Biography of Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480

1455 First Battle of St Albans

1460 Battle of Northampton

1461 Battle of Towton

1464 Battle of Hedgeley Moor

Before 1407 John Fitzalan 13th Earl Arundel (age 21) and [her mother] Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel (age 24) were married. They were second cousin twice removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Around Apr 1421 [her father] Richard Poynings (age 21) and [her mother] Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel (age 39) were married at Beverstone, Tetbury. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

Around 1422 Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland was born to Richard Poynings (age 22) and Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel (age 40).

Around 1425 [her step-father] Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford (age 46) and [her mother] Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel (age 43) were married. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John "Lackland" of England.

On 10 Jun 1429 [her father] Richard Poynings (age 29) was killed at Orléans.

Before 1440 Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent (age 23) and [her future sister-in-law] Katherine Percy (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 46) and Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland 1397-1472 (age 42). He the son of John Grey and Constance Holland Countess Norfolk and Nottingham 1387-1437. They were half second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1444 [her daughter] Anne Percy was born to [her future husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 22) and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 22). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 02 Oct 1446 [her grandfather] Robert Poynings 4th Baron Poynings (age 63) died at Orléans. His granddaughter Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 24) succeeded 5th Baroness Poynings

Around 1447 [her daughter] Margaret Percy was born to [her future husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 25) and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 25). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Around 1447 [her daughter] Eleanor Percy Baroness De La Warr and West was born to [her future husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 25) and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 25). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Before 1449 Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 27) and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 26) were married. She the daughter of Richard Poynings and Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel (age 66). He the son of Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 55) and Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland 1397-1472 (age 51). He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In 1449 [her brother-in-law] Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 26) was created 1st Baron Egremont.

Around 1449 [her son] Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland was born to [her husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 27) and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 27). He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England.

First Battle of St Albans

On 22 May 1455 the Wars of the Roses commenced with the First Battle of St Albans. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York (age 43) commanded with Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 26), Richard Neville 5th Earl Salisbury (age 55), Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham (age 40) and Walter Strickland (age 44).

The Lancastrians ...

Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke Somerset (age 49) was killed. His son Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke Somerset (age 19) succeeded 2nd Duke Somerset, 5th Earl Somerset. Note his father is frequently incorrectly referred to as the second Duke and Henry as the third Duke. His father's Dukedom, however, was a new creation.

[her father-in-law] Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland (age 62) was killed. His son [her husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 33) succeeded 3rd Earl of Northumberland, 6th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 14th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 33) by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford (age 41) was killed. His son John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford (age 20) succeeded 9th Baron de Clifford, 9th Lord Skipton. Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford (age 21) by marriage Baroness de Clifford.

William Cotton (age 45) and Richard Fortescue (age 41) were killed.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 52) was wounded and captured.

King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 33), John Dudley 1st Baron Dudley (age 54) and Edmund Dudley (age 30) were captured.

Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke Somerset (age 19) was wounded. James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 34) and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 55) fought.

Richard Cotton of Hampstall Ridware (age 51) and his son William Cotton of Connington in Huntingdonshire (age 27) were killed.

On 01 Aug 1455 [her mother] Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel (age 73) died.

In 1460 [her daughter] Elizabeth Percy Baroness Scrope Bolton was born to [her husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 38) and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 38). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

1460 Battle of Northampton

On 10 Jul 1460 the Yorkist army led by the future King Edward IV of England (age 18) and including Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 31), Archbishop George Neville (age 28), William Neville 1st Earl Kent (age 55), Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent (age 43), Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham (age 45) and John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 22) defeated the Lancastrian army at the 1460 Battle of Northampton.

King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 38) was captured.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 57) was killed. His grandson Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 5) succeeded 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 7th Earl Stafford, 8th Baron Stafford.

John Talbot 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 42) was killed. His son John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 11) succeeded 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury, 3rd Earl Waterford, 8th Baron Furnivall, 12th Baron Strange Blackmere, 9th Baron Talbot.

