1477526.
General John Hawkwood
1323, John born in Sible Hedingham parish, Essex, England, 2nd
s/o 2955052. Gilbert Hawkwood.
1/24/1327, Edward III, age 14, succeeded Edward II as King
of England.
1330’s, John bound as an apprentice to a merchant-tailor in
London. [He would be later known in Italy as “John of the needle”.]
1330’s, John studied warfare under an uncle who had served
with distinction in France.
7/18/1340, Gilbert [John’s father] wrote his will: … sons
John the elder, John the younger, Nicholas, … to John junior 20£.100s. and a
bed … John named an “executor” in his father’s will. [His older brother John
was actually the heir and of majority.]
1340, John’s father died.
8/14/1341, Assignment to William de Bohun, earl of
Northampton, for wages of 280 men of arms, whereof 7, himself included, shall
be with the standard and 74 shall be knights, 200 armed men and 250 archers for
40 days … 1,085£ … (S) CPRs. [John served in France under William de Bohun.]
8/18/1342, William de Bohun with Robert of Artois, lands in
Brest, and then advances across Brittany and captures Vannes.
9/30/1342, In the opening phase of the Hundred Years War,
William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton, defeated Charles of Blois at Morlaix. 50
French knights were killed, and 150 captured. William then and took the town of
Roch-Dirien by assault.
1344, John, under his older brother John with his wife
Margery, held court at Gosfield.
8/26/1346, Battle of Crecy, north of Paris. Edward III vs.
Philip VI, heralded the rise of the longbow as the dominant weapon, and also
saw the use of the ribauldequin, an early cannon, by the English. The English
longbowmen could fire much more quickly than the Genoese, with a killing range
of 250 yards. John rose to captain in the military in command of 250 archers.
9/1346, The English began the year-long siege of the port of
Calais. [Ended 8/1347.]
6/1349, The Plague reached Dorset, and had spread across
England by the end of 1349.
By 1350, John returned to England.
3/16/1350 at London, The King granted to John de Coggeshale
and to Isabel late the wife of John Baynard the custody of all the lands which
belonged to the inheritance of John Baynard, … Witnesses: Peter de Boxstede,
John Haukwode, … (S) CCRs.
9/19/1356, John in the Battle of Poitiers in France. Edward,
the Black Prince, defeated a larger French and allied army led by King John II
of France, leading to the capture of the king, his son, and much of the French
nobility. By treaty, England was permitted to annex much of western France. In
addition, France would pay a ransom of 4 million écus for the king.
Bef. 1360, John knighted.
1360, John was “out of work” because of the peace of
Bretigny. He became a mercenary, attacking Burgundy and the Pope’s territory of
Avignon.
5/1361, The Pope paid the Marquis of Montferrat to employ
John’s band of soldiers in his wars against Milan. John’s group received 10,000
of 60,000 francs paid on enlistment of soldiers.
11/1361, Contract of Sir Joh Hawkwood. [Oldest contract with
his name.]
4/6/1362, John led Englishmen in the battle of Brignais
against French forces under the command of Jacques de Bourbon [who died in the
battle]. The English were part of ‘routier’ [free] forces under Sequin de
Badefol. [The 3 groups making up the army disbanded after the battle.]
1363, The Marquis ended his war with Milan. John and his
band of 1000 lances took service with the Pisans [Italy was not a nation, but a
collection of independent city-states.] John became commander-in-chief in the
wars against Florence. He was described as “rather above the middle height,
with libs strongly knit, a fresh complexion, and brown hair and eyes.” His
group was called the White Company of Free Lances.
1363, John heir to his older brother John. His brother
Nicholas and others held the manoral court as trustees for Sir John who was “in
the wars beyond the seas.”
1363, John at the Victory at Canturino.
1363-64 [Winter], John, captain of the Pisan forces, army
involved in battles against the Count of Montfort, of Florence, Italy.
