Biography of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk 1298-1369

Paternal Family Tree: Ufford

1337 Creation of Earls

1346 Battle of Crécy

1349 Creation of Garter Knights

1356 Battle of Poitiers

Before 1298 [his father] Robert Ufford 1st Baron Ufford (age 18) and [his mother] Cecily Valoignes Baroness Ufford (age 13) were married.

On 09 Aug 1298 Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk was born to Robert Ufford 1st Baron Ufford (age 19) and Cecily Valoignes Baroness Ufford (age 14).

Before 1316 [his father] Robert Ufford 1st Baron Ufford (age 36) was created 1st Baron Ufford. [his mother] Cecily Valoignes Baroness Ufford (age 31) by marriage Baroness Ufford.

Before 09 Sep 1316 [his father] Robert Ufford 1st Baron Ufford (age 37) died. His son Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 18) succeeded 2nd Baron Ufford.

Around 1317 [his daughter] Catherine Ufford Baroness Scales was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 18) and [his future wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 31).

In 1324 Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 25) and Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 38) were married. She by marriage Baroness Ufford.

On 16 Jul 1325 [his mother] Cecily Valoignes Baroness Ufford (age 41) died.

Around 1327 [his daughter] Cecily Ufford Baroness Willoughby of Eresby was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 28) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 41).

Around 1330 [his son] Margaret Ufford was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 31) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 44).

On 22 Jul 1332 [his son] Thomas Ufford was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 33) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 46).

1337 Creation of Earls

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.

Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester (age 46) was created 1st Earl Gloucester probably as compensation for his daughter 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. [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 51) by marriage Countess Suffolk.

On 30 May 1338 [his son] William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 39) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 52).

Froissart Book 1 Chapter 41. 1339. When the Friday came in the morning, both hosts apparelled themselves ready, and every lord heard mass among their own companies and divers were shriven.

First we will speak of the order of the Englishmen, who drew them forward into the field and made three battles afoot, and did put all their horses and baggages into a little wood behind them, and fortified it. The first battle led1 the duke of Gueldres, the marquis of Meissen, the marquis of Brandebourg, sir John of Hainault, the earl of Mons, the earl of Salm, the lord of Fauquemont, sir William of Duvenvoorde, sir Arnold of Baquehem and the Almains; and among them was twenty-two banners and sixty pennons in the whole, and eight thousand men. The second battle had the duke of Brabant and the lords and knights of his country - first the lord of Cuyk, the lord Berg, the lord of Breda, the lord of Rotselaer, the lord of Vorsselaer, the lord of Borgneval, the lord of Schoonvorst, the lord of Witham, the lord of Aerschot, the lord of Gaesbeck, the lord of Duffel, sir Thierry of Walcourt, sir Rasse of Gres, sir John of Kesterbeke, sir John Pyliser, sir Giles of Coterebbe, sir Walter of Huldeberg, the three brethren of Harlebeke, sir Henry of Flanders, and divers other barons and knights of Flanders, who were all under the duke of Brabant's banner, as the lord of Halewyn, the lord of Gruthuse, sir Hector Vilain, sir John of Rhodes, sir Wulfart of Ghistelles, sir William of Straten, sir Gossuin de la Moere, and many other: the duke of Brabant had a twenty-four banners and eighty pennons, and in all a seven thousand men. The third battle and the greatest had the king of England and with him his cousin the earl of Derby (age 29), the bishop of Lincoln (age 47), the bishop of Durham, the earl of Salisbury (age 38), the earl of Northampton (age 29), and of Gloucester (age 48), the earl of Suffolk (age 40), sir Robert d'Artois (age 52), as then called earl of Richmond5, the lord Raynold Cobham (age 44), the lord Percy, the lord Ros (age 54), the lord Mowbray (age 28), sir Lewis and sir John Beauchamp, the lord Delaware (age 62), the lord of Langton, the lord Basset, the lord Fitzwalter, sir Walter Manny (age 29), sir Hugh Hastings (age 29), sir John Lisle (age 20), and divers other that I cannot name: among other was sir John Chandos (age 19), of whom much honour is spoken in this book2. The king had with him twenty-eight banners and ninety pennons, and in his battle a six thousand men of arms and six thousand archers; and he had set another battle as in a wing, whereof the earl of Warwick (age 25), the earl of Pembroke (age 19), the lord Berkeley (age 43), the lord Multon and divers other were as chief, and they were on horseback3. Thus when every lord was under his banner, as it was commanded by the marshals, the king of England mounted on a palfrey, accompanied all only with sir Robert d'Artois, sir Raynold Cobham and sir Walter of Manny, and rode along before all his battles, and right sweetly desired all his lords and other that they would that day aid to defend his honour. And they all promised him so to do. Then he returned to his own battle and set everything in good order and commanded that none should go before the marshals' banners.

