Biography of Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons 1340-1397

In 1340 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons was born to Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy (age 27) and Catherine Habsburg (age 20) at Picardy.

In 1349 [his mother] Catherine Habsburg (age 29) died.

On 28th May 1363 John Harrington 2nd Baron Harington (age 35) died at Gleaston Castle [Map]. His son Robert (age 7) succeeded 3rd Baron Harington. Given his young age Robert Harrington 3rd Baron Harington became a ward of [his future father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 50) who granted his wardship to his daughter [his future wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 30) and her husband Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 23).

On 27th July 1365 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 25) and Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 33) were married at Windsor Castle [Map]. She the daughter of King Edward III of England (age 52) and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 51). They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1366 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 26) was created 1st Earl Bedford. [his wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 33) by marriage Countess Bedford.

In April 1366 [his daughter] Marie de Coucy Countess Soissons was born to Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 26) and [his wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 33) at Coucy Castle. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1367 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 27) was created 1st Count Soissons. [his wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 34) by marriage Countess Soissons.

Before 18th April 1367 [his daughter] Philippa Guines Duchess Ireland was born to Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 27) and [his wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 34) at Eltham Palace, Kent [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In June 1368 [his brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 29) and Violante Visconti (age 14) were married in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Milan [Map]. The wedding festivities were lavish and ostentatious. The banquet, held outside, included 30 courses of meat and fish presented fully gilded. Between the courses the guests were given gifts such as suits of armour, bolts of cloth, war horses, arms, and hunting dogs. Among the guests were Geoffrey Chaucer (age 25), Petrarch, Jean Froissart and John Hawkwood. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 55) and [his mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 53). They were fourth cousin once removed.

On 7th October 1368 [his brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 29) died from poisoning at Alba [Map]. Duke Clarence extinct. His daughter Philippa (age 13) succeeded 2nd Countess of Ulster. He was buried at the St Pietro Ciel d'Oro Church, Pavia [Map].

There was strong speculation he had been poisoned by his wife's (age 14) father (age 48).

On 15th August 1369 [his mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 55) died at Windsor Castle [Map]. Her husband [his father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 56) and youngest son [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 14) were present. She was given a state funeral six months later on 9th January 1370 at which she was interred at on the northeast side of the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey [Map]. Her alabaster effigy was executed by sculptor Jean de Liège.

On 21st September 1371 [his brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 31) and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 17) were married at Roquefort, Landes. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. His younger brother [his brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York (age 30) married Constance's sister in July 1372. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the illegitmate daughter of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and Maria Padilla. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 58) and [his mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin twice removed.

In 1372 [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 16) was appointed Constable of England.

On 11th July 1372 [his brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York (age 31) and Isabella of Castile Duchess York (age 17) were married at Wallingford, Oxfordshire [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cambridge. She being the younger sister of Constance (age 18) who had married Edmund's older brother [his brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 32) a year before. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the illegitmate daughter of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and Maria Padilla. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 59) and [his mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin twice removed.

On 16th January 1373 Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton (age 31) died. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. Earl Hereford, Earl Essex, Earl of Northampton extinct. His estates were divided between his two daughters Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester (age 7), wife of [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 18) and Mary Bohun (age 5), wife of Henry of Bolingbroke (age 5), the future Henry IV, although the title and estates should have been inherited Gilbert Bohun who was a grandson of Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex.

In 1374 [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 18) and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester (age 8) were married. She the daughter of Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton and Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton (age 27). He the son of [his father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 61) and [his mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England. They were second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1376 [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 20) was created 1st Earl Essex. Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester (age 10) by marriage Countess Essex.

On 5th October 1376 [his son-in-law] Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland (age 14) and [his daughter] Philippa Guines Duchess Ireland (age 9) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She the daughter of Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 36) and [his wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 44). He the son of Thomas de Vere 8th Earl of Oxford and Maud Ufford Countess of Oxford (age 31). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Around 1377 [his brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence was reburied at Clare Priory, Suffolk [Map]. Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 2nd Countess Ulster (age 21) succeeded 5th Countess of Ulster.

In 1377 [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 21) was created 1st Earl Buckingham. Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester (age 11) by marriage Countess Buckingham.

On 26th August 1377 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 37) renounced his title Earl Bedford following the accession of King Richard II of England (age 10).

After 1380 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 40) and Isabelle of Lorraine were married. She the daughter of John Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 33) and Sophie Württemberg Duchess Lorraine. They were second cousin once removed.

In 1381 [his brother-in-law] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 25) was appointed 66th Knight of the Garter by King Richard II of England (age 13).

On 5th October 1382 [his wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 50) died.

In November 1384 [his son-in-law] Henry of Bar (age 20) and [his daughter] Marie de Coucy Countess Soissons (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 44) and [his former wife] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons. He the son of Robert of Bar 1st Duke of Bar (age 39) and Marie Valois Duchess Bar (age 40). They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1386 [his daughter] Isabelle Coucy Countess Nevers was born to Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 46) and [his wife] Isabelle of Lorraine.

In 1387 [his son-in-law] Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland (age 24) and [his daughter] Philippa Guines Duchess Ireland (age 19) were divorced.

On 23rd September 1390 [his father-in-law] John Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 44) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Charles (age 26) succeeded II Duke Lorraine.

On 6th February 1393 [his brother-in-law] Charles Metz II Duke Lorraine (age 28) and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Lorraine (age 17) were married. She by marriage Duchess Lorraine. She the daughter of Rupert King Germany (age 40). He the son of [his father-in-law] John Metz I Duke Lorraine and Sophie Württemberg Duchess Lorraine. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Froissart Book 4 Chapter 89. 1397. About the time I am now speaking of, that gallant knight and excellent man the lord Enguerrand de Coucy, count de Soissons (age 57), and a potent lord in France, died at Bursa in Turkey. Sir Robert d'Esne, who had been sent to him by the [his wife] lady de Coucy, had not advanced further than Vienna, on his journey thither, when he was informed of his death. He returned with this news to France, and told it to the family of the lord de Coucy, though not to the widow, before whom he did not appear until the governor of the castle of Saint Gobin was sent to seek the body, have it embalmed, and brought to France. It was conveyed to the abbey of Nogent near to Coucy, and received by the duchess of Bar (age 52), the bishop of Laon, and many abbots: there the gentle knight was buried, and thus ended the year of grace 1397.

In 1423 [his former wife] Isabelle of Lorraine died.

[his father] Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy and [his mother] Catherine Habsburg were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Leopold Habsburg I Duke Austria and [his grandmother] Catherine Savoy Duchess Austria.