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Richard, this information comes from the book published by Robert Bones and it is no longer in print. Be patient and I will post as much as I can.
THE EARLY DeBOHON FAMILY OF NORMANDY
In the year 911, Charles the Simple, King of France, granted the Norseman Hrolf, known in French history as Rollo the Viking, much of the area now known as Normandy in return for settling the area and stopping the costly raids of the Vikings which had been occurring during the previous decades. Rollo became Robert I, first Duke of Normandy. It is not known whether one of these original vassals was a de Bohon, but there is a record of a Henry de Bohon, who during the last quarter of the tenth century was a loyal supporter of Richard I, third Duke of Normandy (932-96), during border warfare.
Around 1030, Robert II, sixth Duke of Normandy (1026-35), put down a serioud revolt and again one of his supporters ws a de Bohon and as a reward the latter received land known as the de Bohon Fief, and his eldest son and heir, Henry de Bohon, was betrothed to Margaret, Countess of Eu, cousin of Duke Robert and a daughter of William, Count of Eu (941-1059), a natural son of Richard I, third Duke of Normandy.
In 1047, Sir Henry de Bohon came to the aid of his cousin William II, seventh Duke of Normandy (1035-1087). It was shortly after that Sir Henry's sons were invited to Duke William's court to be educated as knights and gentlement. The eldest son, Humphrey, went with Duke William to England, became the first Baron de Bohon, and was the ancester of most of the following family.
When the first Baron de Bohun died in 1113, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Humphrey (d. 1129), who became the second Baron de Bohun. He was a friend of and advisor to Henry I, King of England (1100-34). During his life, the Norfolk estates were increased and a sizable fief was acquired in County Wilts through his marriage, "commanded" by King William Rufus, into the Evreux family, having married Margaret, daughter of Edward (d. 1130) of Saresbourie (Salisbury), Earl of Evereux.
Humphrey, third Baron de Bohun (1109-87), succeeded his father, Humphrey the Great in 1129 and became involved in the struggle for the throne of England on the death of Henry I in 1134. He sided at first with Henry's nephew, Stephan (King 1134-54), whose wife was a cousin of the de Bohuns, and later with Matilda (Henry's daughter and sometimes queen). When the latter's son, Henry Plantagenet, became King Henry II in 1154, Sir Humphrey was made a steward of Henry II's household and later was named hereditary constable of England, a position previously held by his father-in-law and then by his brother-in-law. Humphrey in 1138 had married Margaret, daughter of Miles of Gloucester, Earl of Herford and High Constable of England, and Sybil of Neumarche, heiress of Brecknock and Abergavenny in Wales.
Miles' sons died heirless, consequently Henry II gave the title of High Constable to his son-in-law, Humphrey, third Baron de Bohun. Humphrey and Margaret of Gloucester had five sons: Humphrey, Richard, John, Miles, and Robert. Three of the sons played important parts in British History.
King Henry II (1154-89) of England had many difficulties during his reign, including numerous revolts led by his sons. Hemphrey (1109-87), the third Baron, and his eldest son, Sir Humphrey (c1141-83), usually known as The Young Earl of Hereford, remained loyal to Henry II throughout his reign. Sir John de Bohun was a very close friend and support of Henry II's fourth son, Geoffrey. Sir Robert de Bohun, the youngest son, was a close friend of Prince Henry, Henry II's second son and heir.
When Prince Henry revolted against his father in 1173, Sir Robert de Bohun was one of his associates. The situation became critical when Prince Henry persuaded Will the Lion, King of Scotland, to join him in the war against his father in return for the promise of Northumberland, the northern most shire of England. Humphrey, third Baron de Bohun, led the English king's army which met and repulsed the rebels at Fordham in Suffolk in 1173, and along with Sir Richard de Lacy met the forces of Scotland and Prince Henry on July 13, 1174. The battle ended in the complete rout of the rebellious forces; King William was captured and imprisoned, Sir Robert fled to scotland, and Prince Henry ws forgiven. As a condition of being released from captivity, King William agreed by the Treaty of Falaise that he would pay homage to Henry II as lord of Scotland. King William's sister, the Princess Margaret (granddaughter of King David I of Scotland) and the widow of Conan IV of Bretagne, Earl of Richmond, was married to Humphrey de Bohun, the young Earl of Hereford, who was the heir of the third Baron de Bohun.
Robert returned to Scotland and never contacted his family.
Humphrey de Bohun, Young Earl of Herford, husband of Margaret of Scotland died in 1183, predeceasing his father by four year. Consequently, he was succeeded by his twelve young old grandson, Henry (1176-1229), as the fourth Baron de Bohun. Upon coming of age, Henry was knighted and made High Constable of England and held manor houses and castles at Caldicot, Haresfield, Oaksey, and Walden in addition to the main Hereford holdings. In April 1199, King John created him Earl of Hereford. He married (c1202) Maud de Mandeville, daughter of Geoffrey Fitz-Piers, Earl of Essex, and of Beatrix de Saye. Henry and Maud (d. Aug 27, 1236) had a number of children, including: Henry (1203-09), Humprey (1205-75), Ralph, Robert, and Marjorie who married Waleran, Lord Gower and Earl of Warsick.
Henry de Bohun and Geoffrey de Mandeville, along with many others, met King John at Runneymede on June 15, 1215 and signed the historic Magna Carta. On June 19, King John, restored the honor of Trowbridge to Henry de Bohun. However, King John finally made peace with the pope and persuaded the latter to annul the Magna Carta because the king had been forced into signing it and the pope excommunicated the rebellious barons. Consequently, in seeking penance, Henry de Bohun aggreed to "take the Cross" and in 1220 set sail for the Holy Land. He died en route, July 1, 1220, and his body was brought back to the family vault at Llanthony Abbey. Henry's eldest son, Humphrey (c1205-75) succeeded him and married (c1226) Maud, a duaghter of Raoul Lusignan, Count of Eu, son of Hastings,a sescendant of Charlemagne, of Richard I, Duke of Normandy, and of the Comtes de La Marche of Crusade fame.
Humphrey and Maude had the following children: Maud, who married (1) Anselm Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, and (2) Roger de Quincy (d. 1264), Earl of Winchester; Humphrey (1229-1265); Alice, who married Roger de Tony (d. 1277); a daughter who died young; and Gilbert de Bohun. After Maud died, Humphrey married (2) Lady Maud of Avenbury (d. 1273), by whom he had a son, John de Bohun, who became Lord Haresfield.
In as much as Sir Humphrey never succeeded to his father's titles, he is usually called Sir Humphrey, the Governor of Winchester.
Lord Edward (Plantagenet, later King Edward I) escaped from captivity, gathered the royal army and met the barons under Simon de Montford at Evesham on the Avon River on August 4, 1265. Earl Simon was killed and his troops were defeated. Sir Humphrey was badly wounded and captured. He was held in Beeston Castle where he died on October 27, 1265. He was buried, nearby, in Cumbermere Abbey in Cheshire, rather than in the family vaults at Llanthony or Walden. Sir Humphrey had married Lady Eleanor de Braose, daughter of William V de Braose and of Eva Marshall. Eleanor's great grandparents, William II and Maud de Braose, where considered baronial martyrs because of the cruel treatment meted out to them by King John.
Check out the following web site for a picture of the Bohun Baron's Shield.
http://www.magnacharta.org/Barons/baron_henry_de_bohun.htm
Use this informaton cautiously as it is copied from the above book and there could be mistakes, as we all know. Will see if I can get a chart on here. Let me know if this information is useful.
Carole
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