John Devereux of Bodenham and Decies was an Anglo-Norman nobleman living during the reigns of King John and Henry III of England. The Devereux were a prominent knightly family along the Welsh MarchesBrock W. Holden. Lords of the Central Marches. (Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2008). page 92 during the thirteenth century, and John Devereux was a key member of the retinue of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, and companion of Walter III de Clifford, Baron of Clifford.
Ancestry
John Devereux was born about 1193, the son of Walter DevereuxGabriel O'C Redmond. "An Account of the Anglo-Norman Family of Devereux, of Balmagir, County Wexford." (Dublin: Office of "The Irish Builder," 1891). Pages 1 to 6Morgan G. Watkins. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford in continuation of Duncumb's History, Hundred of Radlow. (High Town [Hereford]: Jakeman & Carver, 1902). Page 42 to 49. Parish of Castle Frome, Genealogy contributed by Lord Hereford and Cecilia de Longchamp. His father was a member of the retinue of William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber, and upon Walter's death about 1197 his estates were taken into de Braose's hands for the king.Thomas Duffus Hardy (editor). Rotuli Normanniae in turri Londinensi Asservati, Johanne et Henrico Quinto, Angliae Regibus, Volume 1 1200-1205. London. 1835. Page 86 Walter Devereux's sons were fostered for training as knights: John Devereux with William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber; Stephen Devereux, with William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke; and Nicholas Devereux, with Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath.The Deputy Keeper of Records. "Liber Feodorum. The Book of Fees Commonly Called Testa de Nevill, Reformed From the Earliest Mss; Part 1, AD 1198 – 1242." (London: Published by his Majesty's Stationery Office, 1920). Pages 631-2W. Holden Brook. "Lords of the Central Marches: English Aristocracy and Frontier Society, 1087-1265." (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008). Pages 101, 113, Calendar of Patent Rolls, Volume 5, page 53. 1340, 14 November, Reading, membrane 24 & 25Nicholas Devereux would eventually become the Steward of Meath for Walter de Lacy, and inherit the Devereux manors of Cheynestone (Hereford) and East Leach (Gloucester). The three brothers would sire the three Devereux families that would play an integral role in controlling the Welsh Marches during the thirteenth century.
Career
John Devereux joined the retinue of William de Braose about 1200 as de Braose expanded his holdings in Wales, and reclaimed his family's rights in Limerick, Ireland. On 2 April 1203, King John ordered 'William de Patell' (William de Preaux) to grant the lands in France held in the King's hands (and possession of Lodovic Luvet de Fontenum) to Cecilia Devereux as guardian of the heir, John.Thomas Duffus Hardy (editor). Rotuli Normanniae in turri Londinensi Asservati, Johanne et Henrico Quinto, Angliae Regibus, Volume 1, 1200-1205. (London: 1835). Page 86 Cecilia was identified as the daughter(-in-law) of John, Lord Devereux, who was the grandfather of the said heir, John. The grant was witnessed by William de Braose.
During the summer of 1208, King John used de Braose's escalating debt and refusal to provide a hostage, to seize his lands and order the arrest of his family.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 312 In early 1209, William de Braose fled to Ireland, and King John pursued him. Braose's supporters, such as John Devereux and anyone else providing him aid including William Marshal, the earl of Pembroke,Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 313 were the subjects of royal disfavor.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 315 At this time, the guardianship and training as a knight of John Devereux was assumed by William Marshal, and this led to John joining his brother, Stephen Devereux, in the service of the earl of Pembroke.
In the summer of 1211, a Welsh rebellion forced King John to redirect his attention to its suppression. His forces were further strained by the discovery of a plot to usurp the throne. William Marshal seized this opportunity to regain favor with a show of support,Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 320 and King John restored Marshal's men and lands in Wales to counter the rebellion. In April 1213, Marshal gathered his forces, probably including both Devereux brothers, to bolster King John's forces in Kent to counter a possible French invasion.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 323 In 1214, the King's expedition to Poitou failed, and in autumn unrest swept England.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 326 William Marshal became key to the negotiations for Magna Carta,Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 327 and John Devereux was probably with him on 15 June 1215 when Marshal stood with King John at Runnymede.
