Maud de Ufford facts for kids

Maud de Ufford was an important English noblewoman. She was born around 1345 or 1346 and lived until 1413. She was married to Thomas de Vere, who was the 8th Earl of Oxford. Her only son was Robert de Vere. He became the 9th Earl of Oxford and was a close friend of King Richard II.

Maud lived in the village of Great Bentley in Essex, England. Later in her life, Maud was involved in a plan against King Henry IV. She was sent to the Tower of London but was later forgiven. This happened thanks to Queen Joanna of Navarre.

Maud's Family Background

Maud was born in Ireland around 1345 or 1346. Her parents were Sir Ralph de Ufford and Maud of Lancaster. Her father was a high-ranking official in Ireland called the Justiciar of Ireland. Her mother had been married before to William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster.

Maud was the only child of Sir Ralph and Maud of Lancaster. However, she had an older half-sister named Elizabeth de Burgh. Elizabeth was the Countess of Ulster in her own right.

Maud's father passed away in April 1346 in Kilmainham. He had faced many challenges as Justiciar. Maud was just a baby, so she and her mother moved to England. A few years later, Maud's mother became a nun at the Campsey Priory in Suffolk.

Her Marriage and Life

Maud married Thomas de Vere sometime before June 1350. She was still a child at the time. Thomas was the son of John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford. In 1360, Thomas became the 8th Earl of Oxford. From then on, Maud was known as the Countess of Oxford.

Maud and Thomas had one son together:

• Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford (born 1362, died 1392). He held important titles like Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland. Robert first married Philippa de Coucy. Later, he married Agnes de Launcekrona.

Maud's husband, Thomas, died in September 1371. Maud received a large amount of money and property to support herself. She controlled nearly half of the de Vere family's lands. Her main home was in Great Bentley in Essex. Maud was known for spending a lot of money on her estates. She also had legal disagreements with her husband's brother, Aubrey de Vere, 10th Earl of Oxford, over family property.

In 1387, Maud's son Robert ended his marriage to Philippa. He then married Agnes de Launcekrona, who was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne of Bohemia. Maud was very upset by this. She supported Philippa and said she loved her "more than if she had been her own daughter." Maud even spoke strongly against Robert's actions. Philippa then came to live in Maud's household.

Even though she was angry, Maud still visited Robert. He had been forced to leave England by a group of powerful nobles and the Parliament in 1388. Maud traveled to Brabant to see him and brought him gifts. In 1391, she received a special pardon for traveling to see him without permission. Maud remained in good standing with King Richard II even after her son's exile. She was given control of her late husband's lands for twenty years. This arrangement ended when Robert died in 1392, and his uncle Aubrey became the Earl of Oxford.

A Plan Against the King

In 1404, Maud became involved in a secret plan. She joined with the leaders of several abbeys, including Beeleigh, Colchester, and St. Osyth. Their goal was to remove King Henry IV from power. They hoped a French invasion would help, and they believed King Richard II was still alive. It was also said that Maud had made badges showing the white hart, which was King Richard II's symbol.

Maud was arrested in May 1404 and sent to the Tower of London. However, Queen Joanna of Navarre stepped in to help her. Because of the Queen's efforts, King Henry IV pardoned Maud in November 1404.

Maud passed away on January 25, 1413, at her home in Great Bentley, Essex. She was buried at Bruisyard Abbey in Suffolk. This was near her mother, who founded the abbey, and her half-sister Elizabeth de Burgh. She chose not to be buried at Earl's Colne, where her husband and son were laid to rest. Robert Boleyne was named as someone who helped carry out her will.