William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton facts for kids
William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton, a Knight of the Garter, was an important English nobleman and military leader. He lived from about 1312 to 1360. He was a trusted friend and commander for King Edward III during a very exciting time in English history.
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His Family Tree
William was the fifth son of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Elizabeth of Rhuddlan. He even had a twin brother named Edward! His grandparents on his mother's side were the famous King Edward I of England and his first wife, Queen Eleanor of Castile. This means William had royal blood!
Becoming a Leader
William de Bohun helped King Edward III take power in 1330 by assisting in the arrest of Roger Mortimer. After this, King Edward III trusted William very much. William then joined the King in the wars against Scotland.
In 1332, William received many new properties. These lands included places like Hinton and Spaine in Berkshire, Great Haseley in Oxfordshire, and Wix in Essex.
In 1335, he married Elizabeth de Badlesmere. Elizabeth's parents had been against King Edward II years before. William and Elizabeth were given some of the land that belonged to Elizabeth's first husband.
William was made an Earl of Northampton in 1337. King Edward III created six new earls to strengthen the group of important nobles. Since William was a younger son and didn't have a lot of money, he was given an annual payment until he could get enough land to support his new high rank.
In 1349, he became a Knight of the Garter. This was a very special honor given by the King. He also served as the High Sheriff of Rutland from 1349 until he died in 1360.
Great Battles and Victories
William de Bohun was a brave soldier. In 1339, he went with the King to Flanders. He also fought in Brittany and Scotland. He was part of two huge English victories: the Battle of Sluys and the Battle of Crécy. At Crécy, he was one of the commanders.
His most amazing victory was leading an English force against a much larger French army at the Battle of Morlaix in 1342. He was very clever and used hidden pit traps to stop the French cavalry (soldiers on horseback). This helped the English win!
A Skilled Negotiator
William wasn't just a warrior; he was also a talented diplomat. This means he was good at talking and making agreements. He helped negotiate two peace treaties with France, one in 1343 and another in 1350. He was also given the job of negotiating in Scotland to free King David Bruce, the King of Scots, who was being held prisoner by the English.
From 1352 to 1355, William de Bohun was appointed Admiral of the Northern Seas, Fleet. This meant he was in charge of the English navy in the northern waters.
His Children
William de Bohun had two children:
- Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford (1341–1373)
- Elizabeth de Bohun (c. 1350–1385); she married Richard FitzAlan, 4th Earl of Arundel
William in Books
William de Bohun appears in some historical fiction books. In Bernard Cornwell's series The Grail Quest, the Earl of Northampton is a minor character. He also appears in Dan Jones' first novel, The Essex Dogs.
