Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The medieval title (1065 creation) was associated with the ruling house of Scotland (David of Scotland).

The seventh and most recent creation dates to 1529. In this lineage, the current holder of the title is William Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon ().

In English folklore, the title has been associated with Robin Hood, whose true name is often given as "Robert of Huntingdon", though alternatively Robin is said to be from Locksley or Loxley.

Early history

Huntingdonshire was part of the Kingdom of East Anglia, inhabited by a group known as the Gyrwas from about the 6th century. It fell to the Danes in the 9th century, but was re-conquered under Edward the Elder in 915. An earldom of Huntingdon was established shortly after, and it was one of the seven earldoms of Saxon England during the reign of king Edward the Confessor.

It was created for Beorn Estrithson, cousin to Harold Godwinson (later King Harold).

The earldom at that time carried extensive powers and covered a wide area of the East Midlands, covering the counties of Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire as well as Huntingdonshire.

First creation (1065)

In 1065 the earldom passed to Waltheof, son of Siward, Earl of Northumbria. Waltheof kept his title following the Conquest in 1066, and even after his rebellion in 1067, and married Judith, King William's niece. However, after the second rebellion in 1076, he was executed and the earldom was reduced in size and power.

The earldom was inherited by Waltheof's daughter Maud, countess of Huntingdon, and passed to her husbands in turn, first Simon de Senlis and then David King of Scotland.

Following her death, and during the reigns of Matilda and Stephen and the anarchy that ensued, the earldom was the subject of dispute between Maud's sons Simon II and Henry of Scotland, and was held by both at various times. In the reign of Henry II, following the death of Simon II, it was settled on the Scottish house, and the sons of Prince Henry: first Malcolm, then William, then David. With the death of David's childless son John in 1237, the title was not passed on and became extinct.

  • Waltheof ()
  • Judith of Lens, Countess of Huntingdon ( – after 1086)
  • Maud, Countess of Huntingdon (–1130/31)
  • m. Simon I de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton (died )
  • m. David I of Scotland (–1153)
  • Henry, Earl of Northumbria (1114–1152)
  • Simon II de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton (4th Earl) (–1153)
  • Malcolm IV of Scotland (1141–1165)
  • William I of Scotland (–1214)
  • Simon III de Senlis (succeeded in 1174, upon the forfeiture by William who had succeeded as king of Scotland.)
  • David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon (8th Earl) (1152–1219)
  • John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon (9th Earl) (1207–1237)

Second creation (1337)

  • William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon (1304–1354)

Third creation (1377)

  • Guichard d'Angle, Earl of Huntingdon () (Life Peerage)

Fourth creation (1388)

  • John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter, 1st Earl of Huntingdon (–1400) (forfeit 1400)
  • John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon (1395–1447) (restored 1416)
  • Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon (1430–1475) (forfeit 1461)

Fifth creation (1471)

  • see Marquess of Dorset, third creation (1475)

Sixth creation (1479)

  • William Herbert (1451–1491) (created Earl in compensation for surrendering the Earldom of Pembroke to Edward IV).

Seventh creation (1529)

thumb|right|200px|Arms of the Hastings family, Earls of Huntingdon as recorded in the [[Gelre Armorial: Argent, a maunch sable]]

right|thumb|Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon

The title was re-created for George Hastings,

  • 35px Hans Hastings, 12th Earl of Huntingdon (1779–1828)
  • 35px Francis Hastings, 13th Earl of Huntingdon (1808–1875)
  • 35px Francis Hastings, 14th Earl of Huntingdon (1841–1885)
  • 35px Warner Hastings, 15th Earl of Huntingdon (1868–1939)
  • 35px Francis Hastings, 16th Earl of Huntingdon (1901–1990)
  • Hon. Aubrey Craven Theophilus Robin Hood Hastings (1878–1929)
  • Peter Robin Hood Hastings-Bass (1920–1964)
  • 35px William Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon (b. 1948)
  • (1). Hon. John Peter Robin Hood Hastings-Bass (b. 1954)
  • Hon. George Fowler Hastings (1814–1876)
  • Hans Francis Hastings (1865–1933)
  • George Godolphin Hastings (1905–1981)
  • Warren Francis Hastings (1938–2005)
  • (2). Adam Francis Hastings (b. 1977)
  • Rev. Hon. Richard Godolphin Henry Hastings (1820–1865)
  • Henry John Churchill Hastings (1856–1924)
  • Henry Theophilus James Hastings (1910–1977)
  • (3). David Walter Theophilus Hastings (b. 1947)
  • (4). Ian David Hastings (b. 1975)

Family tree of the earls of Huntingdon (seventh creation)

See also

  • Baron Hastings
  • Baron Hungerford
  • Baron Botreaux
  • Baron de Moleyns
  • Hastings baronets
  • Abney-Hastings baronets
  • Britain's Real Monarch – argues that 3rd–10th Earls should have been the monarchs of England
  • Countess of Huntingdon
  • Maud, Countess of Huntingdon
  • Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon

Arms

In English folklore, the title has been associated with Robin Hood, whose true name is often given as "Robert of Huntingdon", though alternatively Robin is said to be from Locksley or Loxley. It was used in the 1980s ITV TV series Robin of Sherwood starring Jason Connery as Robert, who succeeds Robin of Loxley (Michael Praed) in the role of Robin Hood.

References

Work cited

Further reading

  • Britannia