[her brother-in-law] Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (age 37) was killed.

John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont (age 50) was killed. His son William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 22) succeeded 2nd Viscount Beaumont, 7th Baron Beaumont.

William Lucy (age 56) was killed apparently by a member of the Stafford family who wanted his wife Margaret Fitzlewis (age 21).

Thomas Tresham (age 40) fought.

William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 22) and William Norreys (age 19) were knighted.

Thomas "Bastard of Exeter" Holland was executed following the battle.

The battle was fought south of the Northampton, Northamptonshire [Map] River Nene in the grounds of Delapré Abbey.

Battle of Towton

On 29 Mar 1461 the Battle of Towton was a decisive victory for King Edward IV of England (age 18) bringing to an end the first war of the Wars of the Roses. Said to be the bloodiest battle on English soil 28000 were killed mainly during the rout that followed the battle.

The Yorkist army was commanded by King Edward IV of England (age 18) with John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 45), William Neville 1st Earl Kent (age 56), William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 30) (knighted), Walter Blount 1st Baron Mountjoy (age 45), Henry Bourchier 2nd Count Eu 1st Earl Essex (age 57), John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 23) and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 61).

The Lancastrian army suffered significant casualties including [her brother-in-law] Richard Percy (age 35), Ralph Bigod Lord Morley (age 50), John Bigod (age 28), Robert Cromwell (age 71), Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 49), Ralph Eure (age 49), John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby (age 51), John Beaumont (age 33), Thomas Dethick (age 61), Everard Simon Digby, William Plumpton (age 25) and William Welles (age 51) who were killed.

[her husband] Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39) was killed. His son [her son] Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (age 12) succeeded 4th Earl of Northumberland, 7th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 15th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. [her future daughter-in-law] Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 1458-1485 (age 3) by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles (age 55) was killed. His son Richard Welles 7th Baron Willoughby 7th Baron Welles (age 33) succeeded 7th Baron Welles.


The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke Somerset (age 25), Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30), Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39) and Andrew Trollope.

Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30) was attainted after the battle; Duke Exeter, Earl Huntingdon forfeit.

Those who fought for the Lancaster included William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme (age 46), John Dudley 1st Baron Dudley (age 60), William Norreys (age 20), Thomas Grey 1st Baron Grey of Richemont (age 43), Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns (age 30), John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 12), Richard Welles 7th Baron Willoughby 7th Baron Welles (age 33), Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 56), James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 40), John Butler 6th Earl Ormonde 1422-1476 (age 39), William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont (age 22), Henry Roos and Thomas Tresham (age 41). Cardinal John Morton (age 41) were captured.

On 03 Apr 1461 Thomas Courtenay 14th Earl Devon (age 29) was beheaded at York [Map] and attainted.

John Heron of Ford Castle Northumberland (age 45), Robert Dethick (age 86), Andrew Trollope and his son David Trollope were killed.

Thomas Grey 1st Baron Grey of Richemont (age 43) was executed.

Battle of Hedgeley Moor

On 25 Apr 1464 a Yorkist army commanded by John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 33) defeated a Lancastrian army commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke Somerset (age 28) at Hedgeley Moor [Map] during the Battle of Hedgeley Moor.

Of the Lancastrians ...

Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 36) was killed. His son Edmund Ros 10th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 9) succeeded 10th Baron Ros Helmsley. Thomas' lands however, including Belvoir Castle [Map] was given by King Edward IV of England (age 21) to William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 33).

[her former brother-in-law] Ralph Percy (age 39) was killed.

Edmund Ros 10th Baron Ros Helmsley: Around 1455 he was born to Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 27) and Philippa Tiptoft Baroness Ros Helmsley (age 32). On 23 Oct 1508 Edmund Ros 10th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 53) died. Baron Ros Helmsley abeyant between his daughters.

