Baron Of Bohun Henry DE BOHUN

   Another name for Henry was Earl Of HEREFORD.

  General Notes:

1st Earl of Hereford in this family, supported King John (Lackland) when Normandy was reclaimed by France in 1204. He was an important participant in the movement to establish the Magna Carta and was one of the 25 selected to police it.

Henry de Bohon (1176-1220), earl of Hereford, played an important role in the revolt of the barons against King John. Born in 1176, he succeeded his grandfather honorably.

Henry married Maud (Mathilda, died 1236), daughter of Geoffrey (Geoffrey Fitz Piers de Mandavill), son of Pierre de Mandeville, earl of Essex. She was sister and heiress of William de Mandeville who died childless in 1189 and was appointed the barony of Pleshey (Essex).

The Mandeville family descended from Geoffrey, companion of William the Conqueror. His son was constable of the Tower of London. His grandson, also named Geoffrey, was strong and ambitious. Later he was depossessed of his lands and excommunicated for having pillaged the church lands, so he revolted against Stephen and was mortally wounded in his attack of Burwell castle.

Geoffrey (the grandson) left three sons. The oldest Ernald, shared in his father's revolt and was exiled. The second, Geoffrey, succeeded his father and died in 1166. The third, William, third earl of Essex and earl of Aumale, succeeded his brother. He was grand chamberlain to Henry II and played an important role in the wars between Louis VII of France and Philip Auguste. He accompanied Philip, earl of Flanders, on the crusade. He was also called the grand justicier. William died childless at Rouen on 14 November 1189, leaving his wealth to his sister, Maud.

The reign of King John (1199-1216) started out well for Henry when he was created earl of Hereford on 28 April 1199. Henry was the first of the Bohons to have the title, which included an annual income.

The following year Henry and other nobles summoned his uncle in Scotland, William the Lion, to appear at Lincoln to do homage.

In 1203 Henry witnessed a document where King John confirmed the dowry of Queen Isabelle.

The principal interests of the Bohons were in England. Henry paid taxes of 50 marks and a groom, corresponding to 20 parts of a knight's fee, on the Huntington land he inherited from his mother. In Normandy, Henry kept his more modest holdings (from Humphrey I) at Carentan and Pont D'Ouve.

After the first time France reclaimed Normandy (1204), Henry stayed loyal to John. His lands in Normandy were confiscated by Philip- Auguste. Then King John imposed a heavy tax to maintain the campaign of 1213-1214 to prevent the crushing of a coalition formed at Bouvines on 27 July 1214 by England, Flanders, and the German Empire. The king was discredited and there was general discontent. The forces were dissatisfied that the king awarded certain barons without their having to go through the regular tests and examinations.

Then there was a revolt of barons in which Henry took an active part. The revolt ended with the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede (Surrey) on 12 July 1215. The lands that had been confiscated from Henry were returned and the 25 lords took it upon themselves to make sure the charter was enforced.

The Bohons enjoyed being in possession of great lands at the frontier of the Welsh country which was always threatened. The other marcher lords enjoyed it, too, because their military importance and independence was greater than that of other royal lords. Politically they were stronger by being closer to the king.

The lull was cut short when the war restarted. The following year John had Pope Innocent III excommunicate the earl of Hereford, which only increased the opposition to the king. John joined forces with the army of Prince Louis of France (the future Louis VIII) when barons from the north landed in England.

John died on October 19, 1216, but Henry de Bohon did not ally himself with the new king, Henry III. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217, where Louis of France was defeated.

Henry gave the churches of Boxe and Wilsford (Lincolnshire) to the priory of Monkton Farley, and gave a pension to St. Nicolas Hospital in Salisbury.

Henry de Bohon died 1 June 1220 while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. His body was returned to Lanthony abbey.

He had four sons: Humphrey V, who succeeded him; Henry, who died young; Ralph, benefactor of the Abbey of Grendon who married Lora; and Robert, mentioned in the Book of Walden.

