Biography of William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 1392-1461

Paternal Family Tree: Bonville

1455 Battle of Clyst Heath

1460 Battle of Wakefield

1461 Creation of Garter Knights by Henry VI

1461 Second Battle of St Albans

Before Aug 1392 [his father] John Bonville (age 21) and [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzroger (age 21) were married.

Around Aug 1392 William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville was born to John Bonville (age 21) and Elizabeth Fitzroger (age 21) at Shute, Devon.

On 21 Oct 1396 [his father] John Bonville (age 25) died.

On 06 Dec 1396 [his step-father] Richard Stuckley and [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzroger (age 26) were married.

Before 22 Oct 1397 Robert Poynings 4th Baron Poynings (age 14) and [his future sister-in-law] Eleanor Grey Baroness Poynings (age 4) were married. She by marriage Baroness Poynings. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Around 1410 [his future brother-in-law] John Grey (age 23) and Constance Holland Countess Norfolk and Nottingham (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Grey of Ruthyn. She the daughter of John Holland 1st Duke Exeter and Elizabeth Lancaster Duchess Exeter (age 46). He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 10 Apr 1414 [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzroger (age 43) died.

On 12 Dec 1414 William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 22) and Margaret Grey (age 17) were married. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

In 1420 [his son] William Bonville was born to William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 27) and [his wife] Margaret Grey (age 23).

Before 09 May 1426 [his daughter] Philippa Bonville was born to William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 33) and [his wife] Margaret Grey (age 29).

Before 09 May 1426 [his daughter] Elizabeth Bonville Baroness Kyme was born to William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 33) and [his wife] Margaret Grey (age 29).

Before 09 May 1426 [his daughter] Margaret Bonville was born to William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 33) and [his wife] Margaret Grey (age 29).

On 09 May 1426 [his wife] Margaret Grey (age 29) died.

After 12 May 1427 [his son-in-law] William Granville (age 45) and [his daughter] Philippa Bonville (age 1) were married. The difference in their ages was 44 years. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Before 09 Oct 1427 William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 35) and Elizabeth Courtenay Baroness Bonville and Harington were married. She the daughter of Edward "Blind Earl" Courtenay 11th Earl Devon and Maud Camoys Countess Devon. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Before 1434 [his former sister-in-law] Eleanor Grey Baroness Poynings (age 41) died.

Before 1434 William Calthorpe (age 23) and [his former sister-in-law] Elizabeth Grey (age 27) were married.

In 1437 [his former sister-in-law] Elizabeth Grey (age 31) died.

Before 27 Aug 1439 [his former brother-in-law] John Grey (age 52) and Margaret Mowbray Baroness Grey Ruthyn (age 51) were married. She by marriage Baroness Grey of Ruthyn. She the daughter of Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk. They were third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

On 27 Aug 1439 [his former brother-in-law] John Grey (age 52) died.

Before 1442 [his son] William Bonville (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Harrington (age 18) were married. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

In 1447 [his former brother-in-law] John Grey (age 30) died.

On 10 Mar 1449 William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 56) was created 1st Baron Bonville. [his wife] Elizabeth Courtenay Baroness Bonville and Harington by marriage Baroness Bonville.

Before 1451 [his son-in-law] William Almescombe and [his daughter] Philippa Bonville (age 24) were married. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Battle of Clyst Heath

On 15 Dec 1455 the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon since 1355, and Bonville family resolved their differences at the Battle of Clyst Heath. Thomas Courtenay 13th Earl Devon (age 41) defeated William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 63). Battle something of an over-statement; the number of dead reported by one chronicler as being twelve. Following the battle the victorious Courtenay's attacked Bonville's Shute Manor.

In 1457 [his former brother-in-law] Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby (age 42) died.

Battle of Wakefield

On 30 Dec 1460 the Lancastrian army took their revenge for the defeats of the First Battle of St Albans and the Battle of Northampton during the Battle of Wakefield at Sandal Castle [Map]. The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30), Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke Somerset (age 24) and Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39), and included John Courtenay 15th Earl Devon (age 25) and William Gascoigne XIII (age 30), both knighted, and James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde (age 40), John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford (age 25), John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby (age 50), Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 33), Henry Roos and Thomas St Leger (age 20).

The Yorkist army was heavily defeated.

Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York (age 49) was killed. His son King Edward IV of England (age 18) succeeded 4th Duke York, 7th Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York (age 49), 9th Earl Ulster, 3rd Earl Cambridge.

Thomas Neville (age 30), Thomas Harrington (age 60), and Edward Bourchier were killed.

