Baron Saye and Sele is a title in the

Peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in t ...

held by the

Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family The Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family are the descendants of the 16th Baron Saye and Sele who was born Frederick Benjamin Twistleton and adopted the surname Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes in 1849 by Act of Parliament. He was the grandson of Thomas Twi ...

. The title dates to 1447 but it was recreated in 1603. Confusion over the details of the 15th-century title has led to conflicting order for titleholders; authorities such as ''

Burke's Peerage Burke's Peerage Limited is a British genealogical publisher founded in 1826, when the Irish genealogist John Burke began releasing books devoted to the ancestry and heraldry of the peerage, baronetage, knightage and landed gentry of Great Br ...

'' and ''

Debrett's Peerage Debrett's () is a British professional coaching company, publisher and authority on etiquette and behaviour, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of ''The New Peerage''. The company takes its name from its founder, John Deb ...

'' do not agree on whether or not the 1447 creation is still extant.

History

The Saye (also spelt Say) family is an ancient one. According to the ''

Roman de Rou ''Roman de Rou'' is a verse chronicle by Wace in Norman covering the history of the Dukes of Normandy from the time of Rollo of Normandy to the battle of Tinchebray in 1106. It is a national epic of Normandy. Following the success of his ''Roma ...

'', a "''le sire de Saye''" took part in the

Norman conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conque ...

in 1087, after which they gained prominence and land. The name Saye possibly refers to Sai, Normandy. In the 11th century, a William de Say married Agnes, daughter of Hugh de Grandmesnil, but his connection to the later titleholders is not confirmed. However, the history of the title has been traced to another William de Saye, who was granted lands by

Empress Matilda Empress Matilda ( 7 February 110210 September 1167), also known as the Empress Maude, was one of the claimants to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. The daughter of King Henry I of England, she moved to Germany as ...

between 1141–42 and later joined his brother-in-law

Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex Geoffrey de Mandeville II, 1st Earl of Essex (died September 1144) was a prominent figure during the reign of King Stephen of England. His biographer, the 19th-century historian J. H. Round, called him "the most perfect and typical presentment of ...

The Anarchy The Anarchy was a civil war in England and Normandy between 1138 and 1153, which resulted in a widespread breakdown in law and order. The conflict was a war of succession precipitated by the accidental death of William Adelin, the only legiti ...

against King Stephen of England. He was likely killed in the same raid on Burwell Castle that killed Essex. De Saye arms

William's eldest son, William II de Saye, had two daughters, one of whom, Beatrice, married

Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex Geoffrey Fitz Peter, Earl of Essex (c. 1162–1213) was a prominent member of the government of England during the reigns of Richard I and John. The patronymic is sometimes rendered Fitz Piers, for he was the son of Piers de Lutegareshale (born ...

(of the second creation). Lands held by the de Maminots — including the Manor of Deptford, known now as Sayes Court — came to the family through Alice, daughter of Hugh II de Maminot, who married William II de Saye's second son, Geoffrey II de Saye. The Sayes also adopted the Maminot arms, ''quarterly or and gules''. Geoffrey II de Saye filed legal suits against his cousin, the new Earl of Essex, for the lands belonging to the Mandeville family. His son Geoffrey III de Saye, who held the Lordship of West Greenwich inherited from his mother, was one of the 25 feudal barons who stood surety for the

Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter of Freedoms"), commonly called (also ''Magna Charta''; "Great Charter"), is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the ...

in 1215. His son William III de Saye traveled with and fought for Henry III and is recorded as a witness for the

Treaty of York The Treaty of York was an agreement between the kings Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland, signed at York on 25 September 1237, which affirmed that Northumberland (which at the time also encompassed County Durham), Cumberland, and ...

in 1237. William IV de Saye fought for

Edward I Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he ruled the duchies of Aquitaine and Gascony as a vassal o ...

in his

conquest of Wales The conquest of Wales by Edward I took place between 1277 and 1283. It is sometimes referred to as the Edwardian Conquest of Wales,Examples of historians using the term include Professor J. E. Lloyd, regarded as the founder of the modern academi ...

