William de Beauchamp (c.1186–1260) was a British judge and high sheriff.

Early life

Beauchamp was the son of Simon de Beauchamp (c.1145–1206/7) and his wife Isabel, whose parents are unknown.

''Magna Carta'' baron

De Beauchamp took part in the 1210 expedition to

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

and the 1214 expedition to

Poitiers Poitiers (, , , ; Poitevin: ''Poetàe'') is a city on the River Clain in west-central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and the historical centre of Poitou. In 2017 it had a population of 88,291. Its agglome ...

before joining the rebellious barons in 1215 at the beginning of the

First Barons' War The First Barons' War (1215–1217) was a civil war in the Kingdom of England in which a group of rebellious major landowners (commonly referred to as barons) led by Robert Fitzwalter waged war against King John of England. The conflict resulte ...

, entertaining them at his seat of

Bedford Castle Bedford Castle was a large medieval castle in Bedford, England. Built after 1100 by Henry I, the castle played a prominent part in both the civil war of the Anarchy and the First Barons' War. The castle was significantly extended in stone, ...

; as such, de Beauchamp was one of the rebels excommunicated by

Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 ...

Involvement in military actions

De Beauchamp was captured at the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217 but made his peace with the government. By this point he had already lost Bedford Castle to Falkes de Breauté in 1215, leading to an odd situation: Breauté was granted the castle, while de Beauchamp held the barony. When Breauté fell from power Bedford Castle was besieged and partially destroyed on royal orders, but de Beauchamp was granted licence to build a residence within its Bailey. He was part of a royal expedition ambushed by

Richard Marshal Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke (119115 April 1234), was the son of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and brother of William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, whom he succeeded to the Earldom of Pembroke and Lord Marshal of England upon h ...

in 1233, and was appointed a

Baron of the Exchequer The Barons of the Exchequer, or ''barones scaccarii'', were the judges of the English court known as the Exchequer of Pleas. The Barons consisted of a Chief Baron of the Exchequer and several puisne (''inferior'') barons. When Robert Shute was ...

in 1234 and 1237.

Other offices

He also served as Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire for 1236 and when

Eleanor of Provence Eleanor of Provence (c. 1223 – 24/25 June 1291) was a French noblewoman who became Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III from 1236 until his death in 1272. She served as regent of England during the absence of her spouse in 1253. A ...

was crowned queen that year he served as an

almoner An almoner (} ' (alms), via the popular Latin '. History Christians have historically been encouraged to donate one-tenth of their income as a tithe to their church and additional offerings as needed for the poor. The first deacons, mentioned ...

Family and death

He married Ida Longespee, daughter of

William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury (born in or before 11677 March 1226) ("Long Sword", Latinised to ''de Longa Spatha'') was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, primarily remembered for his command of the English forces at the Battle of Damme an ...

and

Ela, Countess of Salisbury Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury (118724 August 1261) was an English peeress. She succeeded to the title in her own right in 1196 upon the death of her father, William FitzPatrick, 2nd Earl of Salisbury.Charles Cawley, ''Medieval La ...

. He died in 1260, leaving a son, also called William, as well as five other children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beauchamp, William de (1185) 12th-century births 1260 deaths 13th-century English judges Anglo-Normans English soldiers Magna Carta barons Norman warriors High Sheriffs of Buckinghamshire High Sheriffs of Bedfordshire People from Bedford