| Notes |
- Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford, and his third wife, Agnes of Essex, had a marriage that was as dramatic as it was significant in medieval England. Born around 1115, Aubrey was a noble involved in the succession conflict between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. He became the Earl of Oxford in 1141 and was a benefactor to several religious houses.
Aubrey's first marriage to Beatrice, daughter of Henry, Constable of Bourbourg, was short-lived, possibly due to her poor health. His second marriage to Euphemia ended with her death in 1154. It was his third marriage to Agnes of Essex, daughter of Henry of Essex, a royal constable, that brought a whirlwind of drama.
Agnes, born in 1151, was initially betrothed to Geoffrey de Vere, Aubrey's brother. However, in a twist of fate, she rejected Geoffrey and married Aubrey around 1163, when she was about twelve years old. Their marriage coincided with a dramatic turn in Agnes's family fortunes. Her father, Henry of Essex, was accused of treason and lost a judicial duel, leading to his disgrace and the forfeiture of his lands and offices.
Following this scandal, Aubrey sought to annul his marriage to Agnes, possibly due to her family's fallen status. Agnes, confined in one of Aubrey's castles, appealed to the Bishop of London and then to Pope Alexander III. The Pope ruled in her favor, establishing the canon law requirement of consent by females in betrothal and marriage. Despite this, Aubrey continued to refuse to cohabit with her.
The couple's estrangement was a matter of public and ecclesiastical concern. In 1171 or 1172, the Pope directed the Bishop of London to order Aubrey to restore Agnes to her conjugal rights or face excommunication. Eventually, the marriage was reconciled, and they had four sons, including two future Earls of Oxford, and a daughter.
Together, Aubrey and Agnes founded a Benedictine priory for nuns near their castle at Castle Hedingham in Essex around 1190. Aubrey died on 26 December 1194 and was buried at Colne Priory. Agnes survived him and later paid the crown for the right to remain unmarried. She died sometime after 1212 and was buried alongside Aubrey.
Their marriage, marked by ecclesiastical intervention, legal battles, and reconciliation, reflects the complex interplay of personal relationships, political fortunes, and religious norms in medieval England. The story of Aubrey and Agnes de Vere is a testament to the turbulent and often unpredictable nature of aristocratic life in the 12th century.
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1115 - 1194 (79 years)
Set As Default Person 
(Age 56 years)