de Forz family
| de Forz | |
|---|---|
Arms of the de Forz family: Gules, a cross patonce vair | |
| Country | Kingdom of England |
| Founder | William de Forz (d. 1242) |
| Final ruler | Aveline de Forz |
| Titles | Earl of Albemarle |
The de Forz family (Latin: de Fortibus) was a notable Anglo-Norman dynasty who held the Earldom of Albemarle (Aumale) in northern England during the 13th century. Their lineage began with the marriage of Hawise, Countess of Aumale, and William de Forz,and ended with the death of their heiress, Aveline.
History
William de Forz, 3rd Earl of Albemarle (c. 1190–1242)
William was the son of William de Forz (d. 1195), a Poitevin noble, and Hawise of Aumale, suo jure Countess of Aumale.[1] Around 1213, he inherited the title and substantial estates in Holderness, Lincolnshire, and Cumberland. He initially joined the baronial rebellion against King John and became one of the Magna Carta surety barons in 1215.[2] Unlike most of his fellow sureties, he later reaffirmed loyalty to the Crown and served Henry III militarily. He died at sea in 1242 while en route to the Holy Land.[3]
William de Forz, 4th Earl of Albemarle (d. 1260)
His son succeeded as the 4th Earl in 1242 and held important fiefs in Yorkshire and Cumberland. His first marriage to Christina of Galloway ended with her death. In 1248, he married Isabella de Redvers, heiress of Devon and the Isle of Wight.[4] William supported Henry III’s military efforts in Brittany and Wales and died in Amiens in 1260.
Aveline de Forz (1259–1274)
Aveline, only daughter of William and Isabella, inherited the title Countess of Aumale and lands in Holderness in 1269. At age 10, she married Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster and son of King Henry III.[5] She died childless in 1274, aged 15, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Her death ended the direct de Forz line.
Decline and legacy
With Aveline’s death and Isabella’s conveyance of lands to the Crown, the de Forz dynasty became extinct. Their vast holdings—including the Honour of Aumale and estates in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, were absorbed by Edward I by the late 1270s.[6] The family is remembered for their influential role during the Magna Carta crisis and their ties to the Plantagenet dynasty.
References
- ^ J. C. Holt, Magna Carta, Cambridge University Press, 1992, p. 232.
- ^ University of London Magna Carta Trust, “William de Forz: Magna Carta baron and loyalist,” accessed June 30 2025.
- ^ "William de Forz and the Magna Carta: A Study of a 13th‑Century Magnate," _English Historical Review_ 130, no. 544 (2015): 321–345.
- ^ Nicholas Vincent, The Magna Carta: Origins and Legacy, Routledge, 2007, p. 89.
- ^ John Nichols, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, vol. 1, 1800, p. 305.
- ^ Frank Barlow, The Feudal Kingdom of England 1042–1216, Longman, 1988, p. 327.
Further reading
- Stubbs, William. Select Charters and Other Illustrations of English Constitutional History. 14th ed., 1878.
- Vincent, Nicholas. Magna Carta: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2012.
- “William de Forz and the Magna Carta,” _English Historical Review_ 130, no. 544 (2015): 321–345.
- University of London Magna Carta Trust, “William de Forz: Magna Carta baron and loyalist.” Accessed June 30 2025.