Elizabeth de Comyn
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth de Comyn was a medieval noblewoman and heiress, notable for being kidnapped by the Despenser
family towards the end of the reign of King Edward II
.
, also known as the "Red Comyn", a powerful Scottish nobleman related to the Scottish crown, and Joan de Valence, the daughter of the French knight William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
. She was the youngest of three children, with an elder sister, Joan de Comyn, and brother, John de Comyn. Her father was stabbed to death in 1306 by Robert the Bruce
and Elizabeth and her siblings were sent south to England for their own safety. Joan married David II Strathbogie
, the earl of Atholl, whilst her brother John later died at the Battle of Bannockburn
in 1314, fighting Robert.
, the earl of Pembroke, died. Since he had no surviving children, Aymer's considerable lands were then divided amongst his sisters; Isabel de Valence had died in 1305, leaving her share to her son, John Hastings
, whilst Elizabeth's mother left lands to her daughters Joan and Elizabeth. Joan inherited the manor and castle of Mitford, the manor of Ponteland, and lands in Little Eland, and the manor of Foston. Elizabeth inherited the powerful fortress of Goodrich Castle
and the manor of Painswick
.
By the mid-1320s, however, England was in the grip of the oppressive rule of the Marcher lords Hugh le Despenser the older
and his son Hugh Despenser the younger, the royal favourites of King Edward II
. As part of a "sweeping revenge" on their rivals, especially in the Marches, the Despensers illegally seized a wide range of properties, particularly from vulnerable targets such as widows, or wives whose husbands were out of favour with the king.
John Hastings was effectively controlled by the Despensers and they ensured that he inherited an unequally large settlement of the Pembroke lands, anticipating that they would be able to marry him into their family and thereby acquire control of the estates themselves. To deal with Elizabeth, however, stronger measures were necessary. Upon her nheritance, Hugh le Despenser the younger promptly kidnapped Elizabeth in London and transported her to Herefordshire to be imprisoned in her own castle at Goodrich. Threatened with death, Elizabeth was finally forced to sign over the castle and other lands to the Despensers in April 1325. She was also forced to sign a debt notice of £10,000, a huge sum, which was witnessed by John de Bousser, a corrupt royal justice.
Released, Elizabeth then married the English knight Richard Talbot, the 2nd Baron Talbot
. Queen Isabella of France
landed in England in late 1326 and deposed both the Despensers and her husband Edward II; Richard promptly seized Goodrich Castle from the Despensers, and Talbot and Elizabeth regained their legal title to the castle the following year. The Despensers were executed by Isabella, who killed Hugh the Younger in a particularly gruesome fashion.
and eventually became a royal steward. After Richard's death in 1356, Elizabeth remarried to Sir John Bromwich. She died in 1372. Elizabeth's heraldic device was three garbs
, which she maintained as her own, rather than adopting her husbands'.
Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
Hugh le Despenser , sometimes referred to as "the Elder Despenser", was for a time the chief adviser to King Edward II of England....
family towards the end of the reign of King Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
.
Background
Elizabeth was born to John III Comyn, Lord of BadenochJohn III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lord of Lochaber or John "the Red", also known simply as the Red Comyn was a Scottish nobleman who was an important figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence, and was Guardian of Scotland during the Second Interregnum 1296-1306...
, also known as the "Red Comyn", a powerful Scottish nobleman related to the Scottish crown, and Joan de Valence, the daughter of the French knight William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Wexford and 1st Earl of Pembroke , born Guillaume de Lusignan or de Valence, was a French nobleman and Knight, who became important in English politics due to his relationship to Henry III...
. She was the youngest of three children, with an elder sister, Joan de Comyn, and brother, John de Comyn. Her father was stabbed to death in 1306 by Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
and Elizabeth and her siblings were sent south to England for their own safety. Joan married David II Strathbogie
David II Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl
Sir David II Strathbogie was Earl of Atholl, Constable of Scotland, and Chief Warden of Northumberland.The eldest son and heir of John Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl by his wife Marjory daughter of Donald, 10th Earl of Mar, Sir David was a prisoner in England in 1300...
, the earl of Atholl, whilst her brother John later died at the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
in 1314, fighting Robert.
Inheritance and kidnap
In 1324 Elizabeth's uncle on her father's side, Aymer de ValenceAymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a Franco-English nobleman. Though primarily active in England, he also had strong connections with the French royal house. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men of his age, he was a central player in the conflicts between Edward II of England and...
, the earl of Pembroke, died. Since he had no surviving children, Aymer's considerable lands were then divided amongst his sisters; Isabel de Valence had died in 1305, leaving her share to her son, John Hastings
John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings
John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings was a medieval English Baron.- Descent :Hastings was the son of John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, also inheriting the title Baron Abergavenny from his father, and the grandson of Henry de Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings...
, whilst Elizabeth's mother left lands to her daughters Joan and Elizabeth. Joan inherited the manor and castle of Mitford, the manor of Ponteland, and lands in Little Eland, and the manor of Foston. Elizabeth inherited the powerful fortress of Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye...
and the manor of Painswick
Painswick
Painswick is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. Originally the town grew on the wool trade, but it is now best known for its parish church's yew trees and the local Rococo Garden. The town is mainly constructed of locally quarried Cotswold stone...
.
By the mid-1320s, however, England was in the grip of the oppressive rule of the Marcher lords Hugh le Despenser the older
Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
Hugh le Despenser , sometimes referred to as "the Elder Despenser", was for a time the chief adviser to King Edward II of England....
and his son Hugh Despenser the younger, the royal favourites of King Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. As part of a "sweeping revenge" on their rivals, especially in the Marches, the Despensers illegally seized a wide range of properties, particularly from vulnerable targets such as widows, or wives whose husbands were out of favour with the king.
John Hastings was effectively controlled by the Despensers and they ensured that he inherited an unequally large settlement of the Pembroke lands, anticipating that they would be able to marry him into their family and thereby acquire control of the estates themselves. To deal with Elizabeth, however, stronger measures were necessary. Upon her nheritance, Hugh le Despenser the younger promptly kidnapped Elizabeth in London and transported her to Herefordshire to be imprisoned in her own castle at Goodrich. Threatened with death, Elizabeth was finally forced to sign over the castle and other lands to the Despensers in April 1325. She was also forced to sign a debt notice of £10,000, a huge sum, which was witnessed by John de Bousser, a corrupt royal justice.
Released, Elizabeth then married the English knight Richard Talbot, the 2nd Baron Talbot
Baron Talbot
Baron Talbot is a title that has been created twice. The title was created first in the Peerage of England. On 5 June 1331, Sir Gilbert Talbot was summoned to Parliament, by which he was held to have become Baron Talbot....
. Queen Isabella of France
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
landed in England in late 1326 and deposed both the Despensers and her husband Edward II; Richard promptly seized Goodrich Castle from the Despensers, and Talbot and Elizabeth regained their legal title to the castle the following year. The Despensers were executed by Isabella, who killed Hugh the Younger in a particularly gruesome fashion.
Later years
Elizabeth and Richard did well in the coming years. They had a son, Gilbert, in 1332. Richard progressed at court under Edward IIIEdward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
and eventually became a royal steward. After Richard's death in 1356, Elizabeth remarried to Sir John Bromwich. She died in 1372. Elizabeth's heraldic device was three garbs
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
, which she maintained as her own, rather than adopting her husbands'.