William Bonville 6th Baron Harington (age 18) was killed. His daughter Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset succeeded 7th Baroness Harington.

Thomas Parr (age 53) fought in the Yorkist army.

Following the battle Richard Neville 5th Earl Salisbury (age 60) was beheaded by Thomas "Bastard of Exeter" Holland. [his son] William Bonville (age 40) was executed.

Edmund York 1st Earl of Rutland (age 17) was killed on Wakefield Bridge [Map] by John "Butcher" Clifford (age 25) by which he gained his sobriquet "Butcher". Earl of Rutland extinct.

1461 Creation of Garter Knights by Henry VI

On 08 Feb 1461 King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 39) created four Garter Knights two of whom would be killed nine days later at the Second Battle of St Albans:

181st Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 32).

182nd William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 68).

183rd Thomas Kyriell (age 65).

184th John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 61).

Second Battle of St Albans

On 17 Feb 1461 the Lancastrian army defeated the Yorkist army at Second Battle of St Albans and rescued King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 39). The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 30) and included Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland (age 39), John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 45), Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor (age 26), Henry Roos and Richard Welles 7th Baron Willoughby 7th Baron Welles (age 33).

Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 33), William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme (age 46), John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 12) and Thomas Tresham (age 41) were knighted.

The Yorkist army included Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 32), William Fitzalan 16th Earl Arundel (age 43), John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock (age 61) and Henry Bourchier 2nd Count Eu 1st Earl Essex (age 57). John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu (age 30) was captured. Robert Poynings (age 42) and James Luttrell (age 34) were killed.

John Grey (age 29) was killed fighting for Lancaster. A death that was to have far reaching consequences; his widow Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 24) subsequently married King Edward IV of England (age 18).

During the battle William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 68) and Thomas Kyriell (age 65) were assigned to the protection of the King Henry VI (age 39). After the battle both were beheaded against all decent laws of battle.

William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville (age 68) was beheaded. His great granddaughter Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset succeeded 2nd Baroness Bonville.

Thomas Kyriell (age 65) was beheaded.

William Cotton (age 21) was killed.

Chronicle of Gregory 1461. Ande the xvij day nexte folowynge Kyng Harry (age 39) roode to Synt Albonys [Map], and the Duke of Northefolke (age 45) with hym, the Erle of Warwycke (age 32), the Erle of Arundelle (age 43), the Lorde Bouser (age 30), the Lorde Bonvyle (age 68), with many grete lordys, knyghtys, and squyers, and commyns of an C [Hundred] Ml men. And there they hadde a grete batayle whythe the Quene (age 30), for she come ever on fro the jornaye of Wackefylde tylle sche come to Synt Albonys, with alle the lordys a fore sayde; and hyr mayny and every lorde ys men bare hyr lordys leverey, that every man myghte knowe hys owne feleschippe by hys lyverey. And be-syde alle that, every man and lorde bare the Pryncys (age 7) levery, that was a bende of crymesyn and blacke with esteryge ys fetherys. The substance that gate that fylde were howseholde men and feyd men. I wene there were not v Mlmen that fought in the Quenys party, for [t]emoste parte of Northeryn men fledde a-way, and sum were take and spoylyd owte of hyr harnysse by the way as they fledde. And sum of them robbyd evyr as they yede, a petyffulle thynge hit ys to hyre hit. But the day before that batayle there was a jornay at Dunstapyl [Map]; but the kyngys mayny lackyd good gydyng, for sum were but newe men of warre, for the chevyste captayne was a boucher of the same towne; and there were the kyngys mayny ovyr throughe only by the Northeryn men. And sone aftyr the bocher, for schame of hys sympylle gydynge and loste of the men, the nombyr of viij C, for very sorowe as hyt ys sayde, hynge hym selfe; and sum men sayde that hyt was for loste of hys goode, but dede he ys-God knowythe the trought.

