Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers of Chartley
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Walter Devereux, jure uxoris
7th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (c. 1431 – 22 August 1485) was a minor member of the English peerage and a loyal supporter of the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses
. He was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field
, fighting for Richard III
.
, Herefordshire
. His parents were Walter Devereux, Lord Chancellor of Ireland
from 1449 to about 1451 and his wife Elizabeth Merbury.
His mother was the daughter and heiress of Sir John Merbury, Chief Justice
of South Wales
.
in right of his wife in 1462. They had at least five children:
As a Yorkist, he held many offices under Edward IV. In 1461 and 1469, Walter was commissioner of array for Herefordshire
, Shropshire
and Gloucestershire
, as well as Worcestershire
in 1469. He also served in 1470 and 1471, as joint commissioner of array for Herefordshire
, and then again in 1474 for Herefordshire
and Shropshire
.
Walter's military career was also thorough. He fought at Towton
in 1461, where he was made a Knight of the Garter. He also fought at Barnet
and Tewkesbury
.
during his reign, and fought on his side at the Battle of Bosworth Field
(22 August 1485). There, Lord Ferrers commanded in the vanguard under John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, alongside Sir Robert Brackenbury and Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. Devereux was slain during the initial fight with the opposing van under John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
, fighting next to the young John, Lord Zouche. An in-law, Sir John Ferrers, was also killed at Bosworth.
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
7th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (c. 1431 – 22 August 1485) was a minor member of the English peerage and a loyal supporter of the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
. He was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
, fighting for Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
.
Family
Walter was born in WeobleyWeobley
Weobley is a black and white village in Herefordshire, England.The name possibly derives from 'Wibba's Ley', a ley being a woodland glade and Wibba being a local Saxon landowner...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. His parents were Walter Devereux, Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
from 1449 to about 1451 and his wife Elizabeth Merbury.
His mother was the daughter and heiress of Sir John Merbury, Chief Justice
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
Marriage
At the age of only thirteen, Walter married Anne Ferrers, 7th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley - who predeceased him by seventeen years - and became Baron Ferrers of ChartleyBaron Ferrers of Chartley
The title Baron Ferrers of Chartley was created on February 6, 1299 for John de Ferrers, son of Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby. The daughter of the 6th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Anne, married Walter Devereux who was summoned to parliament as Lord Ferrers in her right. Their descendants...
in right of his wife in 1462. They had at least five children:
- John Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of ChartleyJohn Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of ChartleyJohn Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of Chartley was an English peer.-Family:He was the eldest son and heir of Anne Ferrers, 7th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by her husband and consort Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers of Chartley....
(1463 - 3 May 1501). - Elizabeth Devereux. Married first Sir Richard Corbet of Morton Corbet and secondly Sir Thomas Leighton of Watlesborough.
- Isabel "Sybil" Devereux. Married Sir James Baskerville.
- Sir Richard Devereux.
- Sir Thomas Devereux.
Career
He was knight of the shire for Herefordshire in 1450.As a Yorkist, he held many offices under Edward IV. In 1461 and 1469, Walter was commissioner of array for Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
and Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, as well as Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
in 1469. He also served in 1470 and 1471, as joint commissioner of array for Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, and then again in 1474 for Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
Walter's military career was also thorough. He fought at Towton
Battle of Towton
In 1461, England was in the sixth year of the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster over the English throne. The Lancastrians backed the reigning King of England, Henry VI, an indecisive man who suffered bouts of madness...
in 1461, where he was made a Knight of the Garter. He also fought at Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
and Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
.
Death
Walter Devereux supported Richard III of EnglandRichard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
during his reign, and fought on his side at the Battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
(22 August 1485). There, Lord Ferrers commanded in the vanguard under John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, alongside Sir Robert Brackenbury and Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. Devereux was slain during the initial fight with the opposing van under John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford , the second son of John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford, and Elizabeth Howard, was one of the principal Lancastrian commanders during the English Wars of the Roses...
, fighting next to the young John, Lord Zouche. An in-law, Sir John Ferrers, was also killed at Bosworth.