(1277–1283). His grandson Geoffrey III de Saye was created

feudal baron A feudal baron is a vassal holding a heritable fief called a ''barony'', comprising a specific portion of land, granted by an overlord in return for allegiance and service. Following the end of European feudalism, feudal baronies have largely been ...

Saye by writ in 1313. His son Geoffrey IV de Saye, the second baron, married Lady Maud de Beauchamp, daughter of 10th Earl of Warwick. Their son William, the third baron, was knighted in 1361 and married Beatrice, daughter of Sir Thomas de Brewose (Breouse/Brewes/Braose). William died by 7 August 1375, leaving the title to their young son John, who died a few years later. The title then passed to John's sister Elizabeth, 16. She married Sir John de Falvesle, 1st Lord Falvesley. After his death she married secondly Sir William Heron, who sat in Parliament as Lord Say by right of his wife. She died in 1399 without heirs, after which the barony became abeyant among her three aunts. Idonea was married to John de Clinton, 3rd Lord de Clinton; Joan married Sir William Fiennes (died 1359); and Elizabeth married Sir Thomas de Aldoun. Of the three, only Joan had male issue. Her second but eldest surviving son Sir William Fiennes (died 1403) was the father of Sir

Roger Fiennes Sir Roger Fiennes (1384–1449) was an English knight of the shire, High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, and builder of Herstmonceux Castle. He was also Treasurer of King Henry VI's household. Origins Roger Fiennes was the son of William de Fienne ...

, MP for Sussex and

Treasurer of the Household The Treasurer of the Household is a member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The position is usually held by one of the government deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons. The current holder of the office is Ma ...

. With the spoils of the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...

, Sir Roger built Herstmonceux Castle. His elder son Sir Richard Fiennes was called to Parliament as 7th Lord Dacre in right of his wife,

Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness Dacre Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness Dacre (c. 1433 – 8 March 1485/86) was a ''suo jure'' peeress of England. She was born in Gilsland, the daughter of Sir Thomas Dacre (1410–1448) and Elizabeth Bowett. Marriage Joan Dacre married Sir Richard Fiennes ...

. The Barony of Saye and Sele is thought to have been created by

letters patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...

in 1447 for Sir Roger's second son, James Fiennes, for his services in the Hundred Years' War. The patent creating the original barony was lost, so it was assumed that the barony was created by

writ In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon ''gewrit'', Latin ''breve'') is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, a ...

, meaning that it could descend to heirs-general, and not only heirs-male. Fiennes-Saye arms

However, several authorities, including ''

'', agree that the assumption was erroneous, and that the original creation was by letters patent, and thus identify the initial holder as Lordship of Saye and Sele. His son, the second baron, was summoned to Parliament but killed at the Battle of Barnet in 1471. His son, the ''de jure'' third Baron, was known as Lord Saye and Sele but was never summoned to Parliament. The peerage is therefore considered to have become dormant (unclaimed) on the death of the second Baron. His great-great-great-grandson, Richard Fiennes, the ''de jure'' seventh baron, claimed the title in 1573. For years, he remained unsuccessful, but in 1603

James I James I may refer to: People *James I of Aragon (1208–1276) *James I of Sicily or James II of Aragon (1267–1327) *James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362), Count of Ponthieu *James I, Count of Urgell (1321–1347) *James I of Cyprus (1334–13 ...

granted him letters patent confirming his right to the title. The patent confirmed that the barony created in 1447 belonged to Richard Fiennes, but on the condition that, for the purposes of precedence or seniority, it would be considered as having been created in 1603, and also provided that no future Baron Saye and Sele would assert the precedence of 1447. The patent, furthermore, allowed the title to pass to heirs-general, based on the erroneous assumption that the barony was created by writ. William Fiennes, the eighth Baron, was created

Viscount Saye and Sele Viscount Saye and Sele was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 7 July 1624 for William Fiennes, 8th Baron Saye and Sele and became extinct on the death of Richard Fiennes 6th Viscount on 29 July 1781. Succession Under James I of ...

