Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln

Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln (c.1251 – Feb 1311) was a confidant of Edward I of England.

In 1272[1] on reaching the age of majority (21) he became Earl of Lincoln. In 1258 he had inherited his titles and lands from his father, which included Baron of Pontefract, Baron of Halton, and Constable of Chester and in about 1266 he had inherited his titles and lands, which included the Earl of Lincoln, from his paternal grandmother Margaret de Quincy. However being a minor in both cases his inheritance was held in a wardship by his mother, and with the help of his grandmother in the years before her death.

Life

He was son of Edmund de Lacy, Baron of Pontefract who died when he was only a child. He was also heir to his paternal grandmother Margaret de Quincy, Countess of Lincoln who died when he was a teenager. As ward to large and important estates from both his father and more importantly his grandmother, he was educated at court. He became Chief Councillor to Edward I. While the king was engaged on military conflicts with the Scots, Henry was appointed Protector of the Realm.

Following the English Conquest of Wales in 1282 (known in Wales as the Norman Conquest) in which Henry took part, he was granted the Lordship of Denbigh. He authorised the building of Denbigh Castle.[2]

He was Lord of Pontefract, the 10th Baron of Halton, and Lord of Denbigh. He was also the 7th Lord of Bowland, so-called Lord of the Fells, being the last member of his family to hold that title. He died at his London home, Lincoln's Inn, and was buried in Saint Paul's Cathedral.

He transferred the monastery from Stanlow to Whalley.[3] He is the addressee, or joint composer, of a poem (a tenson) by Walter of Bibbesworth about crusading, La pleinte par entre missire Henry de Lacy et sire Wauter de Bybelesworthe pur la croiserie en la terre seinte.

He married Margaret Longespée, daughter of Sir William III Longespée and Maud de Clifford.[4] Their only daughter Alice de Lacy, 4th Countess of Lincoln married Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.

Peerage of England
Preceded by
Margaret de Quincy
2nd Countess of Lincoln suo jure		 Earl of Lincoln
1272–1311		 Succeeded by
together with her spouse
Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster,
Earl of Lincoln jure uxoris
Alice de Lacy
3rd Countess of Lincoln suo jure

Ancestry

Notes & References

  1. ^ He was knighted this year, and seems to have taken seisin of his lands and title at the same time: J. S. Hamilton, 'Lacy, Henry de, fifth earl of Lincoln (1249–1311)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 (accessed 29 Jan 2008)
  2. ^ Denbigh History
  3. ^ Kingsford
  4. ^ Douglas Richardson. Magna Carta Ancestry, Genealogical Publishing, 2004. pg 481.