Bryan Stapleton
Encyclopedia
Sir Bryan Stapleton KG
(c. 1322 – 1394) was an English medieval knight from Yorkshire.
and the third son of Sir Gilbert Stapleton (died 1321) and his wife, Agnes (or Matilda; 1297/8–1348), daughter and coheir of Brian, Lord Fitzalan
(died 1306), of Bedale
and several other estates in the same county. As a result, he was a great-grandson of Dervorguilla of Galloway
, mother of John Balliol, King of Scotland
, and a descendant of the Bruces
by Laderia, daughter of Peter III de Brus of Skelton
and grandmother of Sir Gilbert.
His first campaign must have been King Edward III
's expedition to France in 1340 and the siege of Tournai
- he stated this himself during a heraldic dispute
involving his friend, Richard, Lord Scrope of Bolton
. In his own words, he fought in all the great battles and expeditions of King Edward's reign, including the battle of Crécy
and the siege of Calais in 1346-7.
Bryan served under the banner of William Montagu, earl of Salisbury
, in France in 1359-60 and, very likely, before that date as well. In 1369, he joined Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge
, and John Hastings, earl of Pembroke
in the expeditionary force sent to relieve Edward, the Black Prince
, in Aquitaine. In 1372 he witnessed a truce with the duke of Brittany but in 1373 he sailed with Salisbury in the fleet that raided the coast of Brittany and defended Brest. In February 1380 he was appointed Captain of Calais Castle and in 1381 - captain of Guînes.
Stapleton was made a knight of the Garter
in 1382; in the following year he and Salisbury escorted King Richard II
's young bride, Anne of Bohemia
, to Calais; and in 1383 he held a muster there of the troops led by Henry le Despenser, Bishop of Norwich
for a campaign in Flanders. He participated in the following negotiations with embassies from France and Flanders, leading to the truce of Leulinghen. He served on the Scottish border between 1386 and 1388, when he was both a commissioner to take evidence and a witness in Lord Scrope's dispute with Sir Robert Grosvenor mentioned above.
In 1376 Stapleton bought Wighill
, where he died on 25 July 1394. His will, written in French, was dated 16 May the same year, and is published in Testamenta Eboracensia (i. 198 sq.). He directed that his body should be buried at Helaugh Priory, beside his wife, who had died before him.
and Kentmere
from a cousin.
Before 1360 Stapleton married Alice, widow of Sir Stephen Waleys of Helaugh and daughter and coheiress of Sir John de St. Philibert. He left two sons, of whom, the elder, Brian, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Aldeburgh, and was the ancestor of the Stapletons of Carlton, died before him; the younger, Sir Miles (died 1400), was the ancestor of the Stapletons of Wighill.
Brian Stapleton, his young grandson, succeeded him, and fell near Alençon
in 1417, fighting in the retinue of Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(c. 1322 – 1394) was an English medieval knight from Yorkshire.
Life
He was the younger brother of Sir Miles StapletonMiles Stapleton of Bedale
Sir Miles Stapleton of Bedale KG was an English knight, one of the Knights Founder of the Order of the Garter. He was the eldest son of Gilbert de Stapleton, knt. , and the grandson of Miles de Stapleton . His mother was Matilda Sir Miles Stapleton of Bedale (or of Cotherstone) KG (1320?–1364)...
and the third son of Sir Gilbert Stapleton (died 1321) and his wife, Agnes (or Matilda; 1297/8–1348), daughter and coheir of Brian, Lord Fitzalan
Bryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlan
Sir Bryan FitzAlan, Baron FitzAlan Knt. was Lord of the Manor of Bedale in Richmondshire, Askham Bryan in the Ainsty, Bainton, Heworth &c., in Yorkshire, Bicker and Graby in Lincolnshire, a J.P., and High Sheriff of Yorkshire, &c...
(died 1306), of Bedale
Bedale
Bedale is a market town and civil parish in the district of Hambleton, North Yorkshire, England. It lies north of Leeds, southwest of Middlesbrough, and south west of the county town of Northallerton...
and several other estates in the same county. As a result, he was a great-grandson of Dervorguilla of Galloway
Dervorguilla of Galloway
Dervorguilla of Galloway was a 'lady of substance' during the 13th century, wife from 1223 of John, 5th Baron de Balliol, and mother of the future king John I of Scotland. The name Dervorguilla or Devorgilla was a Latinization of the Gaelic Dearbhfhorghaill...
