Earl of Huntingdon

Earldom of Huntingdon
Arms of Hastings: Argent, a maunch sable
Creation date	1065 (first creation) 1529 (current creation)
Created by	Edward the Confessor (first creation) Henry VIII (current creation)
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria
Present holder	William Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon
Heir presumptive	The Hon. John Peter Robin Hood Hastings-Bass
Remainder to	heirs male of the body (lawfully begotten)
Subsidiary titles	None, invented courtesy title "Viscount Hastings" used by heir apparent
Seat(s)	Hodcott House, Berks; Sharavogue, King's Co.
Motto	In veritae victoria ("Victory is in truth")

Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The medieval title (1065 creation) was associated with the ruling house of Scotland (David of Scotland).

The seventh and most recent creation dates to 1529. In this lineage, the current holder of the title is William Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon (b. 1948).

In English folklore, the title has been associated with Robin Hood, whose true name is often given as "Robert of Huntingdon", though alternatively Robin is said to be from Locksley or Loxley.

Huntingdonshire was part of the Kingdom of East Anglia, inhabited by a group known as the Gyrwas from about the 6th century.^{[citation needed]} It fell to the Danes in the 9th century, but was re-conquered under Edward the Elder in 915. An earldom of Huntingdon was established shortly after, and it was one of the seven earldoms of Saxon England during the reign of king Edward the Confessor.

It was created for Beorn Estrithson, cousin to Harold Godwinson (later King Harold).^{[citation needed]} The earldom at that time carried extensive powers and covered a wide area of the East Midlands, covering the counties of Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire as well as Huntingdonshire.

In 1065 the earldom passed to Waltheof, son of Siward, Earl of Northumbria. Waltheof kept his title following the Conquest in 1066, and even after his rebellion in 1067, and married Judith, King William's niece. However, after the second rebellion in 1076, he was executed and the earldom was reduced in size and power.

The earldom was inherited by Waltheof's daughter Maud, countess of Huntingdon, and passed to her husbands in turn, first Simon de Senlis and then David King of Scotland.

Following her death, and during the reigns of Matilda and Stephen and the anarchy that ensued, the earldom was the subject of dispute between Maud's sons Simon II and Henry the prince, and was held by both at various times. In the reign of Henry II, following the death of Simon II, it was settled on the Scottish house, and the sons of Prince Henry: first Malcolm,^[1] then William, then David. With the death of David's childless son John in 1237, the title was not passed on and became extinct.

• Waltheof (d. 1076)
• Judith of Lens, Countess of Huntingdon (c.1055–after 1086)
• Maud, Countess of Huntingdon (c.1074–1130/31)
  • m. Simon I de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton (died c.1111)
  • m. David I of Scotland (c. 1084–1153)
• Henry, Earl of Northumbria (1114–1152)
• Simon II de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton (4th Earl) (c.1098–1153)
• Malcolm IV of Scotland (1141–1165)
• William I of Scotland (c.1142–1214)
• Simon III de Senlis (succeeded in 1174, upon the forfeiture by William who had succeeded as king of Scotland.)
• David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon (8th Earl) (1144–1219)
• John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon (9th Earl) (1207–1237)

• William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon (1304–1354)

• Guichard d'Angle, Earl of Huntingdon (d. 1380) (Life Peerage)

• John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter, 1st Earl of Huntingdon (c.1352–1400) (forfeit 1400)
• John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon (1395–1447) (restored 1416)
• Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon (1430–1475) (forfeit 1461)

• see Marquess of Dorset, third creation (1475)

• William Herbert (1451–1491) (created Earl in compensation for surrendering the Earldom of Pembroke to Edward IV.