Before 1467 [her son-in-law] William Gascoigne (age 15) and [her daughter] Margaret Percy (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480 (age 44). They were half second cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 14 Nov 1474 [her former brother-in-law] George Percy (age 50) died.

After 1475 [her former sister-in-law] Katherine Percy (age 51) died.

Before 14 Jan 1478 [her son] Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (age 29) and [her daughter-in-law] Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 1458-1485 (age 20) were married. She the daughter of William "Black William" Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke and Anne Devereux (age 48). He the son of Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480 (age 56). He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In 1480 [her son-in-law] Henry Scrope 6th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 12) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Percy Baroness Scrope Bolton (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480 (age 58). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 21 Sep 1480 Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland (age 58) died at Raby Castle, County Durham [Map]. Her son [her son] Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (age 31) succeeded 6th Baron Poynings.

Thomas Hungerford and [her daughter] Anne Percy were married. She the daughter of Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Ralph Percy and Jane Teye were married. He the son of Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland 1397-1472. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Ralph Percy and Eleanor Acton were married. He the son of Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland 1397-1472. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Family Trees of Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480

Paternal Family Tree: Poynings

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Bettershorne 1353-1427

Royal Ancestors of Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480

Kings Wessex: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd 1100-1170

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys 1047-1132

Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Louis "Fat" VI King France

Royal Descendants of Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 15

King Charles III x 15

Diana Spencer Princess Wales 1961-1997 x 48

Catherine Middleton Princess of Wales x 1

William Windsor Prince of Wales 1982- x 63

Ancestors of Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480

Great x 4 Grandfather: Michael Poynings

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Poynings 1st Baron Poynings

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bardolf

Great x 2 Grandfather: Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Poynings 3rd Baron Poynings

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Rokesley

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Rokesley Baroness Poynings

GrandFather: Robert Poynings 4th Baron Poynings 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Courtenay Baroness Grey Codnor 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Grey 1st Baron Fitzpayn 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Fitzpayn 1st Baron Fitzpayn

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Fitzpayn Baroness Grey Codnor

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Clifford

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Grey Baroness Poynings 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy de Bryan

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Brienne Baroness Fitzpayn

Father: Richard Poynings 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Wilton

Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Grey 1st Baron Grey Ruthyn 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Basset Baroness Grey Wilton 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 2nd Baron Grey Ruthyn 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Hastings 13th Baron Bergavenny 1st Baron Hastings 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hastings Baroness Grey Ruthyn 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 3rd Baron Grey Ruthyn 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Strange 2nd Baron Strange Blackmere 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Giffard Baroness Strange Blackmere 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alianore Strange Baroness Grey Ruthyn 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ankaret Boteler Baroness Strange Blackmere 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ela Herdeburgh Baroness Wem and Oversley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

GrandMother: Eleanor Grey Baroness Poynings 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ros 1st Baron Ros Helmsley

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ros 2nd Baron Ros Helmsley

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Vaux Baroness Ros

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Ros 4th Baron Ros Helmsley 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Badlesmere Baroness Ros Helmsley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Clare Baroness Badlesmere 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Ros Baroness Grey Ruthyn 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Stafford 1st Baron Stafford

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Basset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond 1341-1415 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Audley Countess Stafford Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Clare Countess Gloucester Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 1422-1480 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 6th and 1st Baron Berkeley Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Plantagenet Baroness Berkeley Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 7th and 2nd Baron Berkeley 2 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby 1193-1254 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Ferrers Baroness Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Quincy Countess Derby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Rich Berkeley 8th and 3rd Baron Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Zouche

Great x 3 Grandfather: Eudo Zouche

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bisset

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eva Zouche

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cantilupe

Great x 3 Grandmother: Millicent Cantilupe

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eva de Braose

GrandFather: John Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Clivedon

Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Clivedon Baroness Berkeley

Mother: Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandMother: Elizabeth Bettershorne