Biography of Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer 1270-1325
1297 Marriage of Princess Elizabeth and John of Holland
1301 Edward II Created Prince of Wales
1301 Baron's Letter to the Pope
1307 Marriage of Piers Gaveston and Margaret de Clare
1308 Marriage of King Edward II and Isabella of France
1308 Coronation of Edward II and Isabella
Around 1270 Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer was born.
On 30 Apr 1290 Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford (age 46) and [his future wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 18) were married at Clerkenwell [Map]. She by marriage Countess Gloucester, Countess Hertford. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] King Edward I of England (age 50) and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England (age 49). He the son of Richard de Clare 6th Earl Gloucester 5th Earl Hertford and Maud Lacy Countess Gloucester and Hertford. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
In Jan 1297 Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 27) and Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 24) were married in secret greatly offending her father King Edward I of England (age 57) who had been planning to marry her to Amadeus V "Great" Savoy (age 47) in March. Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer was imprisoned at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map]; he was released in Aug 1297. She the daughter of King Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England.
On 08 Jan 1297 John Gerulfing I Count Holland (age 13) and [his sister-in-law] Princess Elizabeth of Rhuddlan Countess Essex, Hereford and Holland (age 14) were married at Ipswich, Suffolk [Map]. She by marriage Countess Holland. The wedding was attended by her sister [his sister-in-law] Margaret Plantagenet Duchess Brabant (age 21), her father [his father-in-law] King Edward I (age 57), her brother [his brother-in-law] Edward (age 12) and her future second husband Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 21). She the daughter of King Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England. He the son of Floris Gerulfing V Count Holland and Beatrix Dampierre.
In Aug 1297 Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 27) was created 1st Earl Gloucester, 1st Earl Hertford. There is some uncertainty as to whether these creations existed, or were created for life only, since they do appear to have been inherited, or whether there is confusion around his having been married to [his wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 25), the widow of the seventh Earl of the first creation Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford.
In Oct 1297 [his daughter] Mary Monthermer was born to Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 27) and [his wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 25). She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 07 Feb 1301 [his brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 16) was created Prince of Wales by his father [his father-in-law] King Edward I of England (age 61); the first English heir to receive the title. He was created 1st Earl Chester the same day.
Before 09 Mar 1301 seven Earls and 96 Barons signed a letter to the Pope refuting the Pope's claim that Scotland was subject to the Pope's feudal overlordship. The letter was never sent. Those who signed include: John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey (age 70), Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (age 23), Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 31), Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 25), Roger Bigod 5th Earl Norfolk (age 56), Richard Fitzalan 8th Earl of Arundel (age 34), Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick (age 29), Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 26), William Leybourne 1st Baron Leybourne (age 59), Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 20), William Latimer 1st Baron Latimer of Corby (age 58), Edmund Hastings, John Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings 14th Baron Bergavenny (age 14), Edmund Mortimer 2nd Baron Mortimer of Wigmore (age 50), Fulk Fitzwarin 2nd Baron Fitzwarin (age 16), Henry Percy 9th and 1st Baron Percy (age 27), Robert Fitzwalter 1st Baron Fitzwalter (age 54), John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Somerset (age 26), William de Braose 2nd Baron de Braose (age 41), John Botetort 1st Baron Botetort (age 36), Reginald Grey 1st Baron Grey of Wilton (age 61), John Moels 1st Baron Moels (age 32), Thomas Berkeley 6th and 1st Baron Berkeley (age 55), Robert de Vere 5th Earl of Oxford, John Strange 1st Baron Strange Knockin (age 48), Thomas Multon 1st Baron Multon (age 25), Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford (age 26), Walter Beauchamp (age 58), Alan Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Ashby (age 33), John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave (age 45), William Ferrers 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby (age 29), Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 51), Piers Mauley, Ralph Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby (age 38), John Mohun 1st Baron Dunster (age 32), Roger Scales 1st Baron Scales, Thomas Furnival 1st Baron Furnivall (age 41), Hugh Bardolf 1st Baron Bardolf (age 41), Gilbert Talbot 1st Baron Talbot (age 24), William Deincourt 1st Baron Deincourt, Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 28), Walter Fauconberg 1st Baron Fauconberg (age 81).
On 04 Oct 1301 [his son] Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer was born to Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 31) and [his wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 29) at Ham Stoke, Wiltshire. He a grandson of King Edward I of England.
On 14 Nov 1302 Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 26) and [his sister-in-law] Princess Elizabeth of Rhuddlan Countess Essex, Hereford and Holland (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Essex, Countess Hereford. Westminster Abbey [Map]. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King Edward I of England (age 63) and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England. He the son of Humphrey Bohun 3rd Earl Hereford 2nd Earl Essex and Maud Fiennes Countess Essex and Hereford. They were third cousins.
In 1304 [his son] Edward Monthermer was born to Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 34) and [his wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 31). He a grandson of King Edward I of England.
After 14 Jul 1306 [his future brother-in-law] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 20) and [his step-daughter] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 13) were married. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 34). He the son of [his future father-in-law] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 45) and Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 23 Apr 1307 [his wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 35) died at Clare, Suffolk [Map].
On 07 Jul 1307 [his former father-in-law] King Edward I of England (age 68) died at Burgh by Sands [Map] whilst on his way north to Scotland. His son [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 23) succeeded II King England. Earl Chester merged with the Crown.
Edward had gathered around him Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (age 29), Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick (age 35), Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 32) and Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford (age 33) and charged them with looking after his son in particular ensuring Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall (age 23) didn't return from exile.
On 06 Aug 1307 Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall (age 23) was created 1st Earl Cornwall by [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 23) to the shock of the nobility; Earl Cornwall usually reserved for the heir. The earldom gave Gaveston substantial landholdings over great parts of England, to the value of £4,000 a year. These possessions consisted of most of Cornwall, as well as parts of Devonshire in the south-west, land in Berkshire and Oxfordshire centred on the honour of Wallingford, most of the eastern part of Lincolnshire, and the honour of Knaresborough in Yorkshire, with the territories that belonged to it.
On 02 Nov 1307 Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall (age 23) and Margaret Clare Countess Gloucester were married. Arranged by [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 23). Margaret Clare Countess Gloucester grand-daughter of Edward I through his daughter Joan and, as such, significantly higher than Gaveston in the nobility. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his former wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 25 Jan 1308 [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 23) and Isabella of France Queen Consort England (age 13) were married at Boulogne sur Mer [Map]. She the daughter of Philip IV King France (age 39) and Joan Blois I Queen Navarre. He the son of [his former father-in-law] King Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England. They were second cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 25 Feb 1308 [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 23) was crowned II King England at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Henry Woodlock, Bishop of Winchester. Isabella of France Queen Consort England (age 13) was crowned Queen Consort England.
Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall (age 24) carried the Royal Crown.
William Marshal 1st Baron Marshal (age 30) carried the Gilt Spurs.
Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 32) carried the Royal Sceptre.
Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 27) carried the Royal Rod.
Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (age 30) carried the sword Curtana.
Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March (age 20) carried the table bearing the Royal Robes.
Thomas Grey (age 28) and Robert Fitzwalter 1st Baron Fitzwalter (age 61) attended.
On 29 Sep 1308 (possibly 30th) in a Siblings Marriage de Clare siblings married de Burgh siblings at Waltham Abbey, Essex [Map] in the presence of [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 24).
John Burgh (age 22) and [his former step-daughter] Elizabeth Clare Lady Verdun (age 13) were married. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his former wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. He the son of Richard "Red Earl" Burgh 2nd Earl Ulster (age 49) and Margaret Burgh Countess Ulster. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
[his former step-son] Gilbert de Clare 8th Earl Gloucester 7th Earl Hertford (age 17) and Matilda Burgh Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Gloucester, Countess Hertford. She the daughter of Richard "Red Earl" Burgh 2nd Earl Ulster and Margaret Burgh Countess Ulster. He the son of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. He a grandson of King Edward I of England.
On 04 Mar 1309 Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 39) was created 1st Baron Monthermer by writ of summons.
Before 1310 John Hastings 13th Baron Bergavenny 1st Baron Hastings (age 47) and [his future wife] Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny were married. She by marriage Baroness Hastings, Baroness Bergavenny Feudal Creation. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 48) and Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
In 1312 [his former brother-in-law] Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl Norfolk (age 11) was created 1st Earl Norfolk.
Around 1313 Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 43) and Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny were married. She by marriage Baroness Monthermer. She the daughter of Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 51) and Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
On 24 Jun 1314 the Scottish army of King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland (age 39) including, James "Black" Douglas (age 28), heavily defeated the English army led by [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 30) at the Battle of Bannockburn.
[his former step-son] Gilbert de Clare 8th Earl Gloucester 7th Earl Hertford (age 23) was killed. Earl Gloucester, Earl Hertford extinct.
John Comyn 4th Lord Baddenoch (age 20), Robert Felton 1st Baron Felton (age 44) and William Vesci were killed.
William Marshal 1st Baron Marshal (age 36) was killed. His son John Marshal 2nd Baron Marshal (age 22) succeeded 2nd Baron Marshal.
Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford (age 40) was killed. His son Roger Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford (age 14) succeeded 2nd Baron de Clifford.
John Lovell 2nd Baron Lovel (age 25) was killed. His son John Lovell 3rd Baron Lovel succeeded 3rd Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh.
Henry Bohun was killed by King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland. He was buried in Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucestershire [Map].
Walter Fauconberg 2nd Baron Fauconberg (age 50) possilby died although his death is also reported as being on 31 Dec 1318.
Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere (age 38), Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 38), Goronwy ap Tudur Hen Tudor, Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan (age 35), Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 39) and Robert Umfraville 8th Earl Angus (age 37) fought.
Pain Tiptoft 1st Baron Tibetot (age 34) was killed. His son John Tiptoft 2nd Baron Tibetot succeeded 2nd Baron Tibetot.