12/1363, In a document giving the pay of the soldiers
‘lately received’ into the service of the Pisan Republic, and forming the guard
of Signor Giovanne Acuto [Italian name for John Hawkwood], captain general of
war for Pisa. [The body guards consisted of 2 constables, 2 pages, 38 foot
soldiers, and 6 ‘boys’.]
2/1364, John in the 1st winter offensive against
Florence, which was unsuccessful, mostly due to German forces fighting for the
other side.
5/1/1364, John, joined with other free German forces, from
the hills of Fiesole, attacked the fortifications protecting Florence, reaching
the city gates. [Florence eventually bought off the attacking forces, the
English army receiving 70,000 of 100,000 florins for a 5-month truce agreement.
The German force, led by Bongarden, of about 600 left the group for the pay of
Florence, leaving John with 800 in support of Pisa.]
8/1364, John, commissioned by Pisa, at the defeat at Cascina
in Tuscany in support of Pisan forces. Florence had 11,000 foot soldiers and
4000 horse. Inside the city were additional Genoese crossbow soldiers, who
effectively defeated the attacking Pisan foot soldiers. The Florence force then
attacked, capturing 2000 of the Pisan force.
1364, Returning to Pisa, after a peace agreement with
Florence, Giovanni Agnello, a rich merchant, usurped power in Pisa with John as
his principal assistant receiving 30,000 florins for his army.
1/1365, Queen Joanna of Naples contracted the White Company
for 160,000 florins to keep peace towards the kingdom for 5 years, and to fight
for it against the Germans led by Bongarden. The White Company was joined with
a large Hungarian contingent and various other groups under the command of Hugh
de Mortime as captain-general.
7/1365, The White Company was near Perugia where they lost a
battle to the Germans led by Bongarden.
10/12/1365, A peace agreement between Florence and multiple
parties signed by 42 persons including John, his band of mercenaries now called
the Company of St. George, under Abrogio Visconti as Captain, and John
Hawkwood, the Count of Hapsburg and Giovanni de Buda as constables.
1366, John’s group besieged Siena and eventually received a
10,500 florin settlement. [Soon after the group broke up due to a defeat of the
main forces under Abrogio Visconti.]
3/29/1367, John, joined up with another English group, at
the victory over the Sienese forces at Montalcinello.
6/15/1368, Sir John attended Lionel, Duke of Clarence, 3rd
s/o King Edward III, on his wedding at Milan. [The famous writers Froissart and
Petrarch were in attendance, and both wrote about Sir John from personal
knowledge.]
10/1368, Lionel, duke of Clarence died. his father-in-law
suspected of his poisoning. Sir John and Edward Lord Despenser joined forces in
battle againt Galeazzo Visconti. A peace agreement was eventually made at the
Court of Savoy.
6/1369, John captured at the Battle of Arezzo against the
Pope’s forces.
1369, John ransomed by Ingelram de Coucy, husband of King
Edward’s daughter Isabel.
12/1369, John fighting for Milan at the victory of Cascina,
with large losses on both sides, but eventually taking 2000 prisoners.
1370-71, Sir John return to visit England.
8/1/1371, Sir John named an executor in the will of Thomas
de Vere, 8th Earl of Oxford.
11/4/1371, IPM of Thomas de Veer, Earl of Oxford. Essex: … Hengham
ad Castrum. Half a knight’s fee, held by Elizabeth Pichard and John Haukwod. …
(S) CIsPM.
6/1372, John fighting for Milan at the victory of Rubiera.
1372, John left the Milanese service to serve the Pope.
[This would be contentious because the promised payments from the church were
never realized.]
10/1372, John’s children and mistress taken hostage by
Milanese ruler Bernardo Visconti.
6/1373, Grant from Pope Gregory for his illegitmate children
and property near Bologna.
1374, In a time of peace, Sir John returned to Tuscany.
7/1375, John made successful raids into Tuscany, while only
on good terms with Florence. [Between Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Arezzo, in just
over 4 months, the English Company of John had obtained 174,800 florins in
gold, which when combined with the money from Siena amounted to a total of 2.5
million francs.]
1/1376, John took the Abbot of Montemaggiore, recently
created a Cardinal by his kinsman the Pope, as a prisoner; demanding the
100,000 florins owed to him for his services to the church. The Pope in compensation
gave a lordship of an area the size of a principality to John called
Bagnacavallo.
1376, John’s two sons were take hostage at Bologna. John
made a peace treaty for their return.
8/1376, John a part of the massacre at Cesena, although he
attempted to save many of the cities persons.
1377, John returned to England. King Edward granted Sir John
and Sir John de Clifford a full pardon for all penalties incurred by an English
subject in making war against the King’s allies. [Necessary for employment by
the crown. John also requested a pardon for Sir Robert Knolles.]
4/1377, Induced by a salary of 250,000 florins, Sir John
agreed to support Bernabo Visconti.
5/1377 in Milan, Italy, Sir John married 2nd
Donnina, natural d/o Bernabo Visconti, sovereign of Milan. [Donnina mother of
John the heir, and 3 daughters.]
6/21/1377, Richard II, age 10, son of the Black Prince, succeeded
Edward III as King of England.
11/14/1377, As a majore land holder, John Haukewode
appointed to a commission to levy and collect taxes in Essex. (S) CFRs. [John
was not in the country to perform the service.]
5/1378, Sir John and the lord of Milan received Sir Edward
de Berkekely and Geoffrey Chaucer [the poet] as ambassadors of King Richard II
of England.
1378, Sir John brokered a peace between his patron and
Verona.
1378, ‘Johannes Haukwood’ wrote a letter on which he placed
his seal. (S) Extant.
3/3/1379, Letter from Sir John Hawkwood to Louis de Gonzaga
of Mantua requesting safe conduct for ‘son-in-law Sir William de Coggeshall’,
who had been for some time residing in Milan.
1379, John dismissed from the Milanese service.
7/30/1379, To escheator in Essex. Order to cause William
Coggeshale knight, son and heir of Henry Coggeshale knight and of Joan his
wife, to have seisin of the lands of his father and mother in the wardship of
Thomas de Coggeshale … at the petition of John Haukewode, witnessing by letters
that the said William is over sea in his company and of full age, the king has
respited his homage and fealty until his coming to England. (S) CCRs.
1379-80, John living in Romagna, and in a feude with Astorre
Manfredi of Faenza.
1380, Sir John built and endowed the English Hospital at
Rome for the reception and entertainment of poor English pilgrims to the tombs
of the Apostles.
9/3/1380, John Haukwode found guilty of treason because he
denied the king’s laws. [Eventually reversed.] (S) The Law of Treason in
England, Bellamy, 2004, P94.
5/1381, Sir John appointed an ambassador to Pope Urban by
King Richard II; and empowered to conclude treaties with states of northern
Italy.
8/1381, Sir John sold his Romagna properties to Niccolo
d’Este, buying estates in Tuscany and Umbria.
3/8/1382, John Fordam bishop of Durham … and Piers Brunel
merchants of Lukes of the one part … Indenture of defeasance of the foregoing
bond, upon condition that £666 13s. 4d. be paid … for payment by Sir John Haukwode to
the attorneys or fellows of the said Francis and Piers at the city of Florence
or Lukes, at Boloigne la Grasse or Pyse of 4,444½ ducats or new florins of
Florence … (S) CCRs.
1382, Sir John appointed by King Richard II as ambassador to
Pope Urban VI and Charles of Durazzo.
1383, John in service of the Kingdom of Naples.
5/1/1385, Bernabo was disposed by his son-in-law Carlo
Visconti. “The magnificent and noble Knight Sir John Hawkwood” was contracted
to the son-in-law by an annual stipend of 1000 florins in service to Milan. The
treaty was executed at Sir John’s residence at Cavezzo in Modena.
1387, John in the service of Florence had a major victory at
Castagnaro. A short battle of with 716 casualties and 846 wounded. But John’s
forces captured 4620, of which 284 were men-at-arms.
1388-89, John in the service of the Kingdom of Naples.
