Earl of Hereford

Coat of arms of Nicolas Maurel-Lalague, feudal Earl of Hereford

Earl of Hereford is a title in the ancient feudal nobility of England, encompassing the region of Herefordshire, England. It was created six times, and the feudal earldom title is held by Nicolas Maurel-Lalague, Earl of Hereford, having acquired the legal rights to it.

The title is an ancient one. In 1042, Godwin, Earl of Wessex severed the territory of Herefordshire and its Welsh dependencies from the Kingdom of Mercia. He immediately granted it to his eldest son Sweyn Godwinson. The earldom included the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Somerset. In 1047, Sweyn attempted to take Eadgifu, Abbess of Leominster, from her nunnery by force with the intention of marrying her. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury and King Edward the Confessor intervened and stopped him. As punishment, King Edward banished Sweyn from England.

In 1049, Sweyn returned to England seeking forgiveness, supported by his cousin Beorn Estrithson. However, a disagreement arose and Sweyn murdered his cousin, resulting in his exile once more. He was deemed "a man of no honour". In 1050, Sweyn was pardoned for his crimes and had the earldom restored to him, despite his violent acts. In 1051, Sweyn was exiled again together with his father and brothers and forfeited the earldom.

In 1052, King Edward granted the earldom to Ralph the Timid. In 1055, Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia and Gruffydd ap Llywelyn invaded Herefordshire and Ralph met the Welsh army at Hereford. Fearing defeat, Ralph fled with the French and Norman soldiers, causing the surrounding area to fall under Welsh control. Between 1055 and 1057, Harold Godwinson retook the county with another force. Ralph died in 1057, leaving his young son Harold as heir. In 1066, William FitzOsbern supported the Norman Conquest of England. As reward, he was granted the Isle of Wight. In 1067, William was also granted the earldom of Hereford, and took on roles as chief administrator of Northern England. He oversaw the building of numerous castles.

Between 1070 and 1071, William FitzOsbern was delegated to govern England while William the Conqueror was away for Normandy. When the Count of Flanders died, his widow Richilde, Countess of Hainaut offered her hand in marriage to FitzOsbern for assistance against challenges to her power. However, FitzOsbern sought to gain control of the wealthy Flanders territory near Normandy. He rushed there with his army but was killed in the Battle of Cassel, leaving his son Roger de Breteuil as the new earl.

In 1075, Roger conspired with his brother-in-law Ralph Guader, Earl of Norfolk while the Conqueror was again absent in Normandy. They raised an army but were prevented from crossing the River Severn by local bishops and defeated at Fagadune. When the Conqueror returned, Roger was tried for treason before the Magnum Concilium and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment, while his soldiers had their right foot amputated. All his lands were also forfeited.

Roger died in prison in 1087, leaving two sons Reynold and Roger. Neither inherited the earldom, though they later fought successfully for King Henry I. After 1135, in the absence of an earl, King Stephen granted the earldom to Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester and grandson of the previous earl, Roger. As part of this grant, Robert was instructed to use the city and castle of Hereford as another stronghold in the Midlands region. In 1141, the Empress Maud granted the earldom to Miles FitzWalter, hereditary High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, for his faithful service during her claim to the crown. He rebuilt Gloucester Castle, while Empress Maud lived at his expense in England. She granted him Abergavenny Castle as well in 1142.

In 1143, Miles FitzWalter demanded large sums from the Church while desperately short of money to pay his troops. The Bishop of Hereford resisted Miles' demands, so when Miles invaded church lands he was excommunicated. Miles died in a hunting accident at Christmas, leaving his son Roger FitzMiles as the new earl. Roger inherited his father's roles as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, Castellan of Gloucester Castle, and Constable of England. He was troubled by his father's death as an excommunicate and continued pressing the Bishop, eventually receiving excommunication himself.

In 1151, the devout Roger founded the Abbey of Flaxley in Gloucester and supported other monasteries. However, in 1155 a dispute arose with King Henry II over Gloucester Castle, which Roger surrendered along with his earldom. King Henry regranted the earldom to Roger, who then took monastic vows at Gloucester Abbey.

