Eleanor Maltravers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eleanor Maltravers
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Remains of Lewes Priory, burial place of Eleanor Maltravers
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| Born | c.1345 |
| Died | January 1405 |
| Buried | Lewes Priory, Sussex |
| Noble family | Maltravers |
| Spouse(s) | John FitzAlan, 1st Baron Arundel Reginald Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham of Sterborough |
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| Father | Sir John Maltravers |
| Mother | Gwenthlian (family unknown) |
Eleanor Maltravers (born around 1345 – died January 1405) was an important English noblewoman. She was the granddaughter and later the main heir of the first Baron Maltravers. Eleanor married two powerful barons and made sure her grandfather's noble title went to her grandson.
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Who Was Eleanor Maltravers?
Eleanor's father was Sir John Maltravers. He was the son of John Maltravers, 1st Baron Maltravers and his first wife, Millicent. Eleanor's mother was named Gwenthlian. Her family background is not known. Gwenthlian passed away in 1349. Eleanor had two siblings:
- Henry, born in 1347, who died when he was a baby.
- Joan, born around 1342. She first married Sir John Keynes. Later, she married Sir Robert Rous.
When Eleanor's grandfather, John Maltravers, died in 1364, Eleanor and her sister Joan were his two main heirs. Joan later died without having any children. This meant Eleanor became the only person to inherit her grandfather's important title.
Eleanor's First Marriage
On February 17, 1359, Eleanor married Sir John FitzAlan. They had several children:
- Sir John. He married Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Edward le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer. They had three sons.
- Sir William. He became a Knight of the Order of the Garter. He married a woman named Agnes but did not have any children.
- Sir Richard. He married Alice, who was the widow of Roger Burley. They had one son and three daughters.
- Joan. She first married Sir William Bryan. Later, she married Sir William Etchingham.
- Margaret. She married William de Ros, 6th Baron de Ros.
Eleanor's husband, John FitzAlan, was called to the English Parliament on August 4, 1377. Because of this, he is known as the 1st Baron Arundel. He sadly died in a shipwreck on December 15, 1379. His body was found in Ireland and buried there.
Eleanor's Second Marriage
On August 9, 1380, Eleanor married Reginald Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham. This was his second marriage. They had two children:
- Reginald. He later became the 3rd Baron Cobham of Sterborough. He married Eleanor Culpeper. They were the parents of Eleanor, who later married Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
- Margaret. She married Sir Reginald Curtis of Westcliffe. They had children.
After their son Reginald was born in 1381, it was discovered that Eleanor and Reginald Cobham were second cousins. This meant their marriage was not valid under the rules of the church at that time. Their son, Reginald, could not legally inherit his father's title because of this.
To fix this, they first got their marriage officially cancelled. Then, they received special permission from the Pope, which allowed them to marry despite being related. They married again on September 29, 1384. However, this second marriage did not make young Reginald's birth legal in the eyes of the law. When his father died in July 1403, the king took control of Reginald's inheritance. This happened because there was no legally recognized male heir.
Eleanor's Later Life and Legacy
Eleanor Maltravers passed away on January 10 or 12, 1405. She was buried at Lewes Priory in Sussex. Her will, which is a legal document about what happens to her property, was written on September 26, 1404. It was officially approved on January 16, 1405, in Maidstone, Kent.
After Eleanor's death, her grandfather's noble title, Baron Maltravers, passed to her grandson, John FitzAlan, 13th Earl of Arundel. He was also known as Baron Maltravers.