, also in the Peerage of England, in 1624. On the death of his son, the second Viscount, the two titles separated. The barony fell into

abeyance Abeyance (from the Old French ''abeance'' meaning "gaping") is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. ...

between the late Baron's daughters Hon. Elizabeth, wife of John Twisleton, and Hon. Frances, wife of Andrew Ellis. The Viscountcy could only be passed on to male heirs and was inherited by the Baron's nephew, the third Viscount. He was the son of Nathaniel Fiennes, second son of the first Viscount. When his son, the fourth Viscount, died, this line of the family also failed. He was succeeded by his cousin, the fifth Viscount. He was the son of John Fiennes, third son of the first Viscount. He was in his turn succeeded by another cousin, the sixth Viscount. On his death in 1781, there were no more male heirs left of the first Viscount, and the title became extinct. Broughton castle4

By 1715, all of the coheirs to the Barony of Saye and Sele had died save one; Cecil Twisleton, ''de jure'' tenth Baroness Saye and Sele. She was the daughter of the aforementioned Hon. Elizabeth, daughter of the second Viscount Saye and Sele. However, the barony was only formally called out of abeyance in favour of her great-grandson, Thomas Twisleton, who became the thirteenth Baron Saye and Sele. He was a General in the Army. His son, the fourteenth Baron, assumed the additional surnames of Fiennes and Eardley in 1825. He was succeeded by his son, the fifteenth Baron, who in his turn was succeeded by his cousin, the sixteenth Baron. In 1849 he assumed the additional surnames of Wykeham-Fiennes (the first Viscount Saye and Sele was a descendant of the sister and heiress of William of Wykeham). His grandson, the eighteenth Baron, served as

Comptroller of the Household The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the British royal household, nominally the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department after the Treasurer of the Household. The Comptroller was an ''ex officio'' member of t ...

from 1912 to 1915 in the

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

government of

H.H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928), generally known as H. H. Asquith, was a British statesman and Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of ...

. As of 2007 the title is held by his grandson, the twenty-first Baron. In 1965 he relinquished the additional surnames of Twisleton and Wykeham. Eustace Edward Fiennes, second son of the seventeenth Baron, represented Banbury in Parliament and also served as Governor of the Leeward Islands.Seychelles National Archives: Lt. Col. The Hon. Sir Eustace Edward Twistleton Wykeham Fiennes, CMG, (1918-1921)
/ref> In 1916 he was created a baronet, of Banbury in the County of Oxford. Since 1944, the title has been held by his grandson, explorer Ranulph Fiennes. Actors Ralph Fiennes and

Joseph Fiennes Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Journalist Zoe Williams observed that "he seemed to be the go-to actor for English cultural history". Fiennes is particul ...

are from a

cadet branch In history and heraldry, a cadet branch consists of the male-line descendants of a monarch's or patriarch's younger sons ( cadets). In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets— realm, title ...

of the family, being descended from Frederick the sixteenth Baron. Through the marriage of the second Viscount to a daughter of

Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon (29 February 1572 – 16 November 1638) was an English military commander and a politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1624. Life Cecil was the third son of Thomas Ceci ...

, the family descends from William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, as well as the

Plantagenet The House of Plantagenet () was a royal house which originated from the lands of Anjou in France. The family held the English throne from 1154 (with the accession of Henry II at the end of the Anarchy) to 1485, when Richard III died in batt ...

Kings of England.

List of titleholders

Lord Saye (1313)

*Geoffrey de Saye, 1st Lord Saye (1281–1322) *Geoffrey de Saye, 2nd Lord Saye ( – 26 June 1359) *William de Saye, 3rd Lord Saye (17 June 1314 – 1375) *John de Saye 4th Lord Say ( – 27 July 1382) *Elizabeth de Saye de Falvesley Heron, (5th) Baroness Say and '' suo jure'' Baroness Leybourne (24 February 1356 – 8 July 1399)

Lord (Baron) Saye and Sele (1447)

* James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele (c. 1395–1450) *

William Fiennes, 2nd Baron Saye and Sele William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

