Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford
Encyclopedia
Ralph de Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, KG
(24 September 1301 – 31 August 1372) was an English
nobleman and notable soldier
during the Hundred Years War against France
.
and Margaret Bassett. Having lost his father at the age of seven, Ralph grew up in the midlands with his mother's relatives, including her second husband Thomas Pipe. He had his first experience of royal service, along with his brothers and stepfather, when he joined the retinue of Ralph, 2nd Lord Bassett.
in 1327 and was fighting the Scots shortly afterwards. He supported the plot to free Edward III of England
from the control of Roger Mortimer, which earned the king's gratitude. By the summer of 1332, he was a commissioner of the peace in Staffordshire and had served abroad on royal business, accompanying Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
. He was also still fighting the Scots, commanding archers at the Battle of Dupplin Moor
on 11 Aug 1332 and on three further Scottish campaigns.
He was first summoned to Parliament by writ as Lord Stafford on 29 November 1336 and continued to attend until 1350.
His military career continued, accompanying King Edward to France in 1338 as an advisor and being present at the naval battle of Sluys
on 24 June 1340. He also fought at the relief of Brest
and the siege of Morlaix
. He was captured at Vannes
but was exchanged in time to negotiate a truce at Malestroit
.
On 6 January 1341, he was made Steward of the Royal Household but resigned that post on 29 March 1345 having assumed the office of Seneschal of Aquitaine
, an English possession in France
, where he stayed for about a year. Further battles included the battle of Auberoche
, the siege of Aiguillon, from where he escaped prior to its lifting, a raid on Barfleur
and the English victory at the Battle of Crecy
, on 26 August 1346. He became one of the twenty-six founding members and the fifth Knight of the Order of the Garter
in 1348.
In November 1347, his wife's father died; they were able to take possession of his estates without paying the king's homage, an indication of the relationship between them. Ralph was now a very wealthily man, from his estates and from the many prizes from the French war.
Edward III created a number of new peerage titles to honour his war captains and to mark his jubilee year. Ralph was created the 1st Earl of Stafford on 5 March 1350, with an annuity of 1000 marks. He now replaced Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster
as the king's lieutenant in Gascony, he committed to serve with 200 men at his expense with the expectation of this being doubled in March 1353 at the king's expense. The campaigns provided several captives that were ransomed, but were ultimately unsuccessful, leading to the appointment of Edward, Prince of Wales
to command.
Even at the age of sixty, Stafford continued to command troops and act as a royal envoy, both in France and in Ireland in 1361, accompanying Lionel of Antwerp
to try and restore English control.
, Staffordshire
. Ralph and Katherine had two daughters:
He later sensationally abducted Margaret de Audley, 2nd Baroness Audley, daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
and Margaret de Clare
, who was worth at least £2314 a year, more than ten times his own estates. Her parents filed a complaint with King Edward III of England, but the King supported Stafford's actions. In compensation, the King appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh the 1st Earl of Gloucester
. Margaret de Audley and Stafford married before 6 July 1336 and they subsequently had two sons and four daughters:
, Kent, England. He was buried at Tonbridge Priory
, next to his second wife and her parents.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(24 September 1301 – 31 August 1372) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
nobleman and notable soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
during the Hundred Years War against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Early life and family
Ralph was born on 24 September 1301, the son of Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron StaffordEdmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford
Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford was the son of Nicholas de Stafford, who was summoned to parliament by writ on 6 February 1299 by King Edward I.-The origins of the Stafford family:...
and Margaret Bassett. Having lost his father at the age of seven, Ralph grew up in the midlands with his mother's relatives, including her second husband Thomas Pipe. He had his first experience of royal service, along with his brothers and stepfather, when he joined the retinue of Ralph, 2nd Lord Bassett.
Career
Stafford was made a Knight banneretKnight banneret
A knight banneret, sometimes known simply as banneret, was a Medieval knight who led a company of troops during time of war under his own banner and were eligible to bear supporters in English heraldry.The military rank of a knight banneret was...
in 1327 and was fighting the Scots shortly afterwards. He supported the plot to free Edward III of England
Edward 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...
from the control of Roger Mortimer, which earned the king's gratitude. By the summer of 1332, he was a commissioner of the peace in Staffordshire and had served abroad on royal business, accompanying Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh II de Audley, 1st Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Gloucester was the English Ambassador to France in 1341.-Family:...
