# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bohun, Humphrey V de

​BOHUN, HUMPHREY V de, second Earl of Hereford and first Earl of Essex (d. 1274), constable of England, succeeded his father Henry, first earl [q. v.], in 1220, and at some date after the death of William de Mandeville, his mother's brother, which took place in 1227, he was created earl of Essex. In the last-named year he joined Richard of Cornwall at Stamford, to support him in his quarrel with the king. He served the office of marshal of the household at the coronation of Queen Eleanor in 1286, and at the christening of Prince Edward in 1289 he was one of the sponsors. He was sheriff of Kent in 1289 and the two following years. He took part in Henry's French expedition of 1242, but is said to have retired with other nobles in disgust at the kind's partiality to the aliens. In 1244 he aided in the repression of a Welsh rising on the marches; but in the same year he was defeated by them in a second out break, one of the chief causes of insurrection being, it was declared, his retention of part of the inheritance of his sister-in-law Isabel, wife of David, son of Llewellyn, prince of Wales. In 1246 he joined in the letter of remonstrance from the English peers to Pope Innocent IV. He was present in the parliament of 1248, and two years later he took the cross and went to the Holy Land. Humphrey de Bohun appears as one of those who spoke in defence of Simon de Montfort in 1252, and next year he was present at the renewal of the charters and the solemn excommunication of their transgressors. In 1254 he was with the king in Gascony, but received offence from slights put upon him when performing his duties as constable. In 1257 he had the custody of part of the marches of Wales, and was employed in the Welsh war which then broke out.
When the barons formed the confederation for redress of grievances in 1268, the Earl of Hereford was of their number, and had a share in the settlement of the government under the Provisions of Oxford, being one of the original commissioners, and subsequently one of the council of fifteen. In 1260 he appears as a justice itinerant for the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford. In the divisions which soon split up the barons' confederation Humphrey de Bohun separated himself from Simon de Montfort's party, and is found in 1263 supporting the king, while his son Humphrey VI is ranged on the opposite side. In the battle of Lewes, 14 May 1264, he was taken prisoner. In the narrative of events of the ensuing year the movements of Humphrey de Bohun have been evidently confused with those of his son. It is stated that at the battle of Evesham, 4 Aug. 1266, he fought ​on the side of Simon de Montfort, and was taken prisoner. But this account applies only to the younger Humphrey, for immediately after that victory Hereford stood high in the king's favour, and was employed as one of the arbitrators to bring to reason the remnant of de Montfort's party by the dictum of Kenilworth. Humphrey de Bohun died 24 Sept. 1274, and was buried at Lanthony, Gloucestershire. He married twice: first, Maud, daughter of the Comte d'Eu, by whom he had his son Humphrey VI, who died before him, and four daughters; and secondly, Maud de Avenebury, by whom he had a son John, lord of Haresfield.
[Chronicles of Gerv. of Canterbury, Matt. Paris, WUl. Rishanger; Dogdale's Baronage, i. 180; Foss's Judges, ii. 245 ; Stubbs's Const. Hist.]
E. M. T.