Maud le Vavasour
Encyclopedia
Maud le Vavasour, Baroness Butler (d. before 1226) was an Anglo-Norman
heiress and the wife of Fulk FitzWarin
, a medieval landed gentleman
who was forced to become an outlaw
in the early 13th century. Part of the legend of Robin Hood
might be based on him.
By her first marriage to Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler, Maud was the ancestress of the Butler Earls of Ormond.
, and Justiciar
of England. Her maternal grandfather was Adam fitz Peter of Birkin
.
Maud was heiress to properties in Edlington
, Yorkshire and Narborough
in Leicestershire.
was Archbishop of Canterbury
. In 1185, Theobald had been granted land by Prince John
, who was then Lord of Ireland. He was appointed Butler
of Ireland in 1192, and High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1194.
Theobald and Maud had three children:
Following the death of Theobald in early February 1206, Maud returned to England into the custody of her father, who, having bought the right of marrying her at the price of 1200 marks and two palfreys
, gave her in marriage by October 1207, to Fulk FitzWarin
. Fulk was the son of Fulk FitzWarin and Hawise de Dinan, who subsequent to a violent quarrel with King John of England
, was deprived of his lands and property by the vengeful king. Fulk then sought refuge in the woods and became an outlaw
, with Maud having accompanied him. The legendary figures of Robin Hood
and Maid Marian
are said to be based on Fulk and Maud.
By FitzWarin, Maud had a son and a daughter:
, Mary Boleyn
and Elizabeth I.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
heiress and the wife of Fulk FitzWarin
Fulk FitzWarin
Fulk FitzWarin was an English nobleman turned outlaw from Whittington Castle in Shropshire. The historical Fulk, or Fulk III FitzWarin, was a Marcher Lord who rebelled against King John from 1200 to 1203 over his familial right to the estate of Whittington...
, a medieval landed gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
who was forced to become an outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
in the early 13th century. Part of the legend of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
might be based on him.
By her first marriage to Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler, Maud was the ancestress of the Butler Earls of Ormond.
Family
Maud le Vavasour was the daughter of Robert le Vavasour, deputy sheriff of Lancashire (1150–1234), and his first wife, an unnamed daughter of Adam de Birkin . She had a half-brother, Sir John le Vavasour who married Alice Cockfield, by whom he had issue. Maud's paternal grandfather was William le Vavasour, Lord of HazlewoodHazlewood Castle
Hazlewood Castle is a country residence situated in North Yorkshire, England by the A1 and A64 between Aberford and Tadcaster.The first records of the house are to be found in the Domesday Book...
, and Justiciar
Justiciar
In medieval England and Ireland the Chief Justiciar was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister as the monarch's chief minister. Similar positions existed on the Continent, particularly in Norman Italy. The term is the English form of the medieval Latin justiciarius or justitiarius In...
of England. Her maternal grandfather was Adam fitz Peter of Birkin
Birkin
Birkin is a village and civil parish in the south-west of the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is north of the River Aire, near Beal, North Yorkshire. The closest town is Knottingley, in West Yorkshire, four miles to the south-west. According to the 2001 census the parish had a...
.
Maud was heiress to properties in Edlington
Edlington
Edlington is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, lying to the south west of Doncaster. It has a population of 8,276...
, Yorkshire and Narborough
Narborough, Leicestershire
Narborough is a village south of Leicester, England. It lies in the Blaby district of Leicestershire. Its name originally meant 'North Stronghold'.Surrounding villages include Enderby, Whetstone, Littlethorpe, Cosby, and Huncote.-Location:...
in Leicestershire.
Marriages and issue
In or shortly before 1200, Maud married her first husband Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler (died February 1206), son of Hervey Walter and Maud de Valoignes, and went to live in Ireland. His brother Hubert WalterHubert Walter
Hubert Walter was an influential royal adviser in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in the positions of Chief Justiciar of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor. As chancellor, Walter began the keeping of the Charter Roll, a record of all charters issued by the...
was Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
. In 1185, Theobald had been granted land by Prince John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, who was then Lord of Ireland. He was appointed Butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
of Ireland in 1192, and High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1194.
Theobald and Maud had three children:
- a female (dead by 1240), married as his first wife Sir Gerald de Prendergast by whom she had issue, including Marie de Prendergast, who in her turn married Sir John de CoganJohn de CoganJohn de Cogan, Anglo-Irish knight, fl. 1233-1278.De Cogan was a grandson of Milo de Cogan and Christina Pagnel; his parents were Richard de Cogan and Basile de Riddlesford....
and had issue. We know about her only because a later inquisition claimed that Gerald married a "sister of Theobald pincerna", no name is given to her, and no dates. - Theobald le BotillerTheobald le BotillerTheobald le Botiller, also known as Theobald Boteler, Theobald Butler, 2nd Baron Butler was the son of Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler and Maud le Vavasour. He had livery of his lands on 18 July 1222....
