Earl of Bedford is a title that has been created three times in the

Peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in t ...

and is currently a subsidiary title of the

Dukes of Bedford Duke of Bedford (named after Bedford, England) is a title that has been created six times (for five distinct people) in the Peerage of England. The first and second creations came in 1414 and 1433 respectively, in favour of Henry IV of England, ...

. The first creation came in 1138 in favour of Hugh de Beaumont. He appears to have been degraded from the title three or four years after its creation. The existence of his title altogether has been doubted. It is discussed by

R. H. C. Davis Ralph Henry Carless Davis (7 October 1918 – 12 March 1991) was a British historian and educator specialising in the European Middle Ages. Davis was born and died in Oxford. He was a leading exponent of strict documentary analysis and interpre ...

on the basis of the chronicle evidence. However, it now appears to be accepted by historians that Hugh did receive the earldom of Bedford in 1138. The second creation came in 1366 in favour of the French nobleman

Enguerrand VII, Lord of Coucy Enguerrand VII de Coucy, (1340 – 18 February 1397), also known as Ingelram de Coucy and Ingelram de Couci, was a medieval French nobleman and the last Lord of Coucy. He became a son-in-law of King Edward III of England following his marria ...

. After Richard II came to the throne in 1377, Bedford resigned the title to the Crown. The third creation came in 1550 in favour of John Russell, 1st Baron Russell. For more information on this creation, see

Duke of Bedford Duke of Bedford (named after Bedford, England) is a title that has been created six times (for five distinct people) in the Peerage of England. The first and second creations came in 1414 and 1433 respectively, in favour of Henry IV's third so ...

(1694 creation).

Earls of Bedford, first creation (1138)

Hugh de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Bedford Hugh de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Bedford (born 1106) was Earl of Bedford from 1137 to 1141. The grant of the earldom was by Stephen of England; this was the first of his numerous creations. Hugh was known as Hugh the Pauper or Hugh the Poor. The exis ...

(born 1106)

Earls of Bedford, second creation (1366)

* Enguerrand VII, Lord of Coucy, 1st Earl of Bedford (1340–1397) (resigned in 1377)

Earls of Bedford, third creation (1551)

*see

(1694 creation)

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford Earldoms in the Peerage of England Noble titles created in 1138 Noble titles created in 1366 Noble titles created in 1551

Earls of Bedford, first creation (1138)

Earls of Bedford, second creation (1366)

Earls of Bedford, third creation (1551)

See also

References