Biography of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford 1301-1372
Paternal Family Tree: Stafford
In 1287 [his father] Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 14) was created 1st Baron Stafford.
Before 1298 [his father] Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 25) and [his mother] Margaret Basset (age 17) were married.
On 24 Sep 1301 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford was born to Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 29) and Margaret Basset (age 21).
On 26 Aug 1308 [his father] Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 36) died. His son Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 6) succeeded 2nd Baron Stafford.
Around 1326 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 24) and Katherine Hastings Baroness Stafford (age 22) were married. She by marriage Baroness Stafford. She the daughter of John Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings 14th Baron Bergavenny and Juliana Leybourne Countess Huntingdon (age 23).
In 1331 [his daughter] Margaret Stafford was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 29) and [his wife] Katherine Hastings Baroness Stafford (age 27) at Sandon Stone, Staffordshire.
On 12 Aug 1332 Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between the supporters of the infant King David II of Scotland (age 8), son of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland, and the supporters of Edward Balliol I King Scotland (age 49), supported by the English. The Bruce army included Robert Bruce Lord of Liddesdale and Domhnall Mar II Earl Mar (age 39). The Balliol army included David III Strathbogie 11th Earl Atholl (age 23), Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 30), Thomas Ughtred 1st Baron Ughtred (age 40) and Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny (age 22). The battle is notable for being the first to use dismounted men-at-arms supported by archers; a formation that would bring repeated success to the English both in Scotland and France.
Robert Bruce Lord of Liddesdale was killed leading a charge.
Nicholas Hay (age 47) was killed.
Thomas Randolph 2nd Earl Moray was killed. His brother John Randolph 3rd Earl Moray (age 26) succeeded 3rd Earl Moray.
Around 1336 [his son] Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 34) and [his future wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 18) at Staffordshire. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
Before 06 Jul 1336 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 34) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 18) were married. She by marriage Baroness Stafford. She the daughter of Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester (age 45) and Margaret Clare Countess Gloucester. She a great granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
Before 06 Jul 1336 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 34) abducted [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 18). She being the heir of the very wealthy [his father-in-law] Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester (age 45); considerably more wealthy than Ralph. King Edward III of England (age 23) was sympathetic despite the complaint of her father since Ralph had been one of King Edward III's (age 23) key supporters during the plot to arrest Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March. Margaret's (age 18) father was subsequently created Earl as a quid pro quo.
On 06 Jul 1336 [his wife] Katherine Hastings Baroness Stafford (age 32) died at Stafford, Staffordshire [Map].
In 1337 King Edward III of England (age 24) created a number of new Earldom's probably in preparation for his forthcoming war against France ...
William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury (age 36) was created 1st Earl Salisbury. Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury (age 33) by marriage Countess Salisbury.
William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 27) was created 1st Earl of Northampton. Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton (age 24) by marriage Countess of Northampton.
[his father-in-law] Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester (age 46) was created 1st Earl Gloucester probably as compensation for his daughter [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 19) having been abducted by Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 35).
Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 38) was created 1st Earl Suffolk. Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 51) by marriage Countess Suffolk.
On 17 Mar 1337 [his mother] Margaret Basset (age 57) died at Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire [Map].
Around 1340 [his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford Baroness Cobham, Ferrers and Strange was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 38) and [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 22) at Staffordshire. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
On 24 Jun 1340 King Edward III of England (age 27) attacked the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of Sluys capturing more than 200 ships, killing around 18000 French. The English force included John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 24), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 30), Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope Masham (age 27), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 10), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 22), Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 38), Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 30), Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny (age 30), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 32) and Richard Pembridge (age 20).
Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer (age 38) died from wounds. His daughter Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer succeeded 3rd Baroness Monthermer.
In 1341 [his daughter] Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 39) and [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 23) at Staffordshire. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
Before 1343 [his son-in-law] John Stafford (age 41) and [his daughter] Margaret Stafford (age 11) were married. The difference in their ages was 29 years. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 41) and Katherine Hastings Baroness Stafford. They were second cousin once removed.
In 1344 [his son] Ralph Stafford and [his daughter-in-law] Maud Plantagenet Duchess Lower Bavaria (age 4) were married. She the daughter of Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 34) and Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 24). He the son of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 42) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 26). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. 
In 1344 [his daughter] Joan Stafford Baroness Cherleton and Talbot was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 42) and [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 26) at Staffordshire. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
On 23 Apr 1344 King Edward III of England (age 31) created the Order of the Garter. The date nominal as there are different accounts; some sources say 1348.
2 Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster.
3 Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick.
4 Jean Grailly.
5 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford.
6 William Montagu 2nd Earl Salisbury.
7 Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March.
9 Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh.
10 John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick.
11 John Mohun 2nd Baron Mohun of Dunster.
12 Hugh Courtenay.
13 Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent.
