Feudal barony of Okehampton facts for kids
The feudal barony of Okehampton was a very large area of land in Devon, England, during the Middle Ages. It was the biggest mediaeval land holding in Devon. Its main centre, or caput, was Okehampton Castle and its surrounding manor. This barony was one of eight such powerful land holdings in Devon during that time.
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What Was Okehampton Barony?
A feudal barony was like a mini-kingdom given by the king to a powerful lord. This lord, called a baron, promised loyalty and military service to the king in return for the land. The barony of Okehampton was one of the most important in Devon.
Who Owned Okehampton Castle?
The ownership of Okehampton Castle and its lands changed hands several times over the centuries. Each change tells a story of powerful families and their connections to the English kings.
The First Owners: Baldwin the Sheriff
The first person to hold the feudal barony of Okehampton was Baldwin FitzGilbert. He was known as Baldvinus Vicecomes in the Domesday Book of 1086. This Latin name means "Baldwin the Viscount" or "Baldwin the Sheriff" of Devon. The Sheriff was a very important official who managed the king's lands and laws in a county.
Baldwin was a cousin of William the Conqueror, the King of England. The Domesday Book shows that Baldwin controlled 176 land holdings. Most of these were manors, which were large estates. The very first places listed for him were groups of houses in Barnstaple and Exeter. The third place listed was Okehampton. The record says: "Baldwin himself holds Okehampton from the king, there sits his castle."
Holding land "per baroniam" meant that Baldwin had to serve the king as one of his barons. This involved important duties. He had to attend meetings to advise the king. He also had to provide knights and soldiers for the royal army for certain periods each year. Barons often fought in battles themselves.
Passing Through Families
Baldwin FitzGilbert had three sons, but sadly, all of them died without having children. This made the ownership of Okehampton a bit unclear for about 20 years.
Later, the barony came into the hands of Maud d'Avranches. She was the great-granddaughter of Baldwin FitzGilbert. Maud married William de Curci first. They had a daughter named Hawise. After William died, Maud married Robert FitzRoy, who was a son of King Henry I of England. Maud and Robert had another daughter, Maud du Sap.
When Maud du Sap's father died, she became a "royal ward." This meant the king became her guardian. King Henry II arranged for her to marry Reginald I de Courtenay.
However, it was Maud d'Avranches' first daughter, Hawise de Curci, who brought the barony to the powerful Courtenay family. Hawise married Reginald de Courtenay, who was the step-son of her half-sister.
The Powerful Courtenay Family
The Courtenay family became very important in Devon. Here's how the barony passed down through their line:
- Robert de Courtenay (died 1242) inherited the barony. He married Mary de Vernon. Her father was the feudal baron of Plympton, another important area in Devon. Because of this marriage, the Courtenays later inherited the Plympton barony in 1293. In 1335, they were officially named Earls of Devon.
- John de Courtenay (died 1274) was Robert's son.
- Sir Hugh de Courtenay (died 1292) was John's son.
- Hugh Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon (1276–1340) was Sir Hugh's son. When his cousin, Isabella de Forz, died in 1293, Hugh became the heir to the Plympton barony. In 1335, he was officially made the Earl of Devon.
From this point on, the ownership of the Okehampton barony followed the same line as the earldom of Devon.
However, in 1539, King Henry VIII took control of the barony's lands. He had Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter (who was the current Earl of Devon) arrested. The Earldom of Devon was taken away, and the Courtenay lands in Cornwall went back to the Crown, becoming part of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Images for kids
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First page of the Domesday Book listing the Devonshire manors held by Baldwin the Sheriff, 1086.