After the Pope declared Magna Carta void, the First Barons' War broke out. In autumn, John Devereux is probably with William Marshal defending the marches from Welsh incursions. Over the next year, England fell into civil war, including a French invasion and occupation of London.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 336-7 When King John died on 18 October 1216, John Devereux was probably among Marshal's forces that secured Henry III and crowned him king.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Pages 344 to 345 As the opposing forces maneuvered, Devereux remained with William Marshal as he brought his forces to crush the baronial faction on 20 May 1217 at the Battle of Lincoln.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 361
As reward for his faithful service, John Devereux was knighted about 1218, and granted approximately 4800 acres of land. The lands were enfeoffed for 2 knights' fees to MarshalIn 1247 a list of those holding knights fees in the barony of Galmoy (Kilkenny) still included John de Ebroicis holding 2 knights' fees, partly in Acheteyr (Achad Togarta, including Aharney). In 1317 a list of those holding fees showed this area now being held by Stephen de Oxon (or de Exeter). through his loyal retainer, Thomas fitzAnthony. Devereux received lands in the Decies (Kilkenny, Ireland) along the river Nore encompassing Donoughmore. These included the ancient parish of Achteyr (alias Aharney), and was part of the barony of Fertagh. The grant ran from Lazhargalvan up to Mezhan, and as the water of Avenmore runs to Dufglas, and along the water of Dufglas to the nearest ford of Leichemaelergin; and as those said lands extend in Slefto to Sleftrun, that is to say Anach and Seunach, Killorzhie, Adentein, Crumachtan, Sheskin, Balinoe, Razhinakennardy, Baliachan, Affane, Ballymalaly, Balimithyan, Balykennedy, Ballydonan, Cappagh, Ross, Caselan, Kilcounan, Moy, Thelghy, Tholach, Henan, and Kulman. Further grants included Galles, Ballybrenning, Ardoe and Lislaan, Culbethach and the fourth part of Balymachethy on the east and south.Calendar of the Charter Rolls, Volume I, Henry III, 1226 to 1257. (London: Mackie and Co., 1908) These lands were held for an annual rent of 31 marks (20 pounds) to the king, and were quit of the maintenance of archers therein.
William Marshal died on 14 May 1219, and John Devereux joined the retinue of William fitzWilliam Marshal, 2nd earl of Pembroke. Following William Marshal's death, his retainer fitzAnthony's influence waned in Ireland in favor of the rising power of Hubert de Burgh and Richard de Burgh.
About 1223, John Devereux witnessed the charter of his brother, Stephen Devereux, who made extensive grants to Wormsley Priory (Old Church of Saint Leonard).Roger Dodsworth. Monasticon Anglicanum by William Dugsdale. (London: 1673). Vol. 3, Additions to Volume 2, Stephen Devereux Charters for Lyonshall, page 49, 53 This deed also confirmed the grants of their father, Walter Devereux; made mention of their mother, the widow Cecilia; and was acknowledged by Gilbert de Lacy.Gilbert de Lacy was the son of Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath
In 1223, the 2nd earl of Pembroke crossed over to Wales to campaign against Llywelyn the Great, and Devereux probably came with him. In his absence, the Justiciar of Ireland was ordered to take fitzAnthony's lands as he was accused of detaining some of the King's escheats. During 1224, Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster attacked the lands held by the 2nd earl of Pembroke, and other royal demesne lands. The earl of Pembroke returned to Ireland and subdued de Lacy.Beresford, David. Dictionary of Irish Biography (online). Retrieved 11/18/25. Hugh de Lacy
In 1225, John Devereux recovered his lands by payment of 250 marks to the King. About 1225, Devereux witnessed the granting of a license by Walter Clifford for 1 mark to the monks of Salop for the grazing of their goats in the woodland of Lawton.Robert William Eyton. Antiquities of Shropshire. (London: JR Smith, 1857). Page 202 Richard de Burgh regained the position of Justiciar in 1226, and by December Devereux's lands were again placed in his custody probably for being among those said to be holding their castles 'against the king' in August 1226. Henry III assumed full regal powers in January 1227, and by April Thomas fitzAnthony had died. FitzAnthony's lands were taken into the King's hands in August, and these included those enfeoffed by John Devereux. Henry III attained legal majority in October 1228, and the 2nd earl of Pembroke regained royal favor. In early 1229, John Devereux was instructed to pay a fine of £10 to the king to have a charter granting his holdings in the Decies, which he had previously held of Thomas fitzAnthony as a tenant-in-chief of the king. On 25 March 1229, the King confirmed the:
Gift to John de Ebroicis, and his heirs, of lands in Dessyo, … all which lands the said John previously held of the gift of Thomas son of Anthony; to hold, with all appurtenances, rendering 31 marks to the king yearly; grant also to the same of free warren in the said lands, and that he and his heirs be quit of the maintenance of archers thereinPaul Drybaugh and Beth Hartland (editors). Calendar of Fine Rolls of the Reign of Henry III, Volume II, 1224-1234. (Boydell Press, 2008). 13 Henry III, 164, membrane 9
William fitzWilliam Marshal, 2nd earl of Pembroke witnessed this charter. On 2 April 1229, Richard de Burgh, justiciary of Ireland, acknowledged receipt of the 10 pounds at the Dublin Exchequer.
Devereux witnessed two grants of Walter de Lacy.Colin Veach. Lordship in Four Realms; The Lacy Family, 1166-1241. (New York: Manchester University Press/Manchester Medieval Studies, 2014). Appendix 2, Table 5 In 1230, Sir John Devereux witnessed the grant by Walter Clifford, son of Walter Clifford and Agnes Cundy, to Katherine, daughter of Walter de Lacy, of Burley held as part of the manor of Corfham.Robert William Eyton. Antiquities of Shropshire. (London: JR Smith, 1857). Page 204-205 That same year the 2nd earl of Pembroke accompanied King Henry III on an expedition to Brittany, and John Devereux was probably in his retinue. On 6 April 1231, the 2nd earl died, and was succeeded by Richard Marshal as 3rd earl of Pembroke who became leader of the baronial party antagonistic to Henry III's foreign friends.