Humphrey (IV) de Bohun - 2nd Earl of Hereford

The Good Earl of Hereford

Humphrey (IV) de Bohun was an Anglo-Norman Nobleman who served as the Earl of Hereford and hereditary Constable of England and fought against and for Henry III during the Second Barons' War.

 

Humphrey de Bohun was born in Essex, England, in 1204 and was the eldest son of Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford, and Maud de Mandeville, daughter of Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex.

His father, Henry, died in June of 1220 while on crusade to the Holy Land. Humphrey succeeded him as Earl of Hereford and hereditary Constable of England.

In 1236, Humphrey married Maud de Lusignan, daughter of Raoul I of Lusignan. They would have seven children together: Humphrey V, Henry, Geoffrey, Ralph, Maud, Alice, and Eleanor. His wife Maud died in 1241. He would marry Maud de Avenbury, with whom he had two children: John and Miles.

In 1239, he served as Sheriff of Kent and Constable of Dover Castle. He was one of nine godfathers to Prince Edward, the Future King Edward I. He was also named the Earl of Essex, third creation, by Henry III.

In 1250, he took the cross and went to the Holy Land. In 1258, upon returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, de Bohun turned from supporting the royal cause and started backing the Barons against Henry III. He served on the "committee of twenty-four" who were appointed in the Oxford Parliament to create the Provisions of Oxford to reform the misuse of the administration.

However, the alliance of Simon de Montfort with Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffud caused Humphrey de Bohun to distance himself from the baronial cause and once again align with the King. He was among the first of the Welsh Marchers to leave the party of the opposition.

In 1264, he fought beside King Henry III at the Battle of Lewes, where he was captured and taken prisoner by Simon de Montfort's forces.

In 1265, he fought with the Royalists and Prince Edward at the Battle of Evesham, where they soundly defeated Simon de Montfort and his forces. However, his son, Humphrey (V) de Bohun, also fought at the battle, but on the side of de Montfort and was mortally wounded.

In 1266, following the Siege of Kenilworth Castle, Humphrey was selected as one of the twelve arbitrators to draft the Dictum of Kenilworth, which allowed disinherited Barons who rose against the King to make their peace.

On September 24th, 1275, Humphrey de Bohun died in Warwickshire, England, while on his way to Kenilworth Castle. His grandson Humphrey (VI) de Bohun succeeded him as Earl of Hereford and Essex. He was buried at Llanthony Secunda Priory in the parish of Hempsted, Gloucestershire, England, next to his first wife, Maud of Lusignan.