Deaths on January 16

Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford (b. 1342)

Humphrey de Bohun: A Pivotal Figure in 14th-Century English Nobility

Humphrey de Bohun, born circa 1342 and passing away on January 16, 1373, was a preeminent figure within the English peerage during the reign of King Edward III. He bore the distinguished titles of 7th Earl of Hereford, 6th Earl of Essex, and 2nd Earl of Northampton. Furthermore, he was a Knight of the Garter (KG), a prestigious chivalric order founded by Edward III himself, signifying his high standing and close ties to the royal court.

His lineage was deeply intertwined with the English monarchy, contributing significantly to his family's elevated status and influence. Humphrey was the son of William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton, a notable military commander and statesman. His mother was Elizabeth de Badlesmere. More significantly, he was the grandson of Humphrey de Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford, whose marriage to Elizabeth of Rhuddlan, a daughter of King Edward I, established a direct royal connection. This illustrious heritage ensured the Bohun family's prominence. Humphrey de Bohun inherited the ancient and powerful Earldom of Hereford upon the death of his uncle, Humphrey de Bohun, the 6th Earl, who died without surviving male issue, thereby consolidating a vast array of landholdings and prestigious titles under his name.

International Involvement and Military Service

Humphrey de Bohun was not merely a passive recipient of inherited wealth and status; he actively participated in significant international events of his era, demonstrating his knightly prowess. In 1365, following a diplomatic tour of Europe by King Peter I of Cyprus – who sought to garner support for a new crusade against the Mamluks in the Levant – Humphrey de Bohun joined the expedition. This Anglo-Cypriot force embarked on a major military campaign that culminated in the infamous Sack of Alexandria. This engagement was a notable attempt to disrupt Mamluk trade routes and reassert Crusader influence, marking Humphrey's direct involvement in the broader geopolitical struggles of the mid-14th century.

Marriage and Illustrious Offspring

His marriage further cemented the Bohun family's position within the highest echelons of the English aristocracy. After September 9, 1359, Humphrey de Bohun married Joan Fitzalan, a daughter of the immensely powerful Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel. Joan's maternal lineage was equally distinguished, as her mother was Eleanor of Lancaster, a grandchild of King Edward I. This union produced several children, though only two daughters survived to adulthood, becoming central figures in the subsequent English succession and dynastic history:

• Eleanor de Bohun (circa 1366 – October 3, 1399): She married Thomas of Woodstock, the youngest son of King Edward III and the 1st Duke of Gloucester. Thomas was a highly influential, albeit often controversial, political figure during the reign of his nephew, King Richard II, ultimately leading to his untimely death. Their daughter, Anne of Gloucester, became a significant heiress, carrying much of the Bohun legacy and passing it to the Stafford and later Buckingham families.
• Mary de Bohun (circa 1368 – June 4, 1394): Arguably the most historically impactful of Humphrey's daughters, Mary married Henry Bolingbroke, who would later depose King Richard II to become King Henry IV of England. This union effectively brought a substantial portion of the vast Bohun estates into the Lancastrian royal demesne. Crucially, Mary de Bohun became the mother of the legendary King Henry V, whose reign is immortalized in English history and literature, profoundly shaping the future of the English monarchy.
• Elizabeth de Bohun, who unfortunately died young and without issue, thus not participating in the division of the great estates.

The Contentious Bohun Inheritance

Upon Humphrey de Bohun's premature death in January 1373, without a surviving male heir, a significant legal and dynastic challenge arose concerning his vast estates and prestigious titles. While the division of great landholdings amongst surviving co-heiresses was a recognized legal practice in medieval England, the Earldom of Hereford, being a male-line dignity, technically fell into abeyance between his two daughters, Eleanor and Mary. This partition of the immense Bohun patrimony was deemed contentious by some, and arguably against the customary male-line succession for such a premier earldom, despite the legality of dividing the physical lands. This contention stemmed directly from the claim of his male relative, Gilbert de Bohun (circa 1296 – 1381), a second cousin and grandson of the 4th Earl of Hereford. Gilbert firmly believed he should have inherited the Earldom of Hereford and the entirety of the Bohun patrimony based on male primogeniture. However, despite this strong claim, the Crown ultimately confirmed the division of the extensive *estates* between Eleanor and Mary, which brought immense wealth and influence to their respective marital lines. The Earldom of Hereford, however, remained in abeyance, and Gilbert's claim to the peerage was not upheld, solidifying the importance of the female lines in this particular succession.

Frequently Asked Questions about Humphrey de Bohun

Who was Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford?

Humphrey de Bohun (c. 1342–1373) was a powerful English nobleman and a Knight of the Garter, holding the titles of 7th Earl of Hereford, 6th Earl of Essex, and 2nd Earl of Northampton. He was the grandson of King Edward I through his paternal grandmother, Elizabeth of Rhuddlan.

What was his connection to the Sack of Alexandria in 1365?

Humphrey de Bohun participated in the Sack of Alexandria in 1365, a significant military expedition led by King Peter I of Cyprus. This event demonstrates his active involvement in international crusading efforts and his standing among the English elite capable of undertaking such campaigns.

Why was the inheritance of his estates and titles considered contentious?

Upon Humphrey's death without a male heir, his vast estates were legally divided between his two daughters, Eleanor and Mary. However, the Earldom of Hereford, a male-line dignity, fell into abeyance. This situation was contentious because a male relative, Gilbert de Bohun, a second cousin, claimed the Earldom and patrimony based on male primogeniture. While the division of lands among co-heiresses was recognized, the bypassing of a male heir for the earldom itself led to significant dispute.

How did Humphrey de Bohun's daughters influence English history?

His daughters, Eleanor and Mary, were significant heiresses whose marriages had profound impacts. Eleanor married Thomas of Woodstock, a son of King Edward III, integrating the Bohun wealth further into the royal family's orbit. Most notably, Mary de Bohun married Henry Bolingbroke, who later became King Henry IV, making her the mother of the future King Henry V and cementing the Bohun legacy within the Lancastrian royal line.