X-Nico

3 unusual facts about William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville


Margaret Grey, Lady Bonville

Margaret was the first wife of Sir William Bonville, later the 1st Baron Bonville who was decapitated by Queen consort Margaret of Anjou following the Yorkist defeat at the Second Battle of St Albans.

Second Battle of St Albans

Two knights (Lord Bonville and Sir Thomas Kyriell, a veteran leader of the Hundred Years War) had sworn to let him come to no harm, and remained with him throughout.

Taunton Castle

In 1451, when the Earl of Devon besieged the castle which was held by Lord Bonville, it was arranged around two baileys.


Anne Hastings, Countess of Shrewsbury

She had an older half-sister Cecily Bonville from her mother's first marriage to William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington who was executed by the command of Queen Margaret of Anjou after the Battle of Wakefield where he fought on the side of the Yorkists.

Sir Philip II Courtenay

He had been badly treated by his distant cousin Thomas de Courtenay, 5th Earl of Devon (1414–1458), whose seat was at Tiverton Castle, and during the turbulent and lawless era of the Wars of the Roses, he supported the challenge against the earl, for local supremacy in Devon, put up by the Lancastrian courtier, Sir William Bonville (1392–1461), of Shute.

William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville

Elizabeth Bonville (died 14 February 1491), who married Sir William Tailboys (c.1416-19 – 26 May 1464), de jure Baron Kyme, by whom she had two sons, Thomas Tailboys and Sir Robert Tailboys (d. 30 January 1495).

William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington

William survived the Yorkist defeat at the Battle of Wakefield, but was executed on 17th February 1461 immediately after the Second Battle of St Albans by the troops of the Queen consort, Margaret of Anjou, who headed the Lancastrian faction.


see also