And in the myddys of the batayle Kynge Harry (age 39) wente unto hys Quene (age 30) and for-soke alle hys lordys, ande truste better to hyr party thenne unto hys owne lordys. And thenn thoroughe grete labur the Duke of Northefolke (age 45) and the Erle of Warwycke (age 32) a schapyd a-waye; the Byschoppe of Exceter (age 29), that tyme Chaunceler of Ingelond, and brother unto the Erle of Warwycke, the Lorde Bouser (age 30), whythe many othyr knyghtys, squyers, and comyns fledde, and many men slayne in bothe partys. And the Lorde Bonevyle (age 68) was be-heddyd, the comyn sayynge that hys longage causyd hym to dye. The Prynce (age 7) was jugge ys owne sylfe. Ande ther was slayne that manly knyght Syr Thomas Keryel (age 65). The nomber of ded men was xxxv C an moo [t]at were slayne. The lordys in Kyng Harrys (age 39) party pycchyd a fylde and fortefyd hyt fulle stronge, and lyke unwyse men brake hyr raye and fyld and toke a-nothyr, and or that they were alle sette a buskyd to batayle, the Quenys parte was at hond whythe hem in towne of Synt Albonys [Map], and then alle [t]yng was to seke and owte of ordyr, for hyr pryckyers come not home to bryng no tydyng howe ny that the Quene (age 30) was, save one come and sayd that she was ix myle of. And ar the goners and borgeners couthe levylle hyr gonnys they were besely fyghtyng, and many a gynne of wer was ordaynyd that stode in lytylle a-vayle or nought; for the burgeners hadde suche instrumentys that wolde schute bothe pellettys of ledde and arowys of an elle of lenghthe with vj fetherys, iij in myddys and iij at the othyr ende, with a grete myghty hedde of yryn at the othyr ende, and wylde fyre with alle. Alle thes iij thyngys they myght schute welle and esely at onys, but in tyme of nede they couthe not schut not one of thes, but the fyre turnyd backe a-pon them that wold schute thys iij thyngys. Also they hadde nettys made of grete cordys of iiij fethem of lengthe and of iiij fote brode, lyke unto an haye, and at every ij knott there was an nayl stondyng uppe ryght, that there couthe no man passe ovyr hyt by lyckely hode but he shulde be hurte. Alle so they hadde pavysse bore as a dore i-made with a staffe foldynge uppe and downe to sette the pavys where the lykyd, and loupys with schyttyng wyndowys to schute owte at, they stondyng by hynde [t]e pavys, and the pavys as fulle of iijdnayle aftyr ordyr as they myght stonde. And whenn hyr schotte was spende and done they caste the pavysse by-fore hem, thenn there myght noo man come unto them ovyr the pavysse for the naylys that stode up-ryghte, but yf he wolde myschyffe hym sylfe. Alle so they hadde a thynge made lyke unto a latysse fulle of naylys as the net was, but hit wolde be mevyd as a man wolde; a man myght bryse hyt to-gedyr that the lengythe wolde be more then ij yerdys long, and yf he wolde he myght hale hyt a brode, thenn hit wolde be iiij square. And that servyd to lye at gappys there at horsemen wolde entyr yn, and many a caltrappe. And as the substaunce of men of worschyppe that wylle not glose nor cory favyl for no parcyallyte, they cowthe not undyrstond that alle thys ordenaunce dyd any goode or harme but yf hyt were a mong us in owre parte with Kyng Harry (age 39). There fore hyt ys moche lefte, and men take hem to mallys of ledde, bowys, swyrdys, gleyvys, and axys. As for speremen they ben good to ryde be-fore the foote men and ete and drynke uppe hyr vetayle, and many moo suche prety thyngys they doo, holde me excusyd thoughe I say the beste, for in the fote men ys alle the tryste.

After 17 Feb 1461 John Harrington 4th Baron Harington and [his former wife] Elizabeth Courtenay Baroness Bonville and Harington were married. She by marriage Baroness Harington. She the daughter of Edward "Blind Earl" Courtenay 11th Earl Devon and Maud Camoys Countess Devon. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

18 Oct 1471 [his former wife] Elizabeth Courtenay Baroness Bonville and Harington died. She was buried at St Dubricius Church, Porlock [Map].

Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby and Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby were married. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

William Courtenay and [his daughter] Margaret Bonville were married. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Royal Ancestors of William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 1392-1461

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

Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 10 Grand Son of Malcolm III King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King Franks

Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France

Royal Descendants of William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 1392-1461

Jane "Nine Days Queen" Grey I Queen England and Ireland x 1

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 9

Queen Consort Camilla Shand x 3

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 27

Ancestors of William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 1392-1461

GrandFather: William Bonville

Father: John Bonville

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Aumale

GrandMother: Margaret Aumale

William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Fitzroger

GrandFather: John Fitzroger 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thurstan de Holland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert de Holand of Upholland

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Holland 1st Baron Holand

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Holland 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Zouche 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alan Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Ashby 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ela Longespée Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Zouche Baroness Holand 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Segrave 1st Baron Segrave

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Segrave

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud de Lucy

Mother: Elizabeth Fitzroger 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England