John Montfort 2nd Baron Montfort (age 23) was killed. Peter Montfort 3rd Baron Montfort (age 23) succeeded 3rd Baron Montfort.
Thomas Grey (age 34) undertook a suicidal charge that contributed to the English defeat and subsequently blemished his career.
William Latimer 2nd Baron Latimer of Corby (age 38) was captured.
Michael Poynings (age 44) was killed.
On 12 Aug 1315 Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick (age 43) died. Possibly poisoned - see Thomas Walsingham. He was buried at Bordesley Abbey, Worcestershire [Map]. His son Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 2) succeeded 11th Earl Warwick. Given his young age Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick became a ward of [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 31) until 1326.
On 04 Feb 1316 Theobald Verdun 2nd Lord Verdun (age 37) and [his former step-daughter] Elizabeth Clare Lady Verdun (age 20) were married. She by marriage Lord Verdun. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his former wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. They were third cousins. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 05 May 1316 Isabel Bohun was born to Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 40) and [his former sister-in-law] Princess Elizabeth of Rhuddlan Countess Essex, Hereford and Holland (age 33). His mother Princess Elizabeth of Rhuddlan Countess Essex, Hereford and Holland died in childbirth. She was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Before 03 May 1317 Roger Damory 1st Baron Damory and [his former step-daughter] Elizabeth Clare Lady Verdun (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his former wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
After 15 Sep 1317 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer (age 52) and [his former step-daughter] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 24) were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his former wife] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 19 Apr 1319 Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 6) and Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick (age 5) were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. An arranged marriage although not clear who arranged it or whose ward Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick was (his father Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick had died four years before) - possibly by [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 34) as a means of securing the Welsh March. The Beauchamp family established, the Mortimer family aspirational. The marriage took place after Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March (age 31) had returned from his tenure as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and before he rebelled against King Edward II of England in opposition to [his brother-in-law] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 33). She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville (age 33). He the son of Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick and Alice Tosny Countess Warwick (age 34). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.
In 1321 [his former brother-in-law] Edmund of Woodstock 1st Earl Kent (age 19) was created 1st Earl Kent.
In or before May 1322 John Giffard 2nd Baron Giffard Brimpsfield (age 34) was executed by [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 38). Baron Giffard Brimpsfield forfeit.
In 1323 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer (age 58) was created 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer. [his former step-daughter] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 30) by marriage Baroness Zouche Mortimer.
On 03 Mar 1323 Andrew Harclay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 53) was hanged at Carlisle, Cumberland [Map] for having negotiated a truce with the Scots despite having successfuly defeated the rebels at the Battle of Boroughbridge a year before for which he was enobled by [his former brother-in-law] King Edward II of England (age 38). Earl Carlisle forfeit.
In 1324 Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet (age 5) was placed into the care of her cousin [his former step-daughter] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 31). She was subsequently placed into the care of Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 54) (he had formerly been married to her aunt [his former wife] Joan of Acre and [his wife] Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny with her younger sister Joan of the Tower (age 2) at Pleshey Castle [Map].
In 1325 [his former brother-in-law] Edmund of Woodstock 1st Earl Kent (age 23) and Margaret Wake Countess Kent (age 27) were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. He the son of [his former father-in-law] King Edward I of England and Margaret of France Queen Consort England. They were half second cousin twice removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.
On 05 Apr 1325 Ralph Monthermer 1st Baron Monthermer (age 55) died. Earl Gloucester, Earl Hertford extinct. His son [his son] Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer (age 23) succeeded 2nd Baron Monthermer.
In 1334 [his former wife] Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny died.
John of Fordun's Chronicle. As the said John's accusations were repeated, at length, one night, while the wine glittered in the bowl, and that king was hastening to sit down with his secretaries, he talked over Robert's death in earnest, - and shortly determined that he would deprive him of life on the morrow. But when the Earl of Gloucester, who was Robert's true and tried friend in his utmost need, heard of this, he hastily, that same night, sent the aforesaid Robert, by his keeper of the wardrobe, twelve pence and a pair of spurs. So the keeper of the wardrobe, who guessed his lord's wishes, presented these things to Robert, from his lord, and added these words: "My lord sends these to you, in return for what he, on his side, got from you yesterday." Robert understood, from the tokens offered him, that he was threatened by the danger of death; so he discreetly gave the pence to the keeper of the wardrobe, and forthwith sent him back to the Earl with greeting in answer, and with thanks.
Then, when twilight came on, that night, after having ostentatiously ordered his servants to meet him at Carlisle [Map], with his trappings, on the evening of the following day, he straightway hastened towards Scotland, without delay, and never stopped travelling, day or night, until he was safe from the aforesaid king's spite. Tor he was under the guidance of One of whom it is written: - "There is no wisdom, no foresight, no understanding against the Lord, who knoweth how to snatch the good from trial, and mercifully to deliver from danger those that trust in Him.".