Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_de_Percy,_1st_Baron_Percy

1st Baron Percy of Alnwick The son of Henry de Percy and Eleanor de Warenne, daughter of John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Alice de Lusignan, half sister of Henry III.

Henry came from an eminent family and he would inherit the Earldom of Sussex. His land holdings were extensive and included the purchase of Alnwick Castle in 1309, establishing a dynasty of warlords in northern England. The castle would remain in the Percy family to this day. Henry fought for King Edward I of England against rebellions in Wales and in Scotland against William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, estates granted to him in Scotland, the estates of Ingram Balliol, were taken back by the Scottish King Robert I.

Henry was born at Petworth in Sussex posthumously, the only living son and heir. Two brothers had died in infancy, all six uncles had no living heir. His mother's father was John de Warenne, the prominent Earl of Surrey and grandson of William Marshall. Henry inherited all the estates in 1293, which included estates in Sussex, Yorkshire and Topcliffe Castle.

When Henry married Eleanor in 1294 at Alnwick, the daughter of Richard FitzAlan, the Earl of Arundel, he changed his coat of arms to the Arundel lion and the Warrene royal colors.

In 1296, Henry was with his grandfather, Warrene, and King Edward as they surrounded Berwick. The conflict between Edward and John Lackland, and between the French allied to the Scots and England over Aquitane boiled towards war. Edward knighted Henry at Berwick on May 30th just before they took Berwick. The town's reaction of scorn angered Edward that he ordered the death of 7,500 people, regardless of age or sex. Henry was then sent north to Dunbar where he took the castle, and Scotland belonged to the English within weeks. King John Balliol was removed, replaced by Warenne who would govern the entire province while Henry Percy governed Ayr, Galloway and Cumberland.

The following year, the war with Wallace and Bruce commenced with the battle of Sterling Bridge at the River Forth, where the English were badly defeated and expelled from Scotland. Percy was among those who watched helplessly from the castle. Edward returns from the wars in France, and caught up with Wallace at Falkirk on July 22, 1298 where Henry Percy was part of the fourth reserve cavalry. Henry Percy is known to have played a prominent role in the negotiations between the Scots and Edward after Robert the Bruce changed his support over to the English in 1304. On 25 March 1306 Robert Bruce was crowned King of Scotland at Scone Abbey, upon which Edward confiscated his lands and gave them to Henry Percy. The King now appointed Percy to command northwest England and southwest Scotland, with orders to suppress the rebellion without mercy.

When King Edward II favored Gaveston over his wife, he set off a chain of events and scandal that resulted Percy being removed from Scarborough Castle, and finally the execution of Gaveston by the barons at Warwick, Percy's arrest and the forfeit of his lands July 28, 1312, despite that Percy did not directly participate in the execution. Percy was formally pardoned and released the following year.

Edward prepared for the Battle of Bannockburn, summoned Percy and five other Earls who refused to participate, the English were completely defeated. Percy stayed at Alnwick defending the castle against Scottish raiders, but lost a friend, Robert Clifford in the battle. Percy died later that year of unknown causes. He was fourty one.

Henry and Elianore had three children: Alianore Percy m John FitzWalter William de Percy 1301-1355 Sir Henry Percy, 2nd Lord Percy 1301-1352

Family links:

Parents:

 Henry De Percy (1235 - 1272)

 Eleanor De Warenne De Percy (1251 - 1282)

Spouse:

 Eleanor Fitz Alan Percy (1282 - 1328)*

Children:

 Henry de Percy (1301 - 1352)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Fountains Abbey Fountains Abbey North Yorkshire, England

Maintained by: Anne Shurtleff Stevens Originally Created by: Jerry Ferren Record added: Jun 14, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial# 53678731