Maud Montacute, Countess of Salisbury

Maud Montacute, Countess of Salisbury (c. 1370 – c. 1424) was the foster mother of the future King Henry V of England, after the death of his mother.

She was born Maud Francis, daughter of Sir Adam Francis, born ca. 1334, Mayor of London, and Alice Champneis, born in 1338, both born in London. She was married and widowed three times. Her first husband was John Aubrey and her second Sir Alan Buxhull, KG in 1372.

Her third husband was John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, and they had five children:

• Richard Montacute
• Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury
• Lady Anne Montacute
• Lady Margaret Montacute
• Lady Elizabeth Montacute

Following the death of Mary de Bohun, her son, Henry of Monmouth, was given into the care of the Earl and Countess of Salisbury by his father, Henry Bolingbroke, the future King Henry IV of England. They cared for him at the manor of Courtfield in Herefordshire. An effigy in the church at Welsh Bicknor is believed to be that of the countess.

In 1400, the Earl of Salisbury was executed for treason by King Henry IV. In 1420, Maud petitioned King Henry V to have the earl's remains transferred from Cirencester Abbey to Bisham Priory.

Sources

• thePeerage.com