Now let us speak of the lords of France, what they did. They were eleven score banners, four kings, six dukes, twenty-six earls, and more than four thousand knights, and of the commons of France more than sixty thousand. The kings that were there with king Philip of Valois was the king of Bohemia, the king of Navarre, and king David of Scotland: the duke of Normandy, the duke of Bretayne, the duke of Bourbon, the duke of Lorraine and the duke of Athens: 2 of earls, the earl of Alencon (age 42) brother to the king, the earl of Flanders, the earl of Hainault, the earl of Blois, the earl of Bar, the earl of Forez, the earl of Foix, the earl of Armagnac, the earl Dolphin of Auvergne, the earl of Joinville, the earl of Etampes, the earl of Vendome, the earl of Harcourt, the earl of Saint-Pol, the earl of Guines, the earl of Boulogne, the earl of Roucy, the earl of Dammartin, the earl of Valentinois, the earl of Auxerre, the earl of Sancerre, the earl of Geneva, the earl of Dreux; and of Gascoyne and of Languedoc so many earls and viscounts, that it were long to rehearse. It was a great beauty to behold the banners and standards waving in the wind, and horses barded, and knights and squires richly armed. The Frenchmen ordained three great battles, in each of them fifteen thousand men of arms and twenty thousand men afoot.

Note 1. Perhaps a misprint for 'had.' The original is 'eut.'

Note 2. In the later revision the writer says: 'I, Froissart, writer of these chronicles, more than once heard the gentle knight sir John Chandos say that he was made knight by the hand of the king Edward of England on this Friday that the assembly was at Buironfosse; and since that he was more valiant than any other who took arms on the side of the English, I make mention of this here.'

Note 3. The original says: ' So these remained on horseback to support those battles which should waver, and were as a rear-guard.'

Note 4. The name of the duke of Burgundy is omitted.

Note 5. TT. Robert III Artois wasn't created Earl Richmond until 1341?

On 03 Oct 1343 [his son] Walter Ufford was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 45) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 57).

Battle of Crécy

On 26 Aug 1346 the army of King Edward III of England (age 33) defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince" (age 16), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 33), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36) and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 30).

The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield (age 36), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38), Bernard Brocas (age 16), Thomas Felton (age 16), James Audley (age 28), Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh (age 59), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 18), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 51), John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth (age 66), Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 37), Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 19), William Scrope (age 21), Stephen Scrope (age 21), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 16), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28), Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle (age 42), Nicholas Longford (age 61), Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 27), Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings (age 28), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 48), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 34), Thomas West (age 34), John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby (age 43), John Wingfield (age 26), Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy (age 25), Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon (age 43) (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux (age 37), John Devereux (age 44), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 26), Richard Pembridge (age 26) and John Sully (age 63).

The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France (age 52) was wounded. William de Coucy (age 60) and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy (age 33) and were killed.

Charles Valois Count Alençon (age 49) was killed. His son Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons (age 9) succeeded Count Alençon.

Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. His son Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.

Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders (age 42) was killed. His son Louis Dampierre III Count Nevers II Count Flanders (age 15) succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.

King John I of Bohemia (age 50) was killed. His son Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg (age 30) succeeded IV King Bohemia.

Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 26) was killed. His son John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.

Jean IV de Harcourt (age 39) was killed.

Before 1349 [his son-in-law] John Willoughby 3rd Baron Willoughby (age 26) and [his daughter] Cecily Ufford Baroness Willoughby of Eresby (age 21) were married. When John married Cecily he changed his arms from Willoughby Arms to Willoughby de Eresby Arms. She the daughter of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 50) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 62).

1349 Creation of Garter Knights

In 1349 King Edward III of England (age 36) created new Garter Knights:

26th William Fitzwarin (age 32). The date may be earlier.

