WILLIaM DUC DE BARRAS, 1ST EARL OF LASTINGHAM

(born. 9 June 1449 – disappeared. 12 July 1508)

BIOGRAPHY:

On the 9th June 1449 vicomte William was born in Château de Saint Nicolas, Barras, Provence, France. He was the first and only child of Paul François Nicolas, 2nd duc de Barras. France was at war with England, but the duc de barras was loyal to the English King. At the battle of Bordeaux in 1453 the duc was killed and vicomte William inherited the title, becoming the 3rd duc de barras. In the same year, the war ended and a close friend and allie of the 2nd duc de barras, Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland had William move to England to live with him until he was old enough to start his training as a knight.

In 1456 William reached the age of 7 and his training began. On his 21st birthday in 1470 he finally completed his training as a knight; shortly after which Edward IV, King of England bestowed on him the title, Earl of Lastingham. Soon after, the Earl made a trip to France to visit his mother and his lands. While he was there he was made a knight of the Order of Saint Nicolas of Provence. In March 1471, the Earl arrived back in England and joined the Great Northwood Company. On the 14th April 1471 the Earl took part in his first major battle, the battle of Barnet, 10 miles north of London. The Great Northwood Company, commanded by Sir Edward Northwood were celebrated for their valour during the battle at which the Kingmaker, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, was killed.

The now renowned Great Northwood Company then went on to fight in the battle of Tewkesbury on the 4th May 1471 were William, Earl of Lastingham was caught in a viscious onslaught of arrows, one of which pierced his shoulder and carried of the battle field. Fortunately, the wound healed well and caused no lasting damage.

A year later, in the summer of 1472, the Earl of Lastingham was introduced to the eldest daughter of Lord John Knapley, Lady Lydia of Knapley. After a brief courtship the two married in Saint Mary’s Church, Lastingham. As a tradition Lady Lydia upon marriage took her Husbands name and titles becoming the Countess of Lastingham and Duchess de Barras. By 1476 the Earl and Countess had 3 children Paul (later to become the 4th duc de Barras and 2nd Earl of Lastingham), Lady Joan of Lastingham, and Charles of Lastingham (who later became Bishop of Evenwood).

It wasn’t for a good number of years until the Earl of Lastingham took up his sword again and was involved in the Battle of Bosworth Field on the 22nd August 1485. After that, the next major battle he fought in was the Battle of Stoke Field on the 16th June 1487, seven days after his 38th birthday.

In 1505 the Earl went to Hungry with the Great Northwood Company to fight against the Turks. Two years later in 1507 he was informed that his dukedom in France was under threat by the Duc de Bayonne. On receiving this news he set of to France and after a lengthy campaign he emerged victorious.

A few months later once every thing had settled down, he made his way back to England to rejoin his wife and family. It was recorded that he boarded his ship in Calais on the 12th July 1508 but his ship never reached English shores. The ship and the Earl were lost forever. His family were led to believe that his ship foundered in a great storm whilst crossing the English Channel.