Bonville-Courtenay Feud
Encyclopedia
The Bonville–Courtenay feud
was an violent rivalry between two eponymous families during the Wars of the Roses
in 15th-century England
, sparked by a dispute over a coveted ducal
office and a fight for local supremacy.
, Cornwall
and Somerset
. The Courtenays
held the Earldom of Devon and the Bonvilles were the lords of Harington. The ongoing civil war
was a time of shifting allegiances in British history as the chaos of war presented opportunities for advancement to various factions.
, an office Henry VI
had already conferred on Sir William Bonville
. The position of Steward was not a sinecure
but a prestigious and financially rewarding position. Bonville was a West Country
gentleman whose growing influence at court was seen as a threat to Courtenay dominance in the region, and a bitter feud between the two families ensued. The Courtenays backed the House of Lancaster
in opposition to the Bonvilles' support of York
, the better to use the ongoing war as a means of competition. While many members of both families were killed in battle, the more personal family conflict peaked with the murder of Nicholas Radford by the Earl of Devon, who was punished for a time with imprisonment in the Tower of London
before his release by Queen Margaret of Anjou
. The feud subsided soon after.
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
was an violent rivalry between two eponymous families during the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
in 15th-century England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, sparked by a dispute over a coveted ducal
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
office and a fight for local supremacy.
Background
Both families were based in the southwest of England, in the regions of DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. The Courtenays
House of Courtenay
The House of Courtenay was an important dynasty in medieval France originating from the castle of Courtenay in the Gâtinais , going back to the 10th century. The dynasty descended from Athon, the first lord of Courtenay, apparently himself a descendant of the Counts of Sens and from Pharamond,...
held the Earldom of Devon and the Bonvilles were the lords of Harington. The ongoing civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
was a time of shifting allegiances in British history as the chaos of war presented opportunities for advancement to various factions.
Dispute
In 1441 the Courtenay Earl of Devon was appointed to the lucrative stewardship of the Duchy of CornwallDuchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
, an office Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
had already conferred on Sir William Bonville
William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville
William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville, KG was an English nobleman, soldier, and administrator. He was a staunch Yorkist supporter during the Wars of the Roses, and he was executed following the Yorkist defeat at the Second Battle of St Albans, by the orders of Queen consort Margaret of Anjou...
. The position of Steward was not a sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
but a prestigious and financially rewarding position. Bonville was a West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
gentleman whose growing influence at court was seen as a threat to Courtenay dominance in the region, and a bitter feud between the two families ensued. The Courtenays backed the House of Lancaster
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
in opposition to the Bonvilles' support of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
, the better to use the ongoing war as a means of competition. While many members of both families were killed in battle, the more personal family conflict peaked with the murder of Nicholas Radford by the Earl of Devon, who was punished for a time with imprisonment in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
before his release by Queen Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI of England. As such, she was Queen consort of England from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471; and Queen consort of France from 1445 to 1453...
. The feud subsided soon after.
See also
- Percy–Neville feud
- Butler–Fitzgerald feud – a similar feud in IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...