William de Cantilupe (died 1251)

Arms of William de Cantilupe: Gules, three fleurs-de-lys or ("Cantilupe Ancient"). These arms are blazoned in Glover's roll of arms.[1] The Cantilupe arms changed in the late 13th century to jessant-de-lys

William II de Cantilupe (died 1251) (anciently Cantelow, Cantelou, Canteloupe, etc, Latinised to de Cantilupo),[2] 2nd feudal baron of Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire,[3] was an Anglo-Norman magnate.

Origins

He was the eldest son and heir of William I de Cantilupe (died 1239), 1st feudal baron of Eaton Bray, steward of the household to King John, a royal administrator and sheriff, by his wife Mazilia de Braci. His younger brother was Walter de Cantilupe (1195-1266), Bishop of Worcester.

Career

He became a retainer of Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester and served with him on King Henry III's expedition to Brittany. In 1238 he joined the royal household of King Henry III (son of King John) and was appointed Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1239. In 1242 he was one of the three Keepers of the Realm during the king's absence campaigning in Poitou.[4]

Marriage and children

He married Millicent (or Maud) de Gournai (d.1260), a daughter of Hugh de Gournai and widow of Amaury VI of Montfort-Évreux (d. 1213), Earl of Gloucester. By his marriage he gained six and a half fees in Oxfordshire.[5] Millicent survived him and in 1255[6] was awarded the custody of Princess Margaret, later Queen of Scots,[4] daughter of King Henry III. By Millicent he had issue including:

Death and succession

He died in 1251 and was succeeded by his eldest son William III de Cantilupe (died 1254).

References

  1. ^ Glover's Roll, part 1, B27, William de Canteloupe
  2. ^ The spelling used by modern historians is "de Cantilupe", which is followed in this article
  3. ^ Sanders, I.J. English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and Descent 1086-1327, Oxford, 1960, p. 40
  4. ^ a b Luard 1886.
  5. ^ B.W.Holden, biography of William II de Cantilupe (d.1251), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  6. ^ Holden
  7. ^ Duchess of Cleveland, Chantelow, in Battle Abbey Roll, Vol. I [1]. She states him to have been "Precentor of York", possibly confusing him with his brother the bishop
  8. ^ G. E. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage, n.s., vol.3, p.111
  9. ^ G. E. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage, n.s., vol.12, part 2, pp.19-20
  10. ^ G. E. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage, n.s., vol.11, p.323
  11. ^ G. E. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage, n.s., vol.12, part 2, p.20, note a
Attribution

Luard, Henry Richards (1886). "Cantelupe, William de (died 1251)" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 8. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 454.