15 Richard Fitzsimon.
16 Miles Stapleton.
17 Thomas Wale.
18 Hugh Wrottesley.
19 Neil Loring.
20 John Chandos.
21 James Audley.
22 Otho Holland.
23 Henry Eam.
24 Sanchet Abrichecourt.
In 1347 [his son] Ralph Stafford died.
On 10 Nov 1347 [his father-in-law] Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester (age 56) died at Tonbridge, Kent [Map]. He was buried at Tonbridge Priory, Kent [Map]. Earl Gloucester extinct. His daughter [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 29) succeeded 2nd Baroness Audley Stratton Audley in Oxfordshire.
Around 1348 [his daughter] Katherine Stafford Baroness Sutton Dudley was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 46) and [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 30) at Staffordshire. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
Around 1349 [his wife] Margaret Audley Countess Stafford (age 31) died.
Before 30 Aug 1349 [his son-in-law] Fulk Strange 3rd Baron Strange Blackmere (age 17) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford Baroness Cobham, Ferrers and Strange (age 9) were married. She by marriage Baroness Strange Blackmere. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 47) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King John "Lackland" of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
Before 01 Mar 1350 [his son] Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford (age 14) and [his daughter-in-law] Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 37) and Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick (age 36). He the son of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 48) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.
On 05 Mar 1350 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 48) was created 1st Earl Stafford.
On 25 Dec 1357 [his son-in-law] John Sutton 2nd Baron Sutton (age 18) and [his daughter] Katherine Stafford Baroness Sutton Dudley (age 9) were married. She by marriage Baroness Sutton of Dudley. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 56) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
Before 1358 [his son-in-law] John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 27) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford Baroness Cobham, Ferrers and Strange (age 17) were married. She by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 56) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
In Dec 1361 [his daughter] Katherine Stafford Baroness Sutton Dudley (age 13) died.
On 12 Apr 1363 [his son-in-law] Thomas Ros 4th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 28) and [his daughter] Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond (age 22) were married. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 61) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
In 1368 [his son-in-law] Reginald Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham (age 19) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford Baroness Cobham, Ferrers and Strange (age 28) were married at Lingfield, Surrey. She by marriage Baroness Cobham. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 66) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. He a great x 5 grandson of King John "Lackland" of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
On 31 Aug 1372 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 70) died. His son [his son] Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford (age 36) succeeded 2nd Earl Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford. [his daughter-in-law] Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (age 38) by marriage Countess Stafford.
[his son] Ralph Stafford was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
[his daughter] Joan Stafford was born to Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford and Katherine Hastings Baroness Stafford.
Gilbert Talbot 3rd Baron Talbot and [his daughter] Joan Stafford Baroness Cherleton and Talbot were married. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. 
John Charleton 3rd Baron Cherleton and [his daughter] Joan Stafford Baroness Cherleton and Talbot were married. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. He a great x 5 grandson of King John "Lackland" of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.
Kings Wessex: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 10 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 12 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 10 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Kings Franks: Great x 15 Grand Son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King Franks
Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France
Anne Jagiellon Holy Roman Empress x 1
Catherine Parr Queen Consort England x 1
Jane "Nine Days Queen" Grey I Queen England and Ireland x 1
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 108
Queen Consort Camilla Shand x 44
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hervey Bagot
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hervey Stafford
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert II Stafford
Great x 3 Grandmother: Millicent Stafford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Avice Anastasia Unknown
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Stafford
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Ferrers 2nd Earl of Derby
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ferrers 3rd Earl of Derby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Peverell Countess Derby
Great x 2 Grandmother: Petronill Ferrers Stafford
Great x 4 Grandfather: William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber
Great x 3 Grandmother: Sybil de Braose Countess Derby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber
GrandFather: Nicholas Stafford
Great x 4 Grandfather: Simon Corbet 3rd Baron Caus
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Corbet 4th Baron Caus
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Corbet 5th Baron Caus
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Corbet
Father: Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Clinton of Coleshill
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Clinton
GrandMother: Eleanor Clinton
Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Basset
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Basset
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Basset
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ralph Basset
GrandFather: Ralph Basset 1st Baron Basset Drayton 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Somery 1st Baron Dudley
Great x 2 Grandfather: Roger Somery 2nd Baron Dudley
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Gras Baroness Dudley
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Somery Baroness Basset Drayton 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William D'Aubigny 2nd Earl Lincoln 2nd Earl Arundel
Great x 3 Grandfather: William D'Aubigny 3rd Earl Lincoln 3rd Earl Arundel
Great x 2 Grandmother: Nicole D'Aubigny Baroness Dudley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh de Kevelioc Gernon 5th Earl Chester Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mabel Gernon Countess Lincoln and Arundel 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bertrade Montfort Countess Chester
Mother: Margaret Basset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
