If you are interested in the Magna Carta surety barons, logically then, it is interesting to know who started the ball rolling, the "Northern Barons". (The term was really used at the time. It did not strictly always mean northern, and included barons from Lincolnshire.)
A list of barons in the lead-up to Magna Carta follows. It helps focus on the "Northern" barons who were building up towards rebellion already in 1214. Only as they moved south in 1215, and especially after they took control of London in May, did some of the important southern magnates add their name to their cause, including some who were "sureties" in Magna Carta.
This list appears in the chronicles Matthew Paris and the original was by Roger of Wendover, given by Vincent. It is effectively a list of the so-called "Northern Barons" who were behind the smaller group who are famous for being named in the Magna Carta itself. They met in Stamford, Lincolnshire in April 1215 in collaboration with Stephen archbishop of Canterbury. From there they moved a bit south to Brackley. The Magna Carta was signed in June, just west of London.
Commentary has been added based upon the analysis of Holt, who by the way points out that the list might be influenced by later documents, and not be perfectly accurate.[1]
Sources:
- J.C. Holt, (1961) The Northerners
- N. Vincent, "Dating the Outbreak of Civil War, April-May 1215 April 2015" link
- Mathew Paris, Chronica Majora, ed. H.R. Luard, Vol.2, pp.585-6 link
Note the 3 suspected errors.
- "O filius Alani" ("O" son of Alan) is probably a duplicate of John fitz Alan according to Vincent. (An Osbert fitz Alan also appears in a papal list of rebels to be excommunicated of 1216, but that list might have been a source for Wendover.)
- "H. comes de Clare"- Probably H(enry de Bohun) earl of Hereford, a surety baron.
- "G[alfridus] constabularius de Meutun" - A real person but a loyalist. Vincent thinks it was probably William d'Aubigny Lord (and constable) of Belvoir Castle. Joined in last month before Magna Carta.
These other sureties are more definitely not in the list:
- William de Forz count of Aumale† A northerner, but recently given his lands by John. Joined in last month before Magna Carta.
- Geoffrey de Say
- Hugh Bigod
- William de Hardell Mayor of London†
| Robertus filius Walteri | Robert fitz Walter | surety | Conspirator 1212. But in 1215 he was in the king's party until Stamford or even later. Not geographically a northerner. |
| Eustachius de Vesci | Eustace de Vescy † | surety | Northern. Conspirator 1212. Refused scutage in 1214 |
| Ricardus de Percy | Richard de Percy† | surety | Northern. Refused scutage in 1214 |
| Robertus de Ros | Robert de Ros | surety | Northern. Joined in last month before Magna Carta. |
| Petrus de Bruis | Peter de Brus | Northern. Refused scutage in 1214 | |
| Nicholaus de Stutevilla | Nicholas de Stuteville Stuteville-72 ? | Northern. Joined in last month before Magna Carta. | |
| Saerus comes Wintoniensis | Saher (de Quincy) earl of Winchester | surety | Southern Earl |
| R[icardus] comes de Clare | R(ichard) earl of Clare | surety | Southern Earl |
| H. comes de Clare | H. earl of Clare | Error? Vincent think H(enry de Bohun) earl of Hereford, surety baron | Southern Earl |
| R[ogerus] comes Bigodh | Roger Bigod earl (of Norfolk) | surety | Southern Earl |
| Willelmus de Munbrai | William de Mowbray | surety | Northern. Refused scutage in 1214 |
| Rogerus de Creissi | Roger de Cressy | Not geographically a northerner | |
| Ranulfus filius Roberti | Ranulph fitz Robert | ||
| Robertus de Ver | Robert de Vere | surety | |
| Fulco filius Warini | Fulk fitz Warin | ||
| Willelmus Mallet | William Malet | surety | |
| Willelmus de Moute-acuto | William de Montacute | ||
| W[illelmus] de Bello Campo | William de Beauchamp | ||
| S[imon] de Kime | S(imon) de Kyme | A wealthy northern/Lincolnshire knight | |
| W[illelmus] juvenis Marescallus | William Marshal the younger † | surety | |
| W[illelmus] Maudut | William Mauduit | ||
| R[ogerus] de Monte Begonis | Roger de Montbegon | surety | Northern. Refused scutage in 1214 |
| Johannes filius Roberti | John fitz Robert | late surety | Joined in last month before Magna Carta. |
| Johannes filius Alani | John fitz Alan | ||
| G[ilbertus] de Laval | G(ilbert) de Laval | Northumbrian | |
| O[sbertus] filius Alani | O. fitz Alan (sic) | Error? | |
| W. de Hobruge | W(illiam) of Howbridge | ||
| O[liverus] de Vallibus | O(liver) de Vaux | ||
| G[ilbertus] de Gant | G(ilbert) de Gant | "Northern" (Lincolnshire). Joined in last month before Magna Carta. | |
| Mauricius de Gant | Maurice de Gant | (Nephew of Gilbert) | |
| Robertus de Brackesle | R(ichard) of Brackley | ||
| R[icardus] de Muntfichet | R(ichard) de Montfichet† | surety | Southern Baron |
| W[illelmus] de Lanvalei | W(illiam) de Lanvallay | surety | |
| G[alfridus] de Mandeville comes Essexiae | G(eoffrey) de Mandeville earl of Essex † | surety | Barnwell writer says joined later, but joined by May |
| W[illelmus] frater ejus | William (de Mandeville) his brother † | ||
| W[illelmus] de Huntinfeld | William of Huntingfield | surety | |
| Robertus do Greslei | Robert de Gresley | Northern. Refused scutage in 1214 | |
| G[alfridus] constabularius de Meutun | G(?eoffrey) constable of Melton | Error? | Vincent believes he was too loyal to King John. For his family see Blomefield |
| Alexander de Pointun | Alexander of Pointon | ||
| P[etrus] filius Johannis | Peter fitz John | ||
| Alexander de Sutune | Alexander of Sutton | ||
| Osbertus do Bobi | Osbert of Boothby | ||
| Johannes constabularius Cestriae | John (de Lacy) constable of Chester | surety | Joined after 31 May |
| Thomas de Mulutune | Thomas of Moulton | A wealthy northern knight | |
| Conanus filius Helyte, | Not in Wendover | Conan fitz Ellis was a wealthy knight of Lincolnshire | |
| et multi alii | and many others |
According to Holt (p.31) as the rebellion reached its heights only a few barons in far the north were not in the rebel party:
- Hugh de Balliol
- Hugh de Bolebec
- William de Fors was "not fully committed"
- Robert de Vieuxpont
Footnotes
- ↑ Holt says (p.107) that (a) "it conflicts with the Barwell writer, who states that Robert fitz Walter and Geoffrey de Mandeville joined the rebel army after the muster at Stamford"; (b) it "reflects papal letters of excommunication and those of the executors of the papal mandate"; "the names of Robert de Vere, Fulk fitz Warin, William Malet, and William de Montagu appear in the same contiguous order in both Wendover's list and the papal letters of excommunication". Two letters with lists are found in Matthew Paris: [1], [2].