The title was re-created for George Hastings,^[2] 3rd Baron Hastings, 5th Baron Hungerford, 6th Baron Botreaux and 3rd Baron de Moleyns. He fought in the French Wars of Henry VIII, and was part of the royalist suppression of the rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace.^[2] In 1529 the King created him Earl of Huntingdon in the Peerage of England. His eldest son, the second Earl, was a lieutenant-general and served as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Lord Huntingdon married Catherine, daughter and co-heiress of Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu, son of Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury, daughter and sole heiress of George, Duke of Clarence, brother of King Edward IV.^[2] On his death the titles passed to his son, the third Earl. He was a possible heir presumptive to the crown through his mother, though Elizabeth I never acknowledged his claim officially. Lord Huntingdon was one of the custodians of Mary, Queen of Scots, and also served as President of the Council of the North.^[2] He was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Earl. He represented Derbyshire and Leicestershire in the House of Commons and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland and Leicestershire.^{[citation needed]}

When he died the titles passed to his grandson, the fifth Earl. He was the son of Francis Hastings, Lord Hastings (d. 1595).^[2] Lord Huntingdon was also Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Rutland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the sixth Earl.^[2] He sat as Member of Parliament for Leicestershire. His son, the seventh Earl,^[2] and also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Derbyshire. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the eighth Earl. He carried the Sceptre at the Coronation of Queen Anne but died at an early age.^{[citation needed]} He was succeeded by his half-brother, the ninth Earl.^[2] He carried the Sword of State at the Coronation of King George II.^{[citation needed]} His son, the tenth Earl, was a courtier and notably served as Master of the Horse. He had no legitimate male issue and on his death in 1789 the earldom became dormant.^{[citation needed]} He was succeeded in the baronies of Hastings, Hungerford, de Moleyns and Botreaux by his sister Lady Elizabeth, wife of The 1st Earl of Moira.^[2]

The earldom was assumed by the tenth Earl's distant relative (his fifth cousin once removed) Reverend Theophilus Henry Hastings. He was the great-great-great-grandson of Sir Edward Hastings (d. 1603), younger son of the second Earl.^[2] He is by some sources considered as the de jure eleventh Earl while some sources do not include him in the numbering of the Earls. On his death, the claim passed to his nephew Hans Francis Hastings, son of George Hastings. He was allowed to take his seat in the House of Lords as the Earl of Huntingdon in 1819.^[2] Depending on the sources he is numbered as the eleventh or twelfth Earl. Lord Huntingdon served as Governor of Jamaica from 1822 to 1824.^[2]

Hans' great-great-grandson, the sixteenth (or fifteenth Earl), was an artist, academic and Labour politician. He died without male issue in 1990 and was succeeded by his first cousin once removed, the seventeenth (or sixteenth) and (As of 2017^[update]) present holder of the title. He is the uncle of television presenter Clare Balding and eldest son of Captain Peter Robin Hood Hastings Bass (1920–1964) (who assumed the additional surname of Bass, which was that of his uncle by marriage, Sir William Bass, 2nd Baronet, by deed poll in 1954), son of Aubrey Craven Theophilus Robin Hood Hastings (1878–1929), younger son of the fourteenth Earl.^{[citation needed]}

Several other members of the Hastings family may be mentioned. The Hon. Edward Hastings, third son of the first Earl, was created Baron Hastings of Loughborough in 1558. Richard Hastings, a grandson of Sir Edward Hastings, younger son of the second Earl, was created a baronet in 1667 (see Hastings baronets). The Hon. Henry Hastings, second son of the fifth Earl, was created Baron Loughborough in 1643. Lucy Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, wife of the sixth Earl, was a poet. Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, wife of the ninth Earl, was a Methodist leader and the founder of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. Charles Hastings, illegitimate son of the tenth Earl, was a distinguished soldier and was created a baronet in 1806 (see Abney-Hastings baronets). The Hon. George Fowler Hastings, second son of the twelfth (or eleventh) Earl, was a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy. Alexander Plantagenet Hastings (1843–1928), son of Captain the Hon. Edward Plantagenet Robin Hood Hastings (1818–1857), third son of the twelfth (or eleventh) Earl, was an admiral in the Royal Navy. His son Edward George Godolphin Hastings (1887–1973) was a captain in the Royal Navy.^{[citation needed]}

The Earl possesses no subsidiary titles, but his eldest son uses the invented courtesy title of Viscount Hastings to avoid confusion, there already being a Baron Hastings.^{[citation needed]}