Roger died without heirs, leaving his brother Walter of Hereford to inherit. But before Walter could assume his titles, he joined a rebellion against King Henry. As punishment, the king stripped Gloucester city and the earldom of Hereford from Walter's inheritance. Walter then died childless, followed by his brothers Henry and Mahel of Hereford in border conflicts and an accident respectively. With no male heirs, their estates passed to their three sisters: Margeret of Hereford, Bertha of Hereford and Lucy.

The eldest sister Margeret was married to Humphrey II de Bohun. In recognition of this marriage, King Henry granted Humphrey the earldom of Hereford. He also inherited two-thirds of the family estates and the prestigious hereditary office of Constable of England. Humphrey held the high position of Lord High Steward, above the Lord Chancellor.

Upon Humphrey's death in 1165, their son Humphrey III de Bohun succeeded him. Before 1172, he successfully claimed the title of Constable of England from the Gloucester family, consolidating his inherited powers. Between 1171-1175, Humphrey married Margaret of Huntingdon, widow of Conan IV, Duke of Brittany and granddaughter of King David I of Scotland.

Between 1181-1187, Humphrey accompanied King Henry, leading an army against the Count of Flanders in support of King Philip II of France. However, he died abroad, leaving his son Henry de Bohun to inherit. In 1200, King John elevated Henry's status by conferring the now-extinct title of Earl of Hereford, in the Peerage of England, upon him at Porchester. However, the king retained the revenue and feudal control of the earldom. Henry was instead granted an annuity, and all future earls were peers rather than holding the feudal title.

Earls of Hereford, First Creation (1043)

• Swegen Godwinson (1043–1051)

Earls of Hereford, Second Creation (1052)

• Ralph the Timid, Earl of Hereford (1052–1057)

Earls of Hereford, Third Creation (1058)

• Harold Godwinson, Earl of Hereford (later Harold II of England) (1058–1066)

Earls of Hereford, Fourth Creation (1067)

• William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford (1067–1071)
• Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford (1071–1074)

Earls of Hereford, Fifth Creation (1141)

• Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford (1141–1143)
• Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford (1143–1155)

Earls of Hereford, Sixth Creation (1199)

Arms of Bohun, adopted c.1200: Azure, a bend argent cotised or between six lions rampant or

• Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford (1199–1220)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 2nd Earl of Hereford (1220–1275)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford (1275–1298)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford (1298–1322)
• John de Bohun, 5th Earl of Hereford (1322–1336)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford (1336–1361)
• Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford (1361–1373)

Heiresses:

• Eleanor de Bohun (c. 1366 – 1399), who married Thomas of Woodstock; their great-great-great-grandson Walter Devereux was created Viscount Hereford in 1550
• Mary de Bohun (c. 1368 – 1394), who married Henry of Bolingbroke, the future King Henry IV of England; he was created Duke of Hereford in 1397

See also

• Duke of Hereford
• Viscount Hereford

References

• Fryde, E. B. (1961). Handbook of British Chronology (Second ed.). London: Royal Historical Society. p. 431.
• Price, John (1796). An Historical Account of the City of Hereford.