. He was also still fighting the Scots, commanding archers at the Battle of Dupplin Moor
Battle of Dupplin Moor
The Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in 1332. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Background:...
on 11 Aug 1332 and on three further Scottish campaigns.
He was first summoned to Parliament by writ as Lord Stafford on 29 November 1336 and continued to attend until 1350.
His military career continued, accompanying King Edward to France in 1338 as an advisor and being present at the naval battle of Sluys
Battle of Sluys
The decisive naval Battle of Sluys , also called Battle of l'Ecluse was fought on 24 June 1340 as one of the opening conflicts of the Hundred Years' War...
on 24 June 1340. He also fought at the relief of Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
and the siege of Morlaix
Morlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
. He was captured at Vannes
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
but was exchanged in time to negotiate a truce at Malestroit
Malestroit
Malestroit is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Tourism:The canal is a delightful place to spend a little time, and you can watch the barges as they moor up near the centre of Malestroit. It is possible to hire a boat yourself to explore the waterway, and...
.
On 6 January 1341, he was made Steward of the Royal Household but resigned that post on 29 March 1345 having assumed the office of Seneschal of Aquitaine
Aquitaine
Aquitaine , archaic Guyenne/Guienne , is one of the 27 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. It comprises the 5 departments of Dordogne, :Lot et Garonne, :Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes...
, an English possession in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he stayed for about a year. Further battles included the battle of Auberoche
Battle of Auberoche
The Battle of Auberoche was a significant action between English and French forces during the early stages of the Hundred Years War. It was fought at the village of Auberoche near Périgueux in Gascony. At the time, Gascony was territory of the English crown and the English army was largely made up...
, the siege of Aiguillon, from where he escaped prior to its lifting, a raid on Barfleur
Barfleur
Barfleur is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France.-Middle Ages:In the Middle Ages Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England....
and the English victory at the Battle of Crecy
Battle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
, on 26 August 1346. He became one of the twenty-six founding members and the fifth Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
in 1348.
In November 1347, his wife's father died; they were able to take possession of his estates without paying the king's homage, an indication of the relationship between them. Ralph was now a very wealthily man, from his estates and from the many prizes from the French war.
Edward III created a number of new peerage titles to honour his war captains and to mark his jubilee year. Ralph was created the 1st Earl of Stafford on 5 March 1350, with an annuity of 1000 marks. He now replaced Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster
Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster
Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 4th Earl of Leicester and Lancaster, KG , also Earl of Derby, was a member of the English nobility in the 14th century, and a prominent English diplomat, politician, and soldier...
as the king's lieutenant in Gascony, he committed to serve with 200 men at his expense with the expectation of this being doubled in March 1353 at the king's expense. The campaigns provided several captives that were ransomed, but were ultimately unsuccessful, leading to the appointment of Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
to command.
Even at the age of sixty, Stafford continued to command troops and act as a royal envoy, both in France and in Ireland in 1361, accompanying Lionel of Antwerp
Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence
Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Ulster and 5th Baron of Connaught, KG was the third son, but the second son to survive infancy, of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault...
to try and restore English control.
Marriages and children
Around 1326, Stafford married his first wife, Katherine Hastang (also known as Katherine Hastings). Katherine was the daughter of Sir John de Hastang, Knight, of ChebseyChebsey
Chebsey is a small village in Staffordshire 2.5 miles southeast of Eccleshall on a confluence of Eccleshall water and the River Sow some 5 miles northwest of Stafford...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. Ralph and Katherine had two daughters:
- Margaret, married Sir John of Bramshall (or Wickham) de Stafford, Knight.
- Joan, married Sir Nicholas de Beke, Knight.
He later sensationally abducted Margaret de Audley, 2nd Baroness Audley, daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh II de Audley, 1st Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Gloucester was the English Ambassador to France in 1341.-Family:...
and Margaret de Clare
Margaret de Clare
Margaret de Clare, Countess of Cornwall, Countess of Gloucester , was an English noblewoman, heiress, and the second eldest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and his wife, Joan of Acre, making her a granddaughter of King Edward I of England...
, who was worth at least £2314 a year, more than ten times his own estates. Her parents filed a complaint with King Edward III of England, but the King supported Stafford's actions. In compensation, the King appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh the 1st Earl of Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
. Margaret de Audley and Stafford married before 6 July 1336 and they subsequently had two sons and four daughters:
- Ralph de Stafford (d. 1347), married Maud of LancasterMaud, Countess of LeicesterMaud of Lancaster , also known as Matilda, Countess of Hainault, was a 14th century English noblewoman who married into the Bavarian royal family....