(c. 1428–1471) *Henry Fiennes, ''de jure'' 3rd Baron Saye and Sele (c. 1460–1476) *Richard Fiennes, ''de jure'' 4th Baron Saye and Sele (12 April 1471 – 1501) *Edward Fiennes, ''de jure'' 5th Baron Saye and Sele (c. 1500–1528) *Richard Fiennes, ''de jure'' 6th Baron Saye and Sele (c. 1520–1573)

Baron Saye and Sele (1603)

Richard Fiennes, 7th Baron Saye and Sele Richard Fiennes, 7th and 1st Baron Saye and Sele (c.1557 – 6 February 1613) was an English peer and diplomat. Fiennes was born at the family seat of Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire, the son of Richard Fiennes, ''de jure'' 6th Baron Saye and Sele ...

(c. 1557–1613) * William Fiennes, 8th Baron Saye and Sele (1582–1662; created

1624)

Viscount Saye and Sele (1624)

* William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele, 8th Baron Saye and Sele (1582–1662) * James Fiennes, 2nd Viscount Saye and Sele, 9th Baron Saye and Sele (c. 1603–1674) (eldest son) (barony abeyant as well as dormant 1674; see below for continuation); succeeded in the viscountcy only by his brother

Nathaniel , nickname = {{Plainlist, * Nat * Nate , footnotes = Nathaniel is an English variant of the biblical Greek name Nathanael. People with the name Nathaniel * Nathaniel Archibald (1952–2018), American basketball player * Nate A ...

's son *William Fiennes, 3rd Viscount Saye and Sele (c. 1641–1698) (nephew) *Nathaniel Fiennes, 4th Viscount Saye and Sele (1676–1710) (son) *Laurence Fiennes, 5th Viscount Saye and Sele (c. 1690–1742) (cousin, son of Col.

John Fiennes John Fiennes ( 1612–1708) was the third son of Puritan noble and politician William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele. He served in the Parliamentarian army during the First English Civil War, before resigning his commission when elected M ...

, 3rd son of 1st Viscount) *Richard Fiennes, 6th Viscount Saye and Sele (1716–1781)

Barons Saye and Sele (1603; reverted)

*Cecil Twisleton, ''de jure'' 10th Baroness Saye and Sele (d. 1723) (became sole heir in 1715) *Fiennes Twistleton, ''de jure'' 11th Baron Saye and Sele (1670–1730) *John Twisleton, ''de jure'' 12th Baron Saye and Sele (1698–1763) *

Thomas Twisleton, 13th Baron Saye and Sele Major General Thomas Twisleton, 13th Baron Saye and Sele (c. 1735 – 1 July 1788) was a British Army officer and peer. Military career Twisleton was the son of John Twistleton (died 1763) of Broughton Castle, Oxfordshire, and his wife Anne Gard ...

(c. 1735–1788) (dormancy terminated in his favour) *Gregory William Eardley-Twisleton-Fiennes, 14th Baron Saye and Sele (1769–1844) *William Thomas Eardley-Twisleton-Fiennes, 15th Baron Saye and Sele (1798–1847) * Frederick Benjamin Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 16th Baron Saye and Sele (1799–1887) Archdeacon of Hereford * John Fiennes Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 17th Baron Saye and Sele (1830–1907) *

Geoffrey Cecil Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 18th Baron Saye and Sele Geoffrey Cecil Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 18th Baron Saye and Sele (3 August 1858 – 2 February 1937) was an English soldier and Liberal politician from the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family. He served as Comptroller of the Household between 1 ...

(1858–1937) *Geoffrey Rupert Cecil Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 19th Baron Saye and Sele (1884–1949) * Ivo Murray Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 20th Baron Saye and Sele (1885–1968) * Nathaniel Thomas Allen Fiennes, 21st Baron Saye and Sele (b. 1920) The heir apparent is the present holder's second (and eldest surviving) son, the Hon. Martin Guy Fiennes (b. 1961)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his eldest son, Guy Fiennes (b. 1997)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saye and Sele 1447 establishments in England Baronies in the Peerage of England Saye and Sele Noble titles created in 1447 Noble titles created in 1603