Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness Dacre (c. 1433 – 8 March 1485/86) was a ''

suo jure ''Suo jure'' is a Latin phrase, used in English to mean 'in his own right' or 'in her own right'. In most nobility-related contexts, it means 'in her own right', since in those situations the phrase is normally used of women; in practice, especi ...

'' peeress of England. She was born in

Gilsland Gilsland is a village in northern England about west of Hexham, and about east of Carlisle, which straddles the border between Cumbria and Northumberland. The village provides an amenity centre for visitors touring Hadrian's Wall and other f ...

, the daughter of Sir Thomas Dacre (1410–1448) and Elizabeth Bowett.

Marriage

Joan Dacre married Sir Richard Fiennes in June 1446. She succeeded her grandfather,

Thomas Dacre, 6th Baron Dacre Thomas Dacre, 6th Baron Dacre of Gilsland (27 October 1387 – 5 January 1458) was a medieval English nobleman. Biography Thomas was the son and heir of William Dacre, 5th Baron Dacre of Gilsland (c. 1357–1399), and Joan Douglas, the illeg ...

, to the Barony of Dacre ''suo jure'' on 5 January 1457/58. Her husband, Sir Richard, was titled Baron Dacre, by right of his wife, and awarded the Dacre manors as the result of the

attainder In English criminal law, attainder was the metaphorical "stain" or "corruption of blood" which arose from being condemned for a serious capital crime (felony or treason). It entailed losing not only one's life, property and hereditary titles, but ...

of her uncles following the

Battle of Towton The Battle of Towton took place on 29 March 1461 during the Wars of the Roses, near Towton in North Yorkshire, and "has the dubious distinction of being probably the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil". Fought for ten hours between a ...

. Later, a dispute arose between Sir Richard and Humphrey Dacre, Joan's uncle, regarding the barony.

King Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

decided the matter in 1473, by confirming the Barony of Dacre to Sir Richard Fiennes and Joan, while the manor of

was adjudged to Humphrey, who had previously been liberated of the attainder. He was at the same time created Baron Dacre of Gilsland, with right of precedency next after Sir Richard Fiennes, ''jure uxoris'' 7th Baron Dacre. Children of Joan Dacre and Sir Richard Fiennes: * Sir John Fiennes, married Alice FitzHugh, by whom he had issue Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre, and Anne, the wife of

William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley (1426 – 14 February 1492) was an English Peerage, peer, given the epithet "The Waste-All" by the family biographer and steward John Smyth of North Nibley, Nibley. He was buried at "St. Augustine's ...

. * Elizabeth Fiennes, married

John Clinton, 6th Baron Clinton Sir John Clinton, 6th Baron Clinton (c. 1429 – 29 February 1488), of Maxstoke, was an English peer.Dates given in the Julian calendar, with the start of year adjusted to 1 January (see Old Style and New Style dates) He was the son of John de ...

Death

Joan died at

Herstmonceux Castle Herstmonceux Castle is a brick-built castle, dating from the 15th century, near Herstmonceux, East Sussex, England. It is one of the oldest significant brick buildings still standing in England. The castle was renowned for being one of the fi ...

Sussex, England Sussex ( /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom and, later, a county. It includes the ceremonial counties of East Sussex and We ...

on 8 March 1485/86, and was succeeded by her grandson, Sir Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre.

Notes

References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dacre, Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness 1430s births Date of birth unknown 1480s deaths Joan 15th-century English women 15th-century English nobility Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness Dacre English baronesses Wives of knights 7