Bartholomew Burghersh the elder facts for kids

Bartholomew Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh (died 3 August 1355, Dover), known as "the elder," was an important English nobleman and soldier. He was a younger son of Robert Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh. His mother was Maud Badlesmere. Bartholomew was also the father of Bartholomew Burghersh the younger.

Life and Career

Bartholomew Burghersh was the second or third son of Robert Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh. He became the head of his family and inherited his father's lands when his older brother Stephen died. His uncle, Bartholomew, Lord Badlesmere, was a very powerful baron. Burghersh married Elizabeth, one of the three daughters who inherited from Theobald de Verdun, 2nd Baron Verdun. This marriage helped Burghersh become even wealthier and more influential.

Early Challenges

Lord Badlesmere, Burghersh's uncle, was a strong opponent of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Burghersh joined his uncle in these political struggles during the reign of King Edward II. In 1317, he went with his uncle on a trip to Scotland.

In October 1321, Leeds Castle in Kent was attacked. Lady Badlesmere had refused to let Queen Isabella enter the castle. King Edward II gathered a large army to respond. Burghersh was part of the castle's defense. When the castle surrendered, he was taken prisoner and sent to the Tower of London. Being in prison likely saved him from a worse fate, as his uncle faced serious consequences after the Battle of Boroughbridge.

Serving the King

After his release, Burghersh helped in the removal of King Edward II from power. His brother, Henry Burghersh, who was the Bishop of Lincoln, quickly joined Queen Isabella when she landed in England in 1326. This led to Edward II losing his throne.

Burghersh was given important jobs that his father had held. He became the Constable of Dover Castle and the Warden of the Cinque Ports. He held these positions almost continuously until his death. These roles were very important because they controlled the main route between England and France. This showed how much King Edward III trusted Burghersh.

King Edward III quickly developed full trust in Burghersh. He sent Burghersh on many important diplomatic missions. In 1329, Burghersh went to Philip of France to explain why King Edward III was late in showing his respect. In the same year, he was an ambassador to the Pope. He asked for financial help from the English church, and the king was granted a tenth of its income for four years.

Key Roles and Military Service

Burghersh was given other jobs that required strong leadership and good judgment. In 1337, when Edward III claimed the title of King of France, Burghersh was made admiral of the fleet. This fleet covered the area from the mouth of the River Thames westward.

He also became the Seneschal of Ponthieu (a region in France), the Constable of the Tower of London, and the Lord Chamberlain of the Household. In this last role, he was often present when the Great Seal (an important royal stamp) was used. When the king needed money, Burghersh was even trusted with pawning the crown jewels.

In 1341, as Keeper of the king's forest south of the River Trent, he was in charge of getting wood. This wood was used to build war machines and wooden platforms for defending castle walls. As a skilled soldier, he was always with the king during wars in Scotland and France. He fought bravely in the famous Battle of Crécy on August 26, 1346.

Diplomatic Missions and Later Life

Burghersh was also highly trusted as a diplomat. He was often sent to meet with the Pope in Avignon, with Philip of Valois (the French king), and with other leaders. His job was to negotiate truces and armistices (temporary peace agreements) that were often made and then broken. He also worked to arrange a lasting peace between England and France.

Interestingly, before the war with France fully began, Burghersh had put aside his weapons and taken a religious vow to go on a crusade. However, King Edward III needed his help too much. In 1347, when the king was going to Gascony, he asked the Pope to release Burghersh from his vow.

Two years after the Battle of Crécy, Burghersh was again involved in the French wars. He was sent to Avignon to discuss a strong and lasting peace with the Pope. The next year (1349), he went with the Earl of Lancaster to Gascony to stop a rebellion there.

In 1355, when King Edward III left England for another invasion of France, Burghersh was named one of the guardians of the realm. He died in early August of that year.

Burial

Tomb of Bartholomew Burghersh and sons in Lincoln Cathedral

Bartholomew Burghersh was buried in the St. Catherine's chapel. He had founded this chapel in Lincoln Minster to honor his brother Henry, the Bishop of Lincoln, and their father, Robert Burghersh. You can still see monuments to all three of them there, with statues of the two brothers.

Family

Bartholomew Burghersh and his wife Elizabeth de Verdun had several children:

• Henry de Burghersh (died 1348), who married Isabel St John but had no children.
• Bartholomew Burghersh the younger (died 1369), who married Cecily de Weyland. He later became the 2nd Baron Burghersh.
• Thomas de Burghersh.
• Joan de Burghersh, who married John Mohun, 2nd Baron Mohun.
• Margaret de Burghersh.
• Maud de Burghersh, who married Sir John Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Rotherfield. Their grandson, Bartholomew Grey, was named after his great-grandfather.
• Elizabeth Burghersh, who married Maurice FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare. She was the mother of four sons, including Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare.

Bartholomew de Burghersh the elder was succeeded as Baron Burghersh by his son, Bartholomew.

Sources

• Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines: 70–32, 70–33.
• Excerpt from The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, by Elias Ashmole