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1st Earl of Hereford in this family, supported King John (Lackland) when Normandy was reclaimed by France in 1204. He was an important participant in the movement to establish the Magna Carta and was one of the 25 selected to police it.

Henry de Bohon (1176-1220), earl of Hereford, played an important role in the revolt of the barons against King John. Born in 1176, he succeeded his grandfather honorably.

Henry married Maud (Mathilda, died 1236), daughter of Geoffrey (Geoffrey Fitz Piers de Mandavill), son of Pierre de Mandeville, earl of Essex. She was sister and heiress of William de Mandeville who died childless in 1189 and was appointed the barony of Pleshey (Essex).

The Mandeville family descended from Geoffrey, companion of William the Conqueror. His son was constable of the Tower of London. His grandson, also named Geoffrey, was strong and ambitious. Later he was depossessed of his lands and excommunicated for having pillaged the church lands, so he revolted against Stephen and was mortally wounded in his attack of Burwell castle.

Geoffrey (the grandson) left three sons. The oldest Ernald, shared in his father's revolt and was exiled. The second, Geoffrey, succeeded his father and died in 1166. The third, William, third earl of Essex and earl of Aumale, succeeded his brother. He was grand chamberlain to Henry II and played an important role in the wars between Louis VII of France and Philip Auguste. He accompanied Philip, earl of Flanders, on the crusade. He was also called the grand justicier. William died childless at Rouen on 14 November 1189, leaving his wealth to his sister, Maud.

The reign of King John (1199-1216) started out well for Henry when he was created earl of Hereford on 28 April 1199. Henry was the first of the Bohons to have the title, which included an annual income.

The following year Henry and other nobles summoned his uncle in Scotland, William the Lion, to appear at Lincoln to do homage.

In 1203 Henry witnessed a document where King John confirmed the dowry of Queen Isabelle.

The principal interests of the Bohons were in England. Henry paid taxes of 50 marks and a groom, corresponding to 20 parts of a knight's fee, on the Huntington land he inherited from his mother. In Normandy, Henry kept his more modest holdings (from Humphrey I) at Carentan and Pont D'Ouve.

After the first time France reclaimed Normandy (1204), Henry stayed loyal to John. His lands in Normandy were confiscated by Philip- Auguste. Then King John imposed a heavy tax to maintain the campaign of 1213-1214 to prevent the crushing of a coalition formed at Bouvines on 27 July 1214 by England, Flanders, and the German Empire. The king was discredited and there was general discontent. The forces were dissatisfied that the king awarded certain barons without their having to go through the regular tests and examinations.

Then there was a revolt of barons in which Henry took an active part. The revolt ended with the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede (Surrey) on 12 July 1215. The lands that had been confiscated from Henry were returned and the 25 lords took it upon themselves to make sure the charter was enforced.

The Bohons enjoyed being in possession of great lands at the frontier of the Welsh country which was always threatened. The other marcher lords enjoyed it, too, because their military importance and independence was greater than that of other royal lords. Politically they were stronger by being closer to the king.

The lull was cut short when the war restarted. The following year John had Pope Innocent III excommunicate the earl of Hereford, which only increased the opposition to the king. John joined forces with the army of Prince Louis of France (the future Louis VIII) when barons from the north landed in England.

John died on October 19, 1216, but Henry de Bohon did not ally himself with the new king, Henry III. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217, where Louis of France was defeated.

Henry gave the churches of Boxe and Wilsford (Lincolnshire) to the priory of Monkton Farley, and gave a pension to St. Nicolas Hospital in Salisbury.

Henry de Bohon died 1 June 1220 while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. His body was returned to Lanthony abbey.

He had four sons: Humphrey V, who succeeded him; Henry, who died young; Ralph, benefactor of the Abbey of Grendon who married Lora; and Robert, mentioned in the Book of Walden.

Henry married Countess Of Essex Maud DE MANDEVILLE, daughter of Earl Of Essex Geoffrey VI Fitzpiersde MANDEVILLE and Beatrix DE SAYE. (Countess Of Essex Maud DE MANDEVILLE was born about 1182 in England and died on 27 Aug 1237 in England.)