Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle is in Corfe, Dorset [Map].

978 Murder of King Edward Martyr

1202 Battle of Mirebeau

Murder of King Edward the Martyr

On 18 Mar 978 King Edward "Martyr" I of England (age 16) was murdered at Corfe Castle [Map] when visiting King Æthelred "Unready" II of England (age 12) and his mother Aelfthryth Queen Consort England (age 33). He was buried in Wareham, Dorset [Map] without ceremony. His half brother King Æthelred "Unready" II of England (age 12) succeeded II King England.

In 1197 Gruffydd ap Rhys Dinefwr Prince Deheubarth was imprisoned at Corfe Castle [Map].

Battle of Mirebeau

Annals of Margam. 01 Aug 1202. Rex Johannes (age 35) apud castrum Mirabel cepit Arthurum (age 15) nepotem suum in festum Sancti Petri ad vincula, et cum eo Galfridum de Lizanan1 et Hugonem de Brun2, et Andream de Chavenny, et vice-comitem de castro Haraldi3, et Reymundnm de Troarde, et Savaricum de Maulyon, et Hugonem de Banchai, et omnes alios inimicos suos Pictaviæ, qui ibi erant circiter cc. milites et plures. Ex quibus xxii. nobilissimos et strenuissimos in armis fame interfecit in castello de Corf [Map]; ita quod nec unus ex illis evasit.

King John (age 35) took his nephew Arthur (age 15) in chains at the castle of Mirabel on the feast of Saint Peter, and with Geoffrey de Lusignan1, Hugo the Brown2 and Andream de Chavenny, and Hugh III, viscount of Chastelleraud3, and Reymundnm de Troarde, and Savaricum de Maulyon, and Hugonem de Banchai, and all his other enemies of Poitou, who were around 200 soldiers and more. Of which 22 he killed the noblest and bravest men in arms by starvation in the castle of Corfe [Map]; so that not one of them escaped.

Note 1. Geoffrey de Lusignan (age 52).

Note 2. Hugh de Lusignan (age 19), surnamed le Brun, count de la Marche.

Note 3. Hugh III, viscount of Chastelleraud.

In 1206 Eleanor Fair Maid of Brittany (age 22) was imprisoned at Brough Castle [Map], under the guard of Robert de Vipont Baron of Westmoreland, then at Bowes Castle, County Durham [Map], then Corfe Castle [Map]. At Corfe Castle [Map] she was accompanied by twenty-five French knights loyal to her. Following an attempt to escape twenty-two of the knights were starved to death.

In 1209 William "Lion" I King Scotland (age 66) sent his two daughters Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent (age 16) and Isabella Dunkeld Countess Norfolk (age 14) to King John "Lackland" of England (age 42) as hostages to keep the peace. They, Margaret and Isabella, were imprisoned with Eleanor Fair Maid of Brittany (age 25) at Corfe Castle [Map].

In 1209 Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent (age 16) was imprisoned at Corfe Castle [Map].

In 1210 William de Braose was starved to death at Corfe Castle [Map].

In 1210 Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber (age 55) was imprisoned at Corfe Castle [Map].

In 1210 William de Braose was imprisoned at Corfe Castle [Map].

In 1247 Nicholas Moels (age 52) was appointed Constable of Corfe Castle, Dorset.

In 1340 Richard Willoughby (age 50) was imprisoned at Corfe Castle [Map].

Chronicle of Gregory 1460. Then the Quene (age 30) havynge knowelechynge of thys praty whyle sche sende unto the Duke of Somersett (age 24), at that tyme beynge in Dorset schyre at the Castelle of Corffe [Map], and for the Erle of Devyschyre (age 28), and for Elysaundyr Hody, and prayde hem to com to hyr as hastely as they myght, with hyr tenantys as stronge in hyr harnys as men of warre, for the Lorde Rosse (age 33), the Lorde Clyfforde (age 25), the Baron of Grestocke (age 46), the Lorde Nevyle (age 50), the Lorde Latymer (age 53), were waytyng a-pon the Duke of Excete[r] (age 30) to mete with hyr at Hulle [Map]. And thys mater was not taryd but fulle prevely i-wrought; and she sende letters unto alle hyr ehyffe offycers that they wold doo the same, and that they shulde warne alle the servantys that lovyd hyr or purposyd to kepe and rejoyse hyr ofYysce, to wayte a-pon hyr at Hulle by that day as hit a-poyntyd by hyr. Alle thes pepylle were gaderyd and conveyde so prevely that they wer hole in nombyr of xvM [Note. 15000] or any man wolde be-leve hyt; in so moche yf any man sayde, or tolde, or talkyd of suche gaderyng, he shulde be schende, and sum were in grete donger, for the comyn pepylle sayde by thoo that tolde the, troughthe, "Ye talke ryght ye wolde hit were," and gave noo credens of hyr sayynge. But the laste the lordys purposyd to knowe the troughthe. And the ix day of December nexte folowyng the Duke of Yorke (age 49), the Erle of Salysbury (age 60), the Erle Rutlond (age 17) (he was the Duke of Yorke ys secunde sone, one the beste dysposyd lorde in thys londe), and Syr Thomas Haryngdon (age 60), whythe many mo knyghtys and quyers and grete pepylle with hem, and soo departyd owte of London towarde Yorke, &c.

Calendars. 02 Mar 1478. Grant for life to the king's counsellor John Audeley, lord Audeley (age 52), of the office of steward of all lordships, manors and lands in the county of Dorset late of George, late duke of Clarence (deceased), and in the king's hands by his forfeiture, with 20 marks yearly from the issues of the lordship of Halisbere, co. Dorset; grant to him, during minority, of the office of steward of all lordships, manors and lands in the said county in the king's hands by reason of the minority of Edward (age 3), son of the said George (deceased), with 10 marks yearly from the issues of the premises; and grant to him for life of the office of constable and the custody of the castle of Warden and the office of constable and the custody of the castle of Corffe, with the accustomed fees from the issues of the king's lordships there and all other profits. By p.s.

In 1635 John Bankes (age 46) purchased Corfe Castle [Map] from Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton (age 57).

Roger Damory 1st Baron Damory was appointed Constable of Corfe Castle, Dorset.