, mother of John Balliol, King of Scotland
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
, and a descendant of the Bruces
Clan Bruce
Clan Bruce is a Scottish clan from Kincardine in Scotland. It was a Royal House in the 14th century, producing two kings of Scotland.-Origins of the Clan:...
by Laderia, daughter of Peter III de Brus of Skelton
Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland is a small town in the civil parish of Skelton and Brotton in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire in the North East of England. It is situated at the foot of the Cleveland Hills and about east of Middlesbrough. Skelton is...
and grandmother of Sir Gilbert.
His first campaign must have been King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
's expedition to France in 1340 and the siege of Tournai
Siege of Tournai (1340)
During the Hundred Years' War, after the naval battle at Sluys on 20 June 1340, in which Edward III of England dealt the French a heavy blow, he went on to besiege Tournai. This city in Flanders was loyal to Philip VI of France....
- he stated this himself during a heraldic dispute
Scrope v. Grosvenor
Scrope v. Grosvenor was one of the earliest heraldic law cases brought in England. The case resulted from the fact that two different families were using the same undifferenced coat of arms. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the composition of coats of arms was very simple...
involving his friend, Richard, Lord Scrope of Bolton
Richard Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton
Richard le Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton was an English soldier and courtier, serving Richard II of England. He also fought under the Black Prince at the Battle of Crecy in 1346....
. In his own words, he fought in all the great battles and expeditions of King Edward's reign, including the battle of Crécy
Battle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
and the siege of Calais in 1346-7.
Bryan served under the banner of William Montagu, earl of Salisbury
William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury
Sir William II Montague, alias de Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, 4th Baron Montacute, King of Mann, KG was an English nobleman and commander in the English army during King Edward III's French campaigns in the Hundred Years War.He was born in Donyatt in Somerset, the eldest son of William...
, in France in 1359-60 and, very likely, before that date as well. In 1369, he joined Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, 1st Earl of Cambridge, KG was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of the five sons who lived to adulthood, of this Royal couple. Like so many medieval princes, Edmund gained his identifying nickname from his...
, and John Hastings, earl of Pembroke
John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, KG , was an English nobleman and soldier who also held the title Baron Abergavenny. He was the posthumous son of Laurence Hastings, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Agnes Mortimer.- Marriage :He was married on 19 May 1359 in Reading to Margaret , daughter of Edward III...
in the expeditionary force sent to relieve Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
, in Aquitaine. In 1372 he witnessed a truce with the duke of Brittany but in 1373 he sailed with Salisbury in the fleet that raided the coast of Brittany and defended Brest. In February 1380 he was appointed Captain of Calais Castle and in 1381 - captain of Guînes.
Stapleton was made a knight of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
in 1382; in the following year he and Salisbury escorted King Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
's young bride, Anne of Bohemia
Anne of Bohemia
Anne of Bohemia was Queen of England as the first wife of King Richard II. A member of the House of Luxembourg, she was the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and Elizabeth of Pomerania....
, to Calais; and in 1383 he held a muster there of the troops led by Henry le Despenser, Bishop of Norwich
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
for a campaign in Flanders. He participated in the following negotiations with embassies from France and Flanders, leading to the truce of Leulinghen. He served on the Scottish border between 1386 and 1388, when he was both a commissioner to take evidence and a witness in Lord Scrope's dispute with Sir Robert Grosvenor mentioned above.
In 1376 Stapleton bought Wighill
Wighill
Wighill is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is near the River Wharfe and 6 miles east of Wetherby, West Yorkshire. The village has one public house, The White Swan Inn, which recently reopened....
, where he died on 25 July 1394. His will, written in French, was dated 16 May the same year, and is published in Testamenta Eboracensia (i. 198 sq.). He directed that his body should be buried at Helaugh Priory, beside his wife, who had died before him.
Family
He inherited CarltonCarlton
- Places :Australia* Carlton, New South Wales* Carlton, VictoriaCanada* Carlton, Saskatchewan, a hamlet* Fort Carlton, a replica of an original Fur Trading post of Hudson Bay Company built in 1810...
and Kentmere
Kentmere
Kentmere is a valley, village and civil parish in the Lake District National Park, a few miles from Kendal in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England. It is historically part of Westmorland...
from a cousin.
Before 1360 Stapleton married Alice, widow of Sir Stephen Waleys of Helaugh and daughter and coheiress of Sir John de St. Philibert. He left two sons, of whom, the elder, Brian, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Aldeburgh, and was the ancestor of the Stapletons of Carlton, died before him; the younger, Sir Miles (died 1400), was the ancestor of the Stapletons of Wighill.
Brian Stapleton, his young grandson, succeeded him, and fell near Alençon
Alençon
Alençon is a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department. It is situated west of Paris. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alençon .-History:...
in 1417, fighting in the retinue of Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury.