Richard Talbot - 2nd Baron Talbot

Richard Talbot was an English Nobleman and soldier who played a role in the Second War of Scottish Independence and the Hundred Years' War. Richard was the son of Gilbert Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot, and Anne Boteler.

 

He was born around 1306. The Talbots were part of the Herefordshire gentry since the reign of Henry II and had blood ties to the elite in Wales through a daughter of Rhys Mechyll, whose coat of arms they assumed.

Richard inherited the title of 2nd Baron Talbot after his father's death in February of 1346. Richard married Elizabeth Comyn, daughter of John de Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, and Joan de Valence. Richard and Elizabeth would have six children.

John de Comyn was murdered by Robert the Bruce at the altar of the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, Scotland, and the Bruce confiscated his Scottish estates. However, Elizabeth inherited her father's estates in England, including Goodrich Castle.

When his wife Elizabeth was younger and still unwed, she was detained by the Despensers. On April 6th, 1325, she was granted a License to enfeoff to Hugh le Despenser the Younger, the castle and manner of Goodrich Castle, and to enfeoff to Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester, the manor of Paynewswyk in Gloucester. The reality is that while she was being held captive by the Despensers, she was forced to give them her landholdings under threat of death. The Despensers detained her for another six months before she was released.

Richard Talbot, like his father, was part of the anti-Despenser faction of the English nobility, who felt the Despensers had too much power and control as favorites of King Edward II. Talbot joined Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, in his rebellion against King Edward II and joined him at the Battle of Boroughbridge on March 16th, 1322. The rebel barons were defeated, and Thomas and Richard, among others, were taken prisoner. As the leader, Thomas was convicted of Treason and beheaded near Pontefract Castle.

King Edward II's wife, Queen Isabella, returned to England from France in 1326, and the English nobles rallied behind her, causing the King and the Despensers to flee. With the fall of the Despensers, Richard Talbot seized Goodrich Castle in his wife's name. He was summoned to Parliament from 1331 to 1355 as Richard Talbot of Goodrich Castle.

Richard Talbot was part of the "Disinherited" and flocked to Edward Balliol's banner in his claim to the Scottish throne. When Balliol invaded Scotland in 1322, Talbot was among his supporters and fought at the Battle of Dupplin Moor. Balliol granted Talbot possession of Kildrummy Castle and named him Earl of Mar, but that was short-lived because, in 1335, he was recorded as Sir Richard Talbot with no mention of being Earl of Mar.

In 1334, Talbot was captured and taken prisoner by William Keith of Galston while trying to pass into England from Scotland. He was held at Dumbarton and ransomed the following year.

During the Hundred Years' War, Talbot fought for Edward III of England, serving as a captain under William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton, at the Battle of Morlaix in 1342. Talbot took French leader Geoffrey de Charny prisoner and sent him to Goodrich Castle. In the lead-up to the Battle of Crécy in 1346, Talbot was wounded but still fought in the battle and the Siege of Calais.

In September of 1346, he founded the Augustinian Priory at Flanesford.

Richard Talbot died on October 23rd, 1356, and was succeeded as baron by his son Gilbert Talbot. Richard was buried at Flanesford Priory, Goodrich Parish. However, a small stone altar tomb in Goodrich church is said to be his.