, chief Butler of Ireland (by 1199 - 19 July 1230), who married firstly Joan du Marais, daughter of Geoffrey du Marais and Eva de Bermingham, and had a son Theobald le Botiller (1224–1248), who married Margery de BurghMargery de BurghMargery de Burgh , was a Norman- Irish noblewoman and the wife of Theobald Le Botiller. She was a descendant of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, and the ancestress of the Earls of Ormond.- Family and lineage :...
, daughter of Richard Mor de BurghRichard Mor de BurghRichard Mór de Burgh, 1st Lord of Connaught , Justiciar of Ireland.-Background:De Burgh was the eldest son of William de Burgh and a daughter of Domnall Mór Ua Briain, King of Thomond. His principal estate was in the barony of Loughrea where he built a castle in 1236 and a town was founded. He also...
, Lord of Connacht, and Egidia de LacyEgidia de LacyEgidia de Lacy, Lady of Connacht , was a Hiberno-Norman noblewoman, the wife of Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught and Strathearn , and the mother of his seven children, including Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster. She was also known as Gille de Lacy...
(daughter of Walter de Lacy and Margaret de Braose), and from whom descended the Earls of Ormond. Theobald le Botiller, chief Butler of Ireland married secondly, after 4 September 1225, Rohese de Verdon (1205- 10 February 1247), daughter of Nicholas de Verdon and Joan de Lacy, by whom he had a son and daughter: John le Botiller de Verdon, Lord of Westmeath (1226–1274), who married Margery de Lacy (1229- after 10 June 1276), by whom he had issue, and Maud le Botiller de Verdon, who upon her marriage to John FitzalanJohn FitzAlan, 6th Earl of ArundelJohn FitzAlan , Lord of Oswestry and Clun, and de jure Earl of Arundel, was a Breton-English nobleman and Marcher Lord with lands in the Welsh Marches.-Family:...
became the 6th Countess of Arundel, and from whom descended the Fitzalan Earls of Arundel.
Following the death of Theobald in early February 1206, Maud returned to England into the custody of her father, who, having bought the right of marrying her at the price of 1200 marks and two palfreys
Palfrey
A palfrey is a type of horse highly valued as a riding horse in the Middle Ages. It is not a breed.The word "palfrey" is cognate with the German word for horse , "Pferd". Both descend from Latin "paraveredus", meaning a post horse or courier horse...
, gave her in marriage by October 1207, to Fulk FitzWarin
Fulk FitzWarin
Fulk FitzWarin was an English nobleman turned outlaw from Whittington Castle in Shropshire. The historical Fulk, or Fulk III FitzWarin, was a Marcher Lord who rebelled against King John from 1200 to 1203 over his familial right to the estate of Whittington...
. Fulk was the son of Fulk FitzWarin and Hawise de Dinan, who subsequent to a violent quarrel with King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
, was deprived of his lands and property by the vengeful king. Fulk then sought refuge in the woods and became an outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
, with Maud having accompanied him. The legendary figures of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
and Maid Marian
Maid Marian
Maid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
are said to be based on Fulk and Maud.
By FitzWarin, Maud had a son and a daughter:
- Sir Fulk FitzWarin (1208-14 May 1264), married firstly, Clarice d 'Auberville, by whom he had a daughter, Mabel FitzWarin (1248–1296), who in turn married firstly John de Crevequer, and secondly, Sir John Tregoze, Baron Tregoze (1245–1300), son of Robert II Tregoze, Lord of Ewyas Harold, and Juliane de Cantelou, and had issue. Fulk married secondly, Constance de Toeni (1225–1265), by whom he had a son, Fulk FitzWarin and a daughter, Hawise FitzWarin, both of whom married and had issue.
- Hawise FitzWarin (born 3 February 1210), married firstly William Pantulf, by whom she had issue, and secondly, Hubert Huse.
Death
Maud le Vavasour died sometime before 1226. She had numerous descendants including the Earls of Ormond, the Earls of Arundel, Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
, Mary Boleyn
Mary Boleyn
Mary Boleyn , was the sister of English queen consort Anne Boleyn and a member of the Boleyn family, which enjoyed considerable influence during the reign of King Henry VIII of England...
and Elizabeth I.