, Alan La Zouche, 1St Baron La Zouche Of Ashby

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Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby
b: 9 OCT 1267
d: BEF 25 MAR 1314
Biography
Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby (9 October 1267 – shortlybefore 25 March 1314)[1] was born at North Molton, Devonshire, the onlyson of Roger La Zouche and his wife, Ela Longespee, daughter of StephenLongespee and Emmeline de Ridelsford. He received seisin of his father''slands after paying homage to the king on October 13, 1289. Alan wasgovernor of Rockingham Castle and steward of Rockingham Forest. Alan LaZouche died without any sons shortly before at the age of 46, and hisbarony fell into abeyance among his daughters.

Alan la Zouche was born in North Molton on St Denis''s Day (9 October)1267 and was baptised in the church there, as was testified by his uncle"Henry la Zuche, clerk" and several local and other gentry and clerics athis proof-of-age inquisition in 1289 which enabled him to exit royalwardship:[2][3]

"Alan son and heir of Roger la Zusche alias la Zuch, la Souche. Writ toPeter Heym and Robert de Radington, to enquire whether the said Alan, whois in the king''s wardship, is of full age, as he says, or not, The eve ofSt. Margaret (20 June), 17 Edw. I. The said Alan, who was born at NorthMolton and baptized in the church there, was 21 on the day of St. Denis,16 Edw. I. The Abbot of Lyleshull ( Lilleshall Abbey in Shropshire, towhich he gave the advowson of North Molton Church in 1313) says the saidAlan was born in Devon on the feast of St. Denis, and was 22 at thatfeast last past, and he knows it because he was keeper of a grange ofAlan''s father at Assheby four years ago, and knew from his father andmother that he was then 18. The prior of Repindon agrees, and knows itbecause his predecessor was created prior in the same year and was priorfor twelve years, and he himself has now been prior for ten years. Theprior of Swaveseye agrees, for he has been prior for twenty years, andsaw him (Alan) before his creation when he was 2 years old. The prior ofUlvescroft agrees, for he has enquired from religious men, and especiallyfrom the nuns of Gracedieu who dwell near Alan''s father''s manor ofAssheby. Brother William Ysnach of Gerendon agrees, for he sued the pleasof the house for nearly twenty-two (?) years, and Alan was born at thefeast of St. Denis preceding. Geoffrey prior of Brackele agrees, for hewas always with Alan''s ancestors and ... twenty-four years ago, andwithin two years following Alan was born. Richard le Flemyng, knight,(probably of Bratton Fleming) agrees, and knows it from the wife ofWilliam de Raleye (probably of Raleigh, Pilton) who nursed Alan. JohnPunchardon, knight, (probably of Heanton Punchardon) agrees, for he heldhis land for such a time. Alfred de Suleny, knight, agrees, for hisfirstborn son was born on the same day. John de Curteny, knight, (i.e.Courtenay) agrees, for his mother died at Easter before Alan was born.William (?) de Sancto Albino, knight, agrees, for his brother gave himcertain land, which he has held for twenty-one years, and one yearpreviously Alan was born. William L''Estrange (Latinised as "Extraneus"),knight, agrees, for his (Alan''s ?) father made him a knight sixteen yearsago last Christmas, when Alan carried the sword before him, and was then6 years old, except between Christmas and St. Denis. Robert de Crues,knight, agrees, for he has a daughter of the same age. Henry la Zuche,clerk, agrees, for he is his uncle, and likewise knows it from him whowas at that time parson of the church of Hamme. Walter parson ofManecestre agrees, for the church of Karlingford in Ireland was given tohim nearly twenty-two years ago, and when the news came to him in DevonAlan''s mother lay in childbed. Robert parson of Pakinton agrees, for hewas instituted into his vicarage at the Purification last past nowtwenty-two years ago, and Alan was born at the feast of St. Denisfollowing. [4]

Alan was in Gascony with King Edward I of England in October 1288, whenhe was one of the hostages given by the king to Alfonso of Aragon for thefulfillment of certain agreements. He was in Scotland in the King''sservice in June 1291. In April 1294 he had a writ of protection from theKing when he travelled overseas with the King''s daughter, Eleanor of Bar.He served in Gascony in 1295 and 1296, and was present at the actionaround Bordeaux on 28 March 1296, when his standard bearer was capturedby the French. In 1297 he was summoned for service in Flanders, andattended Councils in Rochester and London in that year.

He was summoned for service against the Scots in 1297-1313. He fought inthe Vanguard at the Battle of Falkirk on 22 July 1298. King Edward''s armyat that battle consisted of 12,000 infantry, including 10,000 Welsh, and2,000 cavalry. William Wallace, the Scottish leader accepted battle in awithdrawn defensive position. Wallace had few cavalry and few archers;but his solid "schiltrons" (circles) of spearmen were almost invincible.The armoured cavalry of the English vanguard were hurled back with severelosses. Edward brought up his Welsh archers in the intervals between thehorsemen of the second line, concentrating their arrows on specificpoints in the Scottish schiltrons. It was into these gaps that theEnglish knights forced their way, and once the Scottish order was brokenthe spearmen were quickly massacred.

Alan was at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle in July 1300. His presenceis recorded in the contemporary "Caerlaverock Poem", being an early rollof arms:

Aleyn de la Souche tresor Signiioit ke fust brians
Sa rouge baniere a besans
Car bienscai ki a dependu Tresor plus ke en burce pendu

"Sa rouge baniere a bezants" (as re-stated in modern French) "his redbanner bezantée", is the description of the coat of arms he bore at thesiege.

He was summoned to Edward II''s coronation on 18 January 1307/08. InDecember of that year he had a protection to go on a pilgrimage toSantiago de Compostela. He was the Constable of Rockingham Castle and theKeeper of the forests between the bridges of Oxford and Stamford.

He married Eleanor de Segrave, daughter of Nicholas de Segrave, 1st BaronSegrave. They had the following daughters:
Elena, married Alan de Charlton
Maud, married Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand
Elizabeth, married John Ingham (1320-12 Dec. 1365), son of Oliver deIngham (1294–1344)
Facts
  • 9 OCT 1267 - Birth - ; North Molton
  • BEF 25 MAR 1314 - Death -
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MAlan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby
Birth9 OCT 1267North Molton
DeathBEF 25 MAR 1314