27th. Robert Ufford (age 50).

28th William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 39).

Before 1354 [his son-in-law] Roger Scales 3rd Baron Scales and [his daughter] Catherine Ufford Baroness Scales (age 36) were married. She by marriage Baroness Scales. She the daughter of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 55) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 67).

Battle of Poitiers

On 19 Sep 1356 the army of Edward "Black Prince" (age 26) defeated the French and Scottish army led by King John "The Good" II of France (age 37) at the Battle of Poitiers

King John "The Good" II of France was captured by three captains including Ivon aka John Fane.

The the English army included: Bernard Brocas (age 26), Thomas Felton (age 26), James Audley (age 38), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 43), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 28), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 61), Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh (age 21), Ralph Ferrers (age 27), William Scrope (age 31), William Montagu 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 28), Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 37), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 58), [his son] William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 18), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 44), [his son-in-law] John Willoughby 3rd Baron Willoughby (age 33), Thomas Arderne (age 19), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 36), Richard Pembridge (age 36), Jean Grailly (age 25), Robert de Fouleshurst (age 26) and John Sully (age 73)

John Savile of Shelley and Golcar (age 31) probably fought having received letters of protection to travel overseas.

Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon (age 53) protected the baggage train.

The French and Scottish army included: King John "The Good" II of France, Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy (age 14), Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche (age 12), Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas (age 26), John "Sans Terre" Artois 1st Count of Eu (age 35); all captured.

Guichard d'Angle 1st Earl Huntingdon and William Douglas 1st Earl Douglas (age 33) fought.

Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon (age 45) was killed. His son Louis Bourbon II Duke Bourbon (age 19) succeeded II Duke Bourbon.

Before 1361 [his son] Walter Ufford (age 17) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Montagu Countess Suffolk (age 16) were married. She would later marry his brother [his son] William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 22); an example of Married to Two Siblings. He the son of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 62) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 74). She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Before 13 Jun 1362 [his son] Thomas Ufford (age 29) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Beauchamp (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 49) and Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick (age 48). He the son of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 63) and [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 76). She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

On 02 Apr 1368 [his wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk (age 82) died.

On 04 Nov 1369 Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 71) died. His son [his son] William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 31) succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk, 3rd Baron Ufford. [his future daughter-in-law] Joan Montagu Countess Suffolk (age 20) by marriage Countess Suffolk.

Around 1400. Window in the Chicheley Chapel at St Andrew's Church, Wimpole [Map] from the late 14th early 15th Century depicting alliances of the Ufford family (who are thought to have owned the manor of Wimpole before the Chicheleys) and the Plantagenets through the marriage of [his brother] Ralph Ufford and Maud Plantagenet Countess Ulster, daughter of Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster .

From top to bottom, left to right:

Tiptoft Arms. The Tiptoft family owned the nearby manor of Harleston.

Bardolf Arms.

Avenell Arms. The Avenell family once held a manor in Wimpole.

Telemache Arms.

Ufford Arms. Believed to be the arms of [his son] William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk. Note the difference of an annulet argent (white) in the top left corner.

Bohun Arms. Possibly William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton.

Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster 1281 1345 Arms. Possibly Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster although the label doesn't appear to have the fleur de lys of France.

Bassingbourne Arms.

Engaine Arms. John de Engaine lived in Huntingdonshire.

Lisle Arms. Possibly Robert Lisle 1st Baron Lisle. Robert settled at nearby Rampton.

Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk who married [his former wife] Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk whose father [his former father-in-law] Walter Norwich owned the manor of Cobbs in Wimpole.

Ufford Arms with a label three points. Believed to be [his son] Robert Ufford who predeceased his father Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk.

Bassingbourne Arms.

The figure in the middle is believed to represent William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk.

From an original description by James C Powell 1903.

[his daughter] Maud Ufford was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk and Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk.

[his son] Robert Ufford was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk and Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk.

[his daughter] Joan Ufford was born to Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk and Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk.

Royal Descendants of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk 1298-1369

Queen Anne Boleyn of England

Catherine Parr Queen Consort England

Queen Catherine Howard of England

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Queen Consort Camilla Shand

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk 1298-1369

Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk

GrandFather: Robert Valoignes

Mother: Cecily Valoignes Baroness Ufford