts for kids
Sir Alan Buxhull K.G. (died 2 November 1381) was an English soldier and a brave nobleman. He was a very important knight during his time.
Sir Alan Buxhull: A Brave Knight
Sir Alan Buxhull held many important jobs. He was a Knight of the Garter, which was a very special award given by the King. He was also the Constable of the Tower of London. This meant he was in charge of the famous Tower. During the Hundred Years' War, he was Captain of St Saveur Le Viscomte Castle in Normandy, France.
Alan married Maud Francis. She was known as the richest woman in England. They had a son, also named Sir Alan Buxhull. His father died in 1325, when young Alan was only two years old. Maud Francis later became a foster mother to the future King Henry V. The younger Sir Alan was the half-brother of Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury. He fought alongside his half-brother at the Battle of Verneuil.
Sir Alan Buxhull was a chamberlain for the King. This meant he worked closely with the Royal household from about 1369 to 1370. He was also a knight of the King's personal staff.
Buxhull served as a deputy in Robert Knolles's army during the Hundred Years' War. Some historians believe he might have even shared command. In 1370, he took charge of the fortified abbey of St Maur. He also fought in the Battle of Pontvallain that same year. A historian named Jonathan Sumption thinks that when Buxhull left, it caused Knolles's army to fall apart.
Later, Sir Alan was put in command of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte in Normandy. He spent a lot of money there. He claimed he paid over 3,000 francs to free English prisoners captured by the French. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1372. He also took part in a naval trip to France in 1374.
A famous writer named Froissart described Buxhull as a "right valiant Knight." He also called him an "uncommonly able man."
In his later years, King Edward III became ill. Historian G. L. Harriss believes that men like Buxhull, who were close to the King, controlled who could see him. This gave them power over who received royal favors and gifts.
Family Life
Sir Alan Buxhull first married a woman with the last name Bigwood. They had two daughters:
- Elizabeth Buxhull, who married Roger Lynde and had children.
- Amice Buxhull, who married John Beverley and then Robert Bardolf. She had children from both marriages.
His second marriage was to Maud Francis. She was the widow of John Aubrey. Maud was the daughter of Adam Francis and Agnes Chaumpneys. She was known as the richest woman in England. A son, also named Alan, was born after his father's death in 1382. This second Sir Alan later became a knight. He was the half-brother of Thomas Montagu, Earl of Montague. After Sir Alan's death, Maud married the Earl of Montague. She also became the foster mother of King Henry V.
The second Sir Alan was the brother of Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury. He was also the uncle of Alice Montacute, 5th Countess of Salisbury (died 1463). Alice was married to Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (died 1460) and was the mother of Warwick the Kingmaker.
