Humphrey II "the Great" Bohun seigneur de Bohon

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ¹⁷⁶
The sources for this branch of the Bohons, earls of Hereford, Essex, and Northampton, are all English. The name Bohon was changed to Boun, Boon, Bowne, etc. It was later considered to signify master or boss. Humfridus, Onfroi, and Honfroy are translated as Humphrey.

The frequent repetition of the first name Humphrey causes a lot of confusion. The English begin their line with the first Humphrey born in Great Britain, who is our Humphrey II.

Humphrey II, known as Humphrey the Magnificent or Humphrey the Great, benefitted from the favor of King William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror). His signature is on a number of papers of Henry I. Thus we can follow him around England (1103-1109), then in Normandy at Avranches (1113) and Rouen (1119), then in England (1121), back to Rouen (1125), and back to England (1128).

Humphrey II gave the church of Bishop Street in Salisbury (Wiltshire) to the Lewes Abbey (next to Newhaven) and the church of Cheleworth to the St. Dennis priory (Southampton). He was a witness at the founding of Savigney Abbey by Ralph de Fougeres.

Humphrey married Maud (Mathilda or Mahaut, who died 1142), daughter of Edward de Salisbury, between 1087 and 1100. The dowry gave him important estates in the Wiltshire area and the barony of Trowbridge. This was the first of a series of marriages which benefitted the Bohons. They had a daughter, Maud, and a son, Humphrey III. Humphrey II died around 1129.

Edward de Salisbury or Saresbury, lord of Chittern (Wiltshire), possessed very important lands at Salisbury and other areas. He wore the banner of Henry I at the Battle of Bremule where he fought against King Louis VI of France (20 August 1119). Besides his daughter Maud, he had a son, Walter (died 1147). Edward died 1130.

~Les Seigneurs de Bohon by Jean LeMelletier *

* The site that I found this on often disappears.

• Web Reference: Charles Cawley's Medieval Lands, Humphrey II de Bohun.
A manuscript which narrates the descents of the founders of Lanthony Abbey names "dominum Hunfredum de Bohun secundum" as son of "dominus Hunfredus de Bohun, cum barba"[Dugdale Monasticon VI, Lanthony Abbey, Gloucestershire, II, Fundatorum progenies, p. 134].

The Book of Lacock names "Matildam" as daughter of "Edwardum…vicecomitem Wiltes", adding that she married "Humphridus de Bohun" [ Bowles, W. L. and Nichols, J. G. (1835) Annals and Antiquities of Lacock Abbey (London), Appendix I, Book of Lacock, p. i. ].

Humphrey married Matilda of Salisbury, daughter of Edward de Salisbury and Matilda Fitz Herbert.¹⁷⁶