1390, Sir John joined forces with the Florentines against
his former benefactor to overpower Milan. French and German forces were
involved. Sir John managed to extricate himself from a trapped position and
became famous as a strategist. He then successfully defended Tuscany.
1391, Pier Paolo Vergerio witnessed John’s speech to his
troops near Verona and descrbed him as “more able with hand and industry than
tongue.”
4/1391, John and his son John made citizens of Florence,
Italy; given a pension of 2000 florins a year, and exempted from all taxes. Sir
John was also appointed General in Chief for life of all forces of the
Republic. [Machiavelli stated that a less conservative Sir John might have made
himself master of the state.]
11/8/1392 in Florence, Italy, John Haukwode, chivaler wrote
a letter to Thomas Cogsale which he sent by Johan Sampson. (S) Calendar of Plea
and Memoranda Rolls of London, V3, 1932, Roll A 41. [This is a very early
example of a letter written in English.] “Dere S' I grete you wel and do you to
wytyn þt at the makyng of þis lettre I was in god poynt I thank god... I sende
Johan Sampson bryngere of þis lettre to you enformed of certeyn thyngs quiche
he schal tellyn you be mouthe Qwerfore I preye you þat ye levyn hym as my
persone Wrytyn at Florence þe vii day of Novembre.”
2/20/1393 in Florence, Italy, John Haukwode wrote a letter
to Thomas Cogsale [uncle of his son-in-law] which he sent about his “well beloved
squire” Jankyn Sampson. (S) Calendar of Plea and Memoranda Rolls of London, V3,
1932, Roll A 41.
4/20/1393, Indenture made between Thomas Coggesale and John
Sampson, servant of John Haukwode. “This endenture mad bitwen my maister Thomas
Coggesale on that on half & me John Sampson on that other half witnesseth
that my maister sire John Haukwode knyght bad me the forseid John Sampson seyen
my credence to you Thomas Coggeshale … I
am comen to pursueu ii saufcondutes on for my maister & another my self
& v men & v hors … my mayster sendeth you to seyen that yif he deye
bifore his comyng horn that ye wolde knowe his will what he wolde were don with
the londes & tenementz that been purchased to his bihufthe in Englond … i prest in the parisshe chirche of Hethyngham
Sibille. & also yif my lady Haukwode overlive my maister sire John Haukwode
& kepe hire sole & come in to Engelond he preyeth you & alle the
other feffetz ye wolde enfeffe here in lisstories & ostages in Hethyngham
to terme of here lyf: the reversioun to John Haukwode the sone of here in the
tayle … til John my maistressone be of ful age … (S) Calendar of Plea and
Memoranda Rolls of London, V3, 1932, Roll A 41.
3/17/1394, Sir John died at his villa. He was given a State
funeral and was buried in the church of S. Giovanni in Florence. Donnina
received a pension of 1000 florins.
(S) Gen. Memoirs of the Extinct Family of Chester of
Chicheley, Waters, 1878. (S) Hawkwood, Diabolical Englishman, Frances Saunders,
2004. (S) John Hawkwood, Caferro, 2007. (S) Giovanni
Acuto Soria D’un Condotiere, 1889.
Family notes:
·
In 1412, Sir John’s executors in England erected
a cenotaph monument in the church Hedingham Sible to Sir John; and endowed a
perpetual chantry in Hedingham nunnery to celebrated mass daily for Sir Hohn
Hawkwood, Kt. and his military companions Thomas Oliver and John Newenton,
Esqs.
Children of John
and ?:
i. Antiocha Hawkwood (738763), born ~1360 in Milan, Italy.
Children of John
and Donnina.
ii. John Hawkwood, born 2/1386 in Italy. [heir]
1406, John returned to
England.
11/3/1406, Grant of denization to John son of John Haukwode,
knight, deceased, born in Italy. (S) CPRs. [No male heir.]
8/14/1409, John Haukewode, son and heir of John Haukewode
knight, to John Barton the younger … (S) CCRs.
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