Hawise of Chester, 1st Countess of Lincoln facts for kids

Hawise of Chester (born 1180 – died March 1243) was an important noblewoman in England. She was known for being very wealthy. Her father was Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester. She was also the sister of Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester.

Hawise became the 1st Countess of Lincoln in her own right in 1232. This means she held the title because of her own family line, not through her husband. She was married to Robert de Quincy. They had one daughter named Margaret. Margaret later inherited Hawise's title and lands. Hawise was also sometimes called Hawise of Kevelioc.

Hawise's Family and Early Life

Hawise was born in 1180 in Chester, Cheshire, England. She was the youngest child of Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester. Her mother was Bertrade de Montfort of Évreux. Bertrade was a cousin of King Henry II of England.

Hawise had five older siblings:

• Maud of Chester, who became Countess of Huntingdon.
• Mabel of Chester, who became Countess of Arundel.
• Agnes of Chester, who became Countess of Derby.
• Beatrice de Keviloc.
• Her only brother, Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester.

She also had a half-sister named Amice of Chester. Amice married Ralph de Mainwaring.

Hawise's grandparents were Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester, and Maud of Gloucester. Maud was the granddaughter of King Henry I of England. Her other grandparents were Simon III de Montfort and Mahaut.

When Hawise was just one year old in 1181, her father passed away. Her brother Ranulf then became the 6th Earl of Chester.

Becoming Countess of Lincoln

Hawise inherited Bolingbroke Castle and other large estates. She received these from her brother Ranulf after he died on October 26, 1232. She was one of his main heirs.

Even before her brother's death, Hawise became the 1st Countess of Lincoln. This happened in April 1231. Her brother, Ranulf de Blondeville, who was also the 1st Earl of Lincoln, gave the title to her. He did this with a special document. King Henry III later confirmed this gift.

On October 27, 1232, the day after her brother died, King Henry III officially made Hawise the 1st Countess of Lincoln. She held this title in her own right.

Less than a month later, Hawise also passed on the Earldom of Lincoln. She gave it to her daughter, Margaret de Quincy, and her son-in-law, John de Lacy. Margaret became the 2nd Countess of Lincoln in her own right. John de Lacy became the 2nd Earl of Lincoln through his wife. King Henry III officially recognized them as Countess and Earl of Lincoln on November 23, 1232.

Marriage and Children

Hawise married Robert de Quincy before 1206. Robert was the oldest son of Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester. His mother was Margaret de Beaumont.

Hawise and Robert had one daughter:

• Margaret de Quincy (born around 1206 – died March 1266). Margaret first married John de Lacy, 2nd Earl of Lincoln in 1221. They had two children, Edmund de Lacy, Baron of Pontefract, and Maud de Lacy. Margaret later married Walter Marshal, 5th Earl of Pembroke in 1242.

Hawise's husband, Robert, died in London in 1217. Hawise herself passed away in March 1243. She was over sixty years old.