Feudal barony of Eaton Bray facts for kids

The feudal barony of Eaton Bray was an important area of land in Bedfordshire, England. It was like a mini-kingdom given by the king to a powerful lord. This system was called "feudalism." The lord, known as a "feudal baron," promised to be loyal to the king and provide knights for his army.

Moated site of Eaton Castle, drawn in 1911. This castle was near the village of Eaton Bray and is now open to the public for fishing.

Map of Normandy showing possible places where the de Cantilupe family might have come from. They were important lords of Eaton Bray.

Château de Chanteloup in Bréhal, Manche, France. Many historians believe this is where the de Cantilupe family originally came from.

Left: The coat of arms of William I de Cantilupe (died 1239), the first feudal baron. This design was seen on his seal (right). Later, the family's arms changed.

The barony of Eaton Bray began in 1205. King John gave the land of Eaton to his trusted helper, William I de Cantilupe. This gift came with other lands, like Aston in Warwickshire.

In 1221, William de Cantilupe built a castle at Eaton. This castle became the main home and center of his feudal barony. Monks from a nearby monastery, Dunstable Priory, even wrote that the castle was "a serious danger" to their area. The land was given to William in exchange for providing one knight for the king's service. The de Cantilupe family came to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. They took their name from one of three places in Normandy, France, that sounded similar. The name "Cantilupe" means "wolf-song," which was often heard in those areas.

Who Were the Lords of Eaton Bray?

The feudal barony of Eaton Bray was passed down through the de Cantilupe family. Here's how it went:

William I de Cantilupe (died 1239)

The coat of arms of Thomas de Cantilupe (died 1282), who became the Bishop of Hereford. This design was later used as the official arms for the See of Hereford.

The coat of arms of the Cantilupe family from Hempston Cantelow. Today, this design is part of the arms used by the Earls De La Warr.

The coat of arms of the Cantilupe family from Ravensthorpe and Greasley.

William I de Cantilupe was the first feudal baron of Eaton. He married a woman named Mazilia Braci. William had several sons. One of his younger sons, Walter de Cantilupe (died 1266), became the Bishop of Worcester, an important church leader. Another son, Sir John I de Cantilupe, had descendants who later became the Earls De La Warr. They still use a part of the Cantilupe family's coat of arms today.

William II de Cantilupe (died 1251)

William I's eldest son, William II, became the second feudal baron. He married Millicent de Gournay. William II also had several sons who became notable figures:

• Hugh de Cantilupe was an important church official called the Archdeacon of Gloucester.
• Thomas de Cantilupe (around 1218-1282) became the Bishop of Hereford. He was later recognized as a saint! His coat of arms, which featured three leopard's faces, became the official arms of the See of Hereford.
• Sir Nicholas de Cantilupe (died 1266) lived at Greasley Castle in Nottinghamshire. His son, William de Cantilupe, was made a baron by the king in 1299. This means he was officially given the title of "Baron Cantilupe." He even signed an important letter from barons to the Pope in 1301.

William III de Cantilupe (died 1254)

William II's eldest son, William III, became the third feudal baron. He married a very wealthy heiress named Eva de Braose. Because of this marriage, William III gained control of many more lands, including Totnes in Devon and Abergavenny in Wales. His main homes were in Wiltshire and Warwickshire, but he later moved to Abergavenny Castle due to his wife's vast estates.

George de Cantilupe (1251-1273)

George de Cantilupe was the only son of William III. He inherited the barony of Eaton and the lordship of Abergavenny when he was only three years old. Because he was so young, the king took care of his lands until he became an adult. The king's officials who managed his lands were described by the Dunstable monks as "very wicked and cruel."

George married Margaret de Lacy but sadly died at just 22 years old without having any children. After his death, his vast lands were divided between his two sisters:

• Millicent de Cantilupe (died 1299) married Eudo la Zouche. Their descendants inherited Eaton, Calne, and Harringworth, which became their main home. Her eldest son, William la Zouche, 1st Baron Zouche, was made a baron in 1308.
• Joan de Cantilupe (died 1271) married Henry de Hastings. She inherited the land of Aston Cantelow.