, daughter of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of LancasterHenry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of LancasterHenry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 4th Earl of Leicester and Lancaster, KG , also Earl of Derby, was a member of the English nobility in the 14th century, and a prominent English diplomat, politician, and soldier...
and Isabel de BeaumontIsabel de BeaumontIsabel de Beaumont, Duchess of Lancaster, of the House of Brienne was an English noblewoman, being the youngest daughter and child of Henry de Beaumont, Earl of Buchan and Alice Comyn.- Family :...
in 1344. - Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of StaffordHugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of StaffordHugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, KG was the eldest son of Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford and Margaret de Audley.Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Audley circa 1358...
, born circa 1336 in StaffordshireStaffordshireStaffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England, married Philippa de BeauchampPhilippa de BeauchampPhilippa de Beauchamp was the daughter of Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick and Katherine Mortimer.On or before 1 March 1350 she married Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, son of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford and Margaret Audley, Baroness Audley.Philippa and Hugh had seven...
; they were the ancestors of the Dukes of BuckinghamDuke of BuckinghamThe titles Marquess and Duke of Buckingham, referring to Buckingham, have been created several times in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. There have also been Earls of Buckingham.-1444 creation:...
(1444 creation). - Elizabeth de Stafford, born circa 1340 in Staffordshire, England, died 7 August 1376, married firstly Fulk le Strange; married secondly, John de Ferrers, 3rd Baron Ferrers of ChartleyJohn de Ferrers, 3rd Baron Ferrers of ChartleyJohn de Ferrers, 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley was the son of Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers of Chartley and Agnes de Bohun, a daughter of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and Elizabeth of Rhuddlan....
; married thirdly Reginald de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham. - Beatrice de Stafford, born circa 1341 in Staffordshire, England, died 1415, married firstly, in 1350, Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of DesmondMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of DesmondMaurice FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond was the son of Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond. He married Beatrice de Stafford, daughter of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford and Margaret Audley, and died without any male issuse, and was therefore succeeded in the Earldom by his...
(d. June 1358); married secondly, Thomas de Ros, 5th Baron de RosThomas de Ros, 5th Baron de RosThomas de Ros, 5th Baron de Ros of Helmsley was the son of William de Ros, 3rd Baron de Ros, and the brother of William de Ros, 4th Baron de Ros....
, of Helmsley; married thirdly Sir Richard Burley, Knt.KnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior.... - Joan de Stafford, born in 1344 in Staffordshire, England, died 1397, married firstly, John Charleton, 3rd Baron CherletonJohn Charleton, 3rd Baron CherletonJohn Charleton , 3rd Baron Cherleton, 4th Lord Charlton of Powys . His marriage with a daughter of Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford had been arranged by his grandfather in 1343...
; married secondly Gilbert Talbot, 3rd Baron Talbot. - Katherine de Stafford, born circa 1348 in Staffordshire, England and died in December 1361. On 25 December 1357, she married Sir John de Sutton III (1339 – c. 1370 or 1376), Knight, Master of Dudley CastleDudley CastleDudley Castle is a ruined castle in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Dudley Zoo is located in its grounds. The location, Castle Hill, is an outcrop of Wenlock Group limestone that was extensively quarried during the Industrial Revolution, and which now along with Wren's Nest Hill is a...
, Staffordshire. They were parents of Sir John de Sutton IV, hence grandparents of Sir John de Sutton VJohn de Sutton VSir John de Sutton V was born at Dudley Castle, Staffordshire, or at Coleshill, Warwickshire, the son of Sir John de Sutton IV , Master of Dudley Castle and Alice Despencer, of Carlington . John de Sutton IV was the son of Sir John de Sutton III , Knight, Master of Dudley Castle, and wife Sir John...
.
Death
He died on 31 August 1372 at Tonbridge CastleTonbridge Castle
Tonbridge Castle is situated in the town of the same name, Kent, England.-Early history:Following the Norman Conquest, Richard Fitz Gilbert was granted land in Kent to guard the crossing of the River Medway. He erected a simple Motte-and-bailey castle on the site. To dig the moat and erect the...
, Kent, England. He was buried at Tonbridge Priory
Tonbridge Priory
Tonbridge Priory was a priory in Tonbridge, Kent, England that was established in 1124. It was destroyed by fire in 1337 and then rebuilt. The priory was disestablished in 1523. The building stood in 1735, but was a ruin by 1780...
, next to his second wife and her parents.