Henry Percy, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick (1322-1368)

Arms of Henry Percy, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick

HENRY PERCY, 3RD BARON PERCY OF ALNWICK (1322-1368), son of Henry Percy, 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick, and Idonea (or Idoine) de Clifford, daughter of Robert, Lord Clifford, (d. 1314), was born in 1322. In 1334, he was contracted to marry Mary Plantagenet, daughter of Henry, Earl of Lancaster.

From a young child, Henry Percy had followed his father on his campaigns, first as a page, then squire, and eventually lieutenant and captain.¹ Both the Lanercost Chronicle and the Alnwick Chronicle describe him as small of stature, but also a skillful captain² and "loyal, brave, and kindly-hearted."³ During the French campaigns of Edward III, Percy took part in the battle of Sluys (June, 1340), and the sieges of Tournai (July, 1340) and Nantes (1342).⁴ Percy led a Northumbrian force to assist Edward in the Battle of Crécy (26 Aug. 1346),⁵ after which he followed Edward to the Siege of Calais.⁶ Soon, word reached him that the Scots were preparing to invade, and Percy hastened back to England, where he joined his father near Durham.⁷ They were victorious at the Battle of Neville's Cross (17 Oct. 1346), not least for the bravery of young Harry Percy.⁸

In November, 1349, he accompanied the Earl of Lancaster and Lord Stafford to Gascony, to strengthen the province against the attacks of John of France.⁹ On his father's death in February, 1352, Percy succeeded him as Baron Percy of Alnwick, and inherited his father's considerable lands and his position as warden of the Scottish Marches. He also inherited his fathers role in negotiating with the Scots. It was Percy, who negotiated the terms under which King David was to be delivered out of captivity in England, back to Scotland,¹⁰ and Percy who signed the treaty in 1354.¹¹

The peace was not long-lasting. In 1355, the Scots made a surprise attack on Berwick, capturing it and killing most of its garrison.¹² The following year, Lord Percy was tasked with the retaking of Berwick and, afterwards, with the improving of its fortifications.¹³ In 1355, he also took part in Edward III's expedition to France.¹⁴ His son Henry, though young, was forging his own career at this time, under the command of the Black Prince. During the next few years, Lord Percy served repeatedly as warden of the Scottish Marches, as negotiator with the Scots, and as ambassador in France. In 1359 he was again with Edward in France; at the siege of Rheims, and at Paris.¹⁵

Lord Percy's wife, Mary, died in 1362. Two years later, he married Joan, daughter and heiress of John de Orby of Lincolnshire.¹⁶ They lost their first child, after whom they had a daughter, Mary, (1367-1395),¹⁷ who married John, Lord Ros of Hamlake. Lord Percy died on 17 June 1368. He left behind vast possessions and a reputation as a man, who was "ever of honest behaviour and good reputation, favouring the virtuous, pleasuring many and hurting none."¹⁸ He was succeeded as fourth Baron Percy of Alnwick by his son Henry Percy, afterwards Earl of Northumberland. His second son, Thomas Percy, was created Earl of Worcester by King Richard II in 1397.

1. Brenan, A History of the House of Percy, p. 24.
2. Lanercost Chronicle, p. 350.
3. Alnwick Chronicle.
4. Burke's Peerage, Charles Mosley, ed. 107th ed., 2003. 5. Rotuli Franciæ, 20 Edw. III.
6. De Fonblanque, Annals of the House of Percy, p. 92.
7. ibid.
8. cf. both Lanercost Chronicle and Alnwick Chronicle.
9. Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. XXIX, 1892, p. 839.
10. De Fonblanque, p. 93.
11. cf. Rymer's Fœdera, v. pp. 761, 787, 801.
12. De Fonblanque, p. 93.
13. ibid.
14. Dict. Nat. Biog., u.s.
15. Holinshed.
16. De Fonblanque, p. 94.
17. Burke.
18. Sir John Norris, quoted in De Fonblanque, p. 94.

      Citation:

      Jokinen, Anniina. Luminarium.
      28 March 2023. [Date you accessed the page].
      <https://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/percyalnwick3.htm>

Other Local Resources:

Books for further study: Brenan, Gerald. A History of the House of Percy.
            Fremantle & Co., 1902.

Collins, Arthur. An History of the Ancient and Illustrious Family of the Percys.
           Gale ECCO, 2010. (Reprint from 1750)

De Fonblanque, E. Barrington. Annals of the House of Percy.
           London: Richard Clay & Sons, 1887.

Lomas, Richard. A Power in the Land: The Percys.
           East Linton: Tuckwell Press, Ltd., 1999.

Rose, Alexander. Kings in the North: The House of Percy in British History.
            Phoenix Press, 2003.

Henry Percy, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick, on the Web:

Genealogy - ThePeerage.com

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