The family seat of the present line is at Hodcott House, near West Ilsley, in Berkshire.^{[citation needed]}

• George Hastings, 1st Earl of Huntingdon (1488–1544)
• Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon (1514–1560)
• Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon (1536–1595)
• George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon (1540–1604)
• Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon (1586–1643)
• Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon (1609–1656)
• Theophilus Hastings, 7th Earl of Huntingdon (1650–1701)
• George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon (1677–1705)
• Theophilus Hastings, 9th Earl of Huntingdon (1696–1746)
• Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon (1729–1789) (dormant)
• Theophilus Henry Hastings, de jure 11th Earl of Huntingdon (1728–1804)
• Hans Francis Hastings, 12th Earl of Huntingdon (1779–1828) (confirmed in title 1819)
• Francis Theophilus Henry Hastings, 13th Earl of Huntingdon (1808–1875)
• Francis Power Plantagenet Hastings, 14th Earl of Huntingdon (1841–1885)
• Warner Francis John Plantagenet Hastings, 15th Earl of Huntingdon (1868–1939)
• Francis John Clarence Westenra Plantagenet Hastings, 16th Earl of Huntingdon (1901–1990)
• William Edward Robin Hood Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon (b. 1948)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother the Hon. John Peter Robin Hood Hastings-Bass (b. 1954).
The heir presumptive's heir is his cousin Adam Francis Hastings (b. 1977), a great-great-great-grandson of the 12th Earl.

