List of nobles and magnates of England in the 13th century

During the 13th century England was partially ruled by Archbishops, Bishops, Earls (Counts), Barons, marcher Lords, and knights.

Although the kings maintained control of huge tracts of lands through judges, constables, castles, and sheriffs, the nobles of England were still powerful.

It also includes nobles who were vassals of the king but were not based in England (Welsh, Irish, French).

Additionally nobles of lesser rank who appear to have been prominent in England at the time.

The word Archbishop originates as an additional honor for powerful bishops who held sway over several dioceses.

[1] Archbishops were usually associated with an important city holding land and influence within the city[2] Note: Several Archbishops are not listed because they were either not consecrated, set aside within 3 years, did not rule for more than a year, or were quashed by the pope/the king.

Earls (referred to as Comitis in records) were powerful lords holding their lands per baronium[3].

Technically they were the kings highest representative in their given shires (outranking even the sheriff who were referred to as vicecomitem[4] (Vice-Counts)), for example the Earl of Devon would be the highest administrator of Devonshire, however he was not the overlord of the barons in Devonshire (though he could be for certain manors but the baron could just as well be the overlord of a different manor which the earl possessed).

The lords spiritual were bishops, abbots, and other leading clergymen who functioned similarly to feudal barons holding their land per baronium.

Many of these manors were held by knights who provided military service to their lord.

Marcher-lords enjoyed a greater degree of independence, holding almost all feudal rights to build castles, have sheriffs, declare war, establish boroughs, establish markets, confiscate lands, legislative power and hold mini parliament.

[7][8] However, they could not mint coins nor could they judge someone guilty of high treason, and if they died without heirs, their land would revert to the crown.

Marcher lordships seem to have functioned in a similar way to that of a state in the Holy Roman Empire, enjoying extensive freedom but still subject to the crown.

[9] Barons who attended the Curia Regis of 1237 were undoubtedly equal in rank to the ones later summoned to the parliaments of 1246 and beyond.

Boroughbridge Manor These were royal servants who were deemed to have held the status of baron even if they did not hold any land.

[16] They had almost complete rights over their domain and ruled like kings: they had their own court with their own barons, and their own justices.

De Facto Under the Justiciar of Ireland: These lords were the descendants of Norman adventurers who had come over to Ireland following Richard FitzGodbert de Roche, Strong-bow, and others who had originally come as mercenaries for an Irish prince.

These Norman adventurers had continued their predecessors conquest by making alliances, truces, pushing wars, etc.

Although briefly almost independent of England, royal authority was soon established in Ireland.

Under the Barons of Fingal (lordship of Meath Ireland): Hugh de Lacey was granted the lordship of Meath shortly after the invasion of Ireland.

Hugh invited this king to parley but it went poorly and it ended in the Irish being slaughtered.

Because of nature of the lordship Hugh had the authority to appoint his own barons and had similar powers to a marcher lord[18] Under the earls of Pembroke: These are companions of the Kings of England during the 13th century.

The kings kept household knights and a variety of skilled noblemen including administrators, scribes, and judges in his court in order to do his bidding in administrative, military and judicial matters.

[19] In many cases noblemen would serve in more than one office depending on their favor with the king at the time.

Household Knight 2.Royal Chamberlain 3.Sheriff of Wiltshire (1207–1210) 4.Sheriff of Yorkshire (1216–1223) 5.Seneschal of Gascony (1214, 1218–1219) 6.Diplomat 7.

Lord of Chewton Mendip, South Petherton, Bampton, Waltham, & Ingleby 3.Tutor of Henry III 4.Royal Commander 5.

Sheriff of Oxfordshire & Berkshire (1233) 5.Lord of Benson in Oxfordshire 6.Keeper of Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany 2.Collector of Import/Export taxes (1202–1204 3.Sheriff of Lancashire (1215) 4.Constable of Rochester Castle (1215) 5.Keeper of the kings ports and galleys (1216) 6.

Household Knight of Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent 3.

Intermittently High Sheriffs of Hertfordshire & Essex (1221–1223), Lincolnshire (1222–1224), Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire (1228–1234), Warwickshire (1229–1234), Leicestershire (1229–1234), & Northamptonshire (1229–1234) 5.

Itinerant Justice Under Edward I: 2.Lord of Powick, Beaumont's court, and Note: Since these nobles generally did not hold a title the dates which they are marked by is when they lived, not when the reigned.