Family tree of the Earls of Essex, Earls of Hereford, and Viscounts Hereford

Godwin c. 1001–1053 Earl of Wessex Earl of Hereford (1st creation), 1043 Earl of Hereford (3rd creation), 1058 Earl of Hereford (2nd creation), 1052 Earl of Hereford (4th creation), 1067 Sweyn Godwinson 1020–1052 Earl of Hereford Harold Godwinson (c. 1022–1066) Earl of Hereford, King of the English William de Mandeville (d. before 1130) Ralph the Timid d. 1057 Earl of Hereford William FitzOsbern 1011–1071 1st Earl of Hereford Earldom of Hereford (1st creation) forfeit, 1051 Earldom of Hereford (3rd creation) extinct, 1066 Earldom of Hereford (2nd creation) extinct, 1057 Earl of Essex (1st creation), 1140 Earl of Hereford (5th creation), 1141 William de Say I Beatrice ("Beatrix") de Say d. 1197 Geoffrey de Mandeville d. 1144 1st Earl of Essex Roger de Breteuil 1058– after 1087 2nd Earl of Hereford Miles of Gloucester d. 1143 1st Earl of Hereford Earldom of Hereford (4th creation) forfeit, 1074 William de Say II d. 1184 Geoffrey de Saye I d. 1214 Geoffrey de Mandeville d. 1166 2nd Earl of Essex William de Mandeville d. 1189 3rd Earl of Essex Margaret of Hereford 1122/1123–1197 Roger Fitzmiles before 1125–1155 2nd Earl of Hereford Earldom of Essex (1st creation) extinct, 1189 Earldom of Hereford (5th creation) extinct, 1155 Earl of Essex (2nd creation), 1199 Geoffrey Fitz Peter c. 1162–1213 1st Earl of Essex Beatrice de Say Geoffrey de Saye II 1155–1230 Hawise ("Alice") de Clare Humphrey III de Bohun before 1144–1181 Earl of Hereford (6th creation), 1199 Geoffrey FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville c. 1191–1216 2nd Earl of Essex William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville d. 1227 3rd Earl of Essex Maud FitzGeoffrey Maud de Mandeville Henry de Bohun 1176–1220 1st Earl of Hereford Earldom of Essex (2nd creation) extinct, 1227 Earl of Essex (3rd creation), 1239 Humphrey de Bohun 1204–1275 1st Earl of Essex, 2nd Earl of Hereford Humphrey de Bohun d. 1265 Edward I 1239–1307 King of England Humphrey de Bohun c. 1249–1298 2nd Earl of Essex, 3rd Earl of Hereford Edward II 1284–1327 King of England Elizabeth of Rhuddlan 1282–1316 Humphrey de Bohun 1276–1322 3rd Earl of Essex, 4th Earl of Hereford Edward III 1312–1377 King of England John de Bohun 1306–1336 4th Earl of Essex, 5th Earl of Hereford Humphrey de Bohun 1309–1361 5th Earl of Essex, 6th Earl of Hereford William de Bohun c. 1312–1360 1st Earl of Northampton Humphrey de Bohun 1342–1373 6th Earl of Essex, 7th Earl of Hereford Earldom of Essex (3rd creation) and Earldom of Hereford (6th creation) extinct, 1373 Earl of Essex (4th creation), 1376 Thomas of Woodstock 1355–1397 Earl of Essex Eleanor de Bohun c. 1366–1399 Mary de Bohun c. 1369/1370–1394 Henry IV 1367–1413 King of England Earldom of Essex (4th creation) forfeit, 1397 William Bourchier 1374–1420 Anne of Gloucester 1383–1438 Earl of Essex (5th creation), 1461 Henry Bourchier c. 1404/1406–1483 1st Earl of Essex William Bourchier d. 1480 Viscount Bourchier Anne Woodville 1438–1489 Elizabeth Woodville c. 1437–1492 Edward IV 1442–1483 King of England John Devereux c. 1464–1501 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley Cecily Bourchier (died c. 1492/1493) Henry Bourchier c. 1467/80–1540 2nd Earl of Essex Elizabeth of York 1466–1503 Thomas Parr 1478–1517 Earldom of Essex (5th creation) forfeit 1540 Viscount Hereford Earl of Essex (6th creation), 1540 Walter Devereux 1488–1558 1st Viscount Hereford, 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley Thomas Cromwell 1485–1540 Earl of Essex Henry VIII 1491–1547 King of England Earldom of Essex (6th creation) forfeit, 1540 Earl of Essex (7th creation), 1543 Richard Devereux c. 1513–1547 Catherine Parr 1512–1548 William Parr 1513–1571 Marquess of Northampton, Earl of Essex Earldom of Essex (7th creation) forfeit 1553, restored 1559, extinct 1571 Earl of Essex (8th creation), 1572 Devereux Baronet of Castle Bromwich, 1611 Walter Devereux 1541–1576 1st Earl of Essex, 2nd Viscount Hereford Edward Devereux c. 1550–1622 1st Baronet Robert Devereux 1565–1601 2nd Earl of Essex, 3rd Viscount Hereford Walter Devereux 1578–1658 5th Viscount Hereford, 2nd Baronet George Devereux c. 1581–1665 Earldom of Essex forfeit, 1601 Earldom of Essex (8th creation) restored, 1604 Baron Capell of Hadham, 1641 Robert Devereux 1591–1646 3rd Earl of Essex, 4th Viscount Hereford Arthur Capell 1604–1649 1st Baron Capell of Hadham Leicester Devereux 1617–1676 6th Viscount Hereford, 3rd Baronet Earldom of Essex (8th creation) extinct, 1646 Earl of Essex (9th creation) and Viscount Malden, 1661 Baron Capell of Tewkesbury in the County of Gloucester, 1692 Arthur Capell 1631–1683 2nd Baron Capell of Hadham 1st Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Henry Capell 1638–1696 Baron Capell of Tewkesbury Price Devereux c. 1637–1673 Vaughan Devereux d. 1700 Barony Capell of Tewkesbury extinct, 1696 Algernon Capell 1670–1710 2nd Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Leicester Devereux 1674–1683 7th Viscount Hereford, 4th Baronet Edward Devereux 1675–1700 8th Viscount Hereford, 5th Baronet Price Devereux 1664–1740 9th Viscount Hereford, 6th Baronet Arthur Devereux d. 1711 William Capell 1697–1743 3rd Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Price Devereux 1694–1748 10th Viscount Hereford, 7th Baronet Edward Devereux c. 1710–1760 11th Viscount Hereford, 8th Baronet Frances Hanbury-Williams c. 1735–1759 William Capell 1732–1799 4th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Harriet Bladen 1735–1821 Edward Devereux 1740–1783 12th Viscount Hereford, 9th Baronet George Devereux 1744–1804 13th Viscount Hereford, 10th Baronet George Capel-Coningsby 1757–1839 5th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden John Thomas Capell 1769–1819 Henry Fleming Lea Devereux 1777–1843 14th Viscount Hereford, 11th Baronet Arthur Algernon Capell 1803–1892 6th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Algernon Capell 1807–1886 Adolphus Capell 1813–1899 Henry Devereux 1807–1839 Robert Devereux 1809–1855 15th Viscount Hereford, 12th Baronet Arthur de Vere Capell 1826–1879 styled Viscount Malden Charles Capell 1845–1924 Horatio Bladen Capell 1839–1933 Robert Devereux 1843–1930 16th Viscount Hereford, 13th Baronet George Devereux de Vere Capell 1857–1916 7th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Arthur Algernon de Vere Capell 1891–1950 Horace Charles George Arthur Capell 1868–1953 Algernon Essex Capell 1869–1952 Henry Addison Devereux Capell 1873–1925 Robert Charles Devereux 1865–1952 17th Viscount Hereford, 14th Baronet Algernon George de Vere Capell 1884–1966 8th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Bladen Ozro Capell 1897–1959 Algernon Arthur Capell Robert Capell Sixth in line to the Earldom of Essex Robert Devereux 1894–1934 Earldom of Essex (9th creation) revived, 1989 Reginald George de Vere Capell 1906–1981 9th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Robert Edward de Vere Capell 1920–2005 10th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden Bladen Horace Capell 1922–1978 Colin Capell Robert Milo Leicester Devereux 1932–2004 18th Viscount Hereford, 15th Baronet Earldom of Essex (9th creation) dormant, 1981 Frederick Paul de Vere Capell b. 1944 11th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden William Jennings "Bill" Capell b. 1952 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Essex Clint Capell Third in line to the Earldom of Essex Craig Capell Fourth in line to the Earldom of Essex Kevin Capell b. 1982 Second in line to the Earldom of Essex Dylan Capell Fifth in line to the Earldom of Essex Charles Robin de Bohun Devereux b. 1975 19th Viscount Hereford, 16th Baronet Henry Devereux b. 2015 Heir apparent to the Hereford Viscountcy