Elizabeth of Rhuddlan

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Elizabeth of Rhuddlan (Elizabeth Plantagenet) (7 August 1282 Rhuddlan Castle - 5 May 1316 Quendon)

Born the eighth daughter of Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile. Of all her siblings, she was closest to her younger brother Edward II of England, as they were only two years apart in age.

In April 1285 there were negotiations with Floris V for Elizabeth's betrothal to his son John I, Count of Holland. The offer was accepted and John was sent to England to be educated. On 8 January 1297 Elizabeth was married to John at Ipswich. In attendance at the marriage were Elizabeth's sister Margaret, her father, Edward I of England, her brother Edward, and Humphrey de Bohun. After the wedding Elizabeth was expected to go to Holland with her husband, but did not wish to go, leaving her husband to go alone.

After some time travelling England, it was decided Elizabeth should follow her husband. Her father accompanied her, travelling through Antwerp, Malines, Louvain and Brussels, before ending up in Ghent. There they remained for a few months, spending Christmas with her two sister's Eleanor of England, Countess of Bar and Margaret Plantagenet. On 10 November 1299, John died of dysentery, though there were rumours of his being murdered. No children had been born from the marriage.

On her return trip to England, Elizabeth went through Brabant to see her sister Margaret. When she arrived in England, she met her step mother Margaret of France, whom Edward had married whilst she was in Holland. Reportedly, they became inseparable. On 14 November 1302 Elizabeth was married to Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, 3rd of Essex, also Constable of England, at Westminster Abbey.

During Christmas 1315 Elizabeth, who was pregnant with her 10th child, was visited by her sister-in-law Isabella of France. This was a great honour, but the stress of it may have caused unknown health problems that later contributed to Elizabeth's death in childbirth. On 5 May 1316 she went into labour, giving birth to her daughter Isabella. Both Elizabeth and Isabella died shortly after the birthing, and were buried together in Waltham Abbey.

The children of Elizabeth and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford are:

1. Hugh de Bohun (September 1303 - 1305)
2. Lady Eleanor de Bohun (October 17, 1304 - 1363), married James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde and Thomas Dagworth, 1st Baron Dagworth.
3. Humphrey de Bohun (b&d 1305)
4. John de Bohun, 5th Earl of Hereford (23 November 1306 - 1335)
5. Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford (6 December about 1309 - 1361)
6. Margaret de Bohun, 2nd Countess of Devon (3 April 1311 - 1391), married Hugh Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon
7. William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton (1312 - 1360). Twin of Edward. Married Elizabeth de Badlesmere.
8. Edward de Bohun (1312 - 1334). Twin of William.
9. Eneas de Bohun, (1314 - after 1322), when he's mentioned in his father's will.
10. Isabel de Bohun (b&d 5 May 1316)

[edit] References

• Weis, Frederick Lewis (2004). Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700. Genealogical Pub Co. ISBN 0-8063-1752-3.  Lines 6-29, 6-30, 7-29, 7-30, 15-29, 15-30, 97-31, 97-32.
• Weir, Alison (2002). Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy. The Bodley Head London, U.K.. ISBN 0-7126-4286-2.  pages 83-85
• The Bohun family Accessed March 23, 2008
• Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol. I, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1910. (p. 1399) googlebooks Accessed April 28, 2008
• Burke, John, Esq. A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerages of England, Ireland, and Scotland, Extinct, Dormant and in Abeyance. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831. (p. 196) googlebooks Retrieved May 4, 2008