Lord of the Isle of Wight

The Lord of the Isle of Wight is a title that began when William the Conqueror granted the Isle of Wight to William Fitz Osbern. It was a hereditary title.

The last Lord of the Island of Wight was actually not a lord but a lady. Countess Isabella de Fortibus acquired the lordship when her brother died in 1262. The countess had been widowed in 1261 and became the wealthiest female in the British Islands who was not a member of a royal family. Isabella dwelt in Carisbrooke Castle. She exercised her rights and privileges as feudal overlord of the Isle of Wight. In 1293, lying on her death bed, the countess sold the Island to Edward I for 6,000 marks.

The Lordship thereafter became a royal appointment, with a brief interruption when Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick was crowned King of the Isle of Wight, King Henry VI assisting in person at the ceremony, placing the crown on his head. He died in 1445, at 22. With no male heir, his regal title expired with him. The last Lord of the Isle of Wight was Edward Woodville, Lord Scales (d. 1488).

Lords of the Isle of Wight, 1st creation (1066)

• William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford (died 1071)
• Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford (1075 seized)

Lords of the Isle of Wight, 2nd creation (1101)

• Richard de Redvers (died 1107)
• Baldwin de Redvers, 1st Earl of Devon (died 1155)
• Richard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of Devon (died 1162)
• Baldwin de Redvers, 3rd Earl of Devon (died 1188)
• Richard de Redvers, 4th Earl of Devon (died c. 1193)
• William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon (died 1217)
• Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon (died 1245)
• Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon (died 1262)
• Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon (died 1293)

appointed Lords and Ladies of the Isle of Wight (1293-1444)

• Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York (died 1415 in action), appointed on 4 June 1397^[1]
• Philippa de Mohun (died 1431 at Carisbrooke Castle), appointed on 10 December 1415^{[lower-alpha 1]}

King of the Isle of Wight (1444)

• Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick (died 1446)

Appointed Lords and Ladies of the Isle of Wight (after 1446)

• Edward Woodville, Lord Scales (d. 1488) appointed in 1485 or 1486 by Henry VII.

Notes and references