John de Balliol
Encyclopedia
John de Balliol (died 25 October 1268) was a leading figure of Scottish
and Anglo-Norman
life of his time. Balliol College, in Oxford
, is named after him.
, Lord of Balliol and of Barnard Castle
and Gainford
(c. 1177–February 2, 1229) and Cecilia de Fontaines, daughter of Aleure, lord of Fontaines and Longpré-les-Corps-Saints.
In 1233, Lord John married Dervorguilla of Galloway and Scotland, who was the daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway
and Margaret of Huntingdon. By the mid-thirteenth century, he and his wife had become very wealthy, principally as a result of inheritances from Dervorguilla's family. This wealth allowed Balliol to play a prominent public role, and, on Henry III
's instruction, he served as joint protector of the young king of Scots, Alexander III
. He was one of Henry III's leading counsellors between 1258 and 1265. and was appointed Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
from 1261 to 1262. He was captured at the Battle of Lewes
in 1264 but escaped and rejoined King Henry.
Following a dispute with the Bishop of Durham, he agreed to provide funds for scholars studying at Oxford. Support for a house of students began in around 1263; further endowments after his death, supervised by Dervorguilla, resulted in the establishment of Balliol College
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
life of his time. Balliol College, in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, is named after him.
Life
He was born before 1208 to Hugh de BalliolHugh de Balliol
Hugh de Balliol was the oldest son and successor of Eustace de Balliol . Hugh probably succeeded to his father Eustace's lordships by 1209....
, Lord of Balliol and of Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is an historical town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne, south southwest of Sunderland, west of Middlesbrough and ...
and Gainford
Gainford, County Durham
Gainford on Tees is a village on the north bank of the River Tees in County Durham, England. It is half-way between Barnard Castle and Darlington, near Winston, at OS map reference NZ 1716....
(c. 1177–February 2, 1229) and Cecilia de Fontaines, daughter of Aleure, lord of Fontaines and Longpré-les-Corps-Saints.
In 1233, Lord John married Dervorguilla of Galloway and Scotland, who was the daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway
Alan, Lord of Galloway
Alan Fitz Roland was the last of the MacFergus dynasty of quasi-independent Lords of Galloway. He was also hereditary Constable of Scotland.-Family:He was the son of Roland, or Lochlann, Lord of Galloway and Helen de Morville...
and Margaret of Huntingdon. By the mid-thirteenth century, he and his wife had become very wealthy, principally as a result of inheritances from Dervorguilla's family. This wealth allowed Balliol to play a prominent public role, and, on Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
's instruction, he served as joint protector of the young king of Scots, Alexander III
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
. He was one of Henry III's leading counsellors between 1258 and 1265. and was appointed Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests
This is a list of High Sheriffs 1068-1568.The High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests is a position established by the Normans in England.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown...
from 1261 to 1262. He was captured at the Battle of Lewes
Battle of Lewes
The Battle of Lewes was one of two main battles of the conflict known as the Second Barons' War. It took place at Lewes in Sussex, on 14 May 1264...
in 1264 but escaped and rejoined King Henry.
Following a dispute with the Bishop of Durham, he agreed to provide funds for scholars studying at Oxford. Support for a house of students began in around 1263; further endowments after his death, supervised by Dervorguilla, resulted in the establishment of Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
Issue
John and Dervorguilla had issue:- Sir Hugh de Balliol, who died without issue before April 10, 1271. He married Agnes de Valence, daughter of William de Valence, 1st Earl of PembrokeWilliam de Valence, 1st Earl of PembrokeWilliam 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...
. - Alan de Balliol, who died before 10 April 1271 without issue.
- Sir Alexander de Balliol, who died without issue before November 13, 1278. He married Eleanor de Genoure.
- King John I of Scotland, successful competitor for the Crown in 1292.
- Margaret de Balliol, who might have married Thomas de Moulton.
- Cecilia de Balliol, who married John de Burgh and perhaps had two daughters.
- Ada de Balliol, who married in 1266, William Lindsay, of Lambarton, and had a daughter, Christian de Lindsay.
- Eleanor de Balliol, who married John II Comyn, Lord of BadenochJohn II Comyn, Lord of BadenochJohn II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lord of Lochaber or John "the Black", also known as Black Comyn, a Scottish nobleman, was a Guardian of Scotland, and one of the six Regents for Margaret, Maid of Norway...
, and had a son, John 'The Red Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (d. 1306). - Maud (or Matilda) de Balliol, married to Bryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlanBryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlanSir Bryan FitzAlan, Baron FitzAlan Knt. was Lord of the Manor of Bedale in Richmondshire, Askham Bryan in the Ainsty, Bainton, Heworth &c., in Yorkshire, Bicker and Graby in Lincolnshire, a J.P., and High Sheriff of Yorkshire, &c...
, and feudal Baron of BedaleBedaleBedale is a market town and civil parish in the district of Hambleton, North Yorkshire, England. It lies north of Leeds, southwest of Middlesbrough, and south west of the county town of Northallerton...
. They were parents to Agnes FitzAlan (b. 1298), who married Sir Gilbert Stapleton, Knt., of Bedale (1291-1324). Gilbert is better known for his participation in the assassination of Piers GavestonPiers GavestonPiers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of King Edward II of England. At a young age he made a good impression on King Edward I of England, and was assigned to the household of the King's son, Edward of Carnarvon...
, Earl of CornwallEarl of CornwallThe title of Earl of Cornwall was created several times in the Peerage of England before 1337, when it was superseded by the title Duke of Cornwall, which became attached to heirs-apparent to the throne.-Earl of Cornwall:...
.
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Magna Charta Sureties 1215, Frederick Lewis Weis; pages 44–1, 141-2
- Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, G.E. Cokayne; page V:474
- http://www.thepeerage.com/p10785.htm#i107842