Henry de Lacy - 3rd Earl of Lincoln

Henry de Lacy was an English Nobleman, soldier, diplomat, and confidant of King Edward I. He was also the 3rd Earl of Lincoln, fourth creation, and 9th Baron of Pontefract.

 

Henry was born in 1251 in Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, England. He was the son of Edmund de Lacy, 8th Baron of Pontefract, and Alésia of Saluzzo, daughter of Manfred III of Saluzzo, Marquess of Saluzzo.

In 1258, Henry de Lacy's father, Edmund, died. However, Henry was only around 7 years old and a minor, so he was placed under wardship. He inherited from his father the titles and offices of Baron of Pontefract, Baron of Halton, and hereditary Constable of Chester. His mother re-purchased the wardship, and Henry became her heir. When she died in 1266, he was 15 and still in wardship and was educated in the court of King Henry III. He inherited his mother's lands, and in 1272, after attaining the age of majority, he was knighted and became the 3rd Earl of Lincoln.

Henry married Margaret Longespée, with whom he had two sons and a daughter, Edmund, John, and Alice. Both his sons died young; Edmond drowned in a well at Denbigh Castle, and John fell to his death from a parapet at Pontefract Castle.

He became Chief Councillor to King Edward I and was appointed Protector of the Realm while Edward was engaged in conflicts in Scotland.

1283, after Edward I conquered Wales, Henry de Lacy founded the borough of Denbigh and built Denbigh Castle.

In 1296, de Lacy went to France to fight in the Gascon War with Edmund Crouchback, the King's brother. When Edmond died later that year, de Lacy became commander of the English forces at Aquitaine. De Lacy and the army were routed at the Battle of Bonnegarde in 1297 by the French under Robert II of Artois. In early 1298, he returned to England.

He participated in the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 with Edward I and the Siege of Caerlaverock Castle in 1300, both in Scotland.

In 1299, Henry de Lacy was one of the negotiators at Montreuil and arranged the betrothal of Prince Edward of Caernarfon with Princess Isabella, daughter of Philip IV of France. In 1302, he was appointed to negotiate a peace with France, which resulted in Aquitaine being returned to Edward I in the 1303 Treaty of Paris.

He was present at King Edward I's death in July of 1307. For a time, he supported Edward II and the new King's favorite, Piers Gaveston, but later changed his loyalties and joined Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, and the barons in opposition to the King.

In June of 1310, Henry married a second time, to Joan FitzMartin, with whom he had no children.

In 1311, he was one of the "Ordainers" appointed to restrict the King's power and served as Regent of the Kingdom during the King's absence in Scotland.

On February 5, 1311, Henry de Lacy died at Lincoln's Inn in London, England. He was buried in the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral. In 1666, His grave and monument in the Choir were destroyed when the Cathedral burned down in the Great Fire of London. A modern monument in the crypt at St Paul's Cathedral lists de Lacy among the important graves lost in the fire.