v t e Huntingdon (7th creation), Northampton, and Wilmington family tree

Robert 1000–1035 Duke of Normandy Adelaide of Normandy c. 1030–before 1090 Countess of Aumale William the Conqueror c. 1028–1087 King of England Earl of Huntingdon (1st creation), 1065 Earl of Northampton (1st creation), 1071 Waltheof d. 1076 Earl of Northumbria, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Earl of Northampton Judith of Lens 1054/1055–c. 1090, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon Maud c. 1074–1130 3rd Countess of Huntingdon, 2nd Countess of Northampton Queen of Scotland Simon I de Senlis d. 1111–1113 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, 2nd Earl of Northampton jure uxoris Simon II de Senlis c. 1098–1153 4th Earl of Huntingdon, 3rd Earl of Northampton Simon III de Senlis c. 1138–1184 5th Earl of Huntingdon, 4th Earl of Northampton Earldom of Northampton (1st creation) reverted to the Crown, 1184 Earl of Northampton (2nd creation), 1337 William de Bohun c. 1312 – 1373 Earl of Hereford, Earl of Essex, 1st Earl of Northampton Edward III 1312–1377 King of England Humphrey de Bohun 1342–1373 Earl of Hereford, Earl of Essex, 2nd Earl of Northampton John of Gaunt 1340–1399 Duke of Lancaster Thomas of Woodstock 1355–1397 Duke of Gloucester Earldom of Northampton (2nd creation) abeyant, 1373 Earl of Northampton (2nd creation restored), 1384 Earl of Northampton (3rd creation), 1399 Henry Bolingbroke c. 1367 – 1413 3rd Earl of Northampton, later King Henry IV Anne of Gloucester 1383–1438 Countess of Northampton Earldom of Northampton (2nd creation) merged in the crown, 1399 Earldom of Northampton (3rd creation) extinct, 1438 Earl of Huntingdon (7th creation), 1529 George Hastings 1488–1544 1st Earl of Huntingdon Baron Hastings of Loughborough, 1558 Francis Hastings 1514–1561 2nd Earl of Huntingdon Edward Hastings c. 1521–1572 Baron Hastings of Loughborough Barony Hastings of Loughborough extinct, 1572 Earl of Northampton, (4th creation), 1604 Baron Compton, 1572 Henry Howard 1540–1614 Earl of Northampton Henry Compton 1544–1589 1st Baron Compton Frances Anne Hastings 1533–1574 Henry Hastings 1536–1595 3rd Earl of Huntingdon George Hastings 1540–1604 4th Earl of Huntingdon Edward Hastings 1541–1603 Earldom of Northampton (4th creation) extinct, 1614 Earl of Northampton (5th creation), 1618 William Compton d. 1630 1st Earl of Northampton, 2nd Baron Compton Francis Hastings 1560–1595 Henry c. 1555–1640 Henry Hastings 1586–1643 5th Earl of Huntingdon Spencer Compton 1601–1643 2nd Earl of Northampton, 3rd Baron Compton Ferdinando Hastings 1609–1656 6th Earl of Huntingdon Henry b. 1605 James Compton 1622–1681 3rd Earl of Northampton, 4th Baron Compton Theophilus Hastings 1650–1701 7th Earl of Huntingdon Richard 1645–1714 Baron Wilmington, 1728 Earl of Wilmington and Viscount Pevensey, 1730 George Compton 1664–1727 4th Earl of Northampton, 5th Baron Compton Spencer Compton c. 1674 – 1743 Earl of Wilmington, Viscount Pevensey, Baron Wilmington George Hastings 1677–1705 8th Earl of Huntingdon Henry 1701–1786 Earldom of Wilmington, Vicountcy Pevensey, and Barony Wilmington extinct, 1743 James Compton 1687–1754 5th Earl of Northampton, 6th Baron Compton George Compton 1692–1758 6th Earl of Northampton Charles Compton Theophilus Hastings c. 1696–1746 9th Earl of Huntingdon Charlotte Townshend d. 1770 Viscountess Townshend, Baroness Ferrers of Chartley, 7th Baroness Compton Charles Compton 1737–1763 7th Earl of Northampton Francis Hastings 1729–1789 10th Earl of Huntingdon Theophilus Hastings 1728–1804 11th Earl of Huntingdon de jure George 1735–1802 Earldom of Huntingdon dormant/abeyant, 1804 George Townshend 1753–1811 Marquess Townshend, Earl of Leicester, Viscount Townshend, Baron Townshend, Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 8th Baron Compton Spencer Compton 1760–1828 8th Earl of Northampton Marquess of Northampton (2nd creation), Earl Compton and Baron Wilmington, 1812 Earldom of Huntingdon claim restored, 1819 George Townshend (1778–1885) Marquess Townshend, Earl of Leicester, Viscount Townshend, Baron Townshend, Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 9th Baron Compton Charles Compton 1760–1828 1st Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 9th Earl of Northampton Hans "Francis" Hastings 1779–1828 12th Earl of Huntingdon Barony Compton abeyant, 1855 Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton 1790–1851 2nd Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 10th Earl of Northampton Charles Douglas-Compton 1816–1877 3rd Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 11th Earl of Northampton William Compton 1818–1897 4th Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 12th Earl of Northampton Francis Theophilus Henry Hastings 1808–1875 13th Earl of Huntingdon George 1814–1876 Francis Power Plantagenet Hastings 1841–1885 14th Earl of Huntingdon William George Spencer Scott Compton 1851–1913 5th Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 13th Earl of Northampton Warner Francis John Plantagenet Hastings 1868–1939 15th Earl of Huntingdon Aubrey 1878–1929 Hans 1865–1933 William Bingham Compton 1885–1978 6th Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 14th Earl of Northampton Francis John Clarence Westenra Plantagenet Hastings 1901–1990 16th Earl of Huntingdon Peter Hastings-Bass 1920–1964 George 1905–1981 Spencer Douglas David Compton b. 1946 7th Marquess of Northampton, Earl Compton, and Baron Wilmington, 15th Earl of Northampton William Edward Robin Hood Hastings-Bass b. 1948 17th Earl of Huntingdon John Hastings-Bass b. 1954 George 1938–2005 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Huntingdon Daniel Bingham Compton b. 1973 styled Earl Compton Adam b. 1977 Heir apparent to the Marquessate of Northampton Second Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Huntingdon

• Baron Hastings
• Baron Hungerford
• Baron Botreaux
• Baron de Moleyns
• Hastings baronets
• Abney-Hastings baronets
• Britain's Real Monarch – argues that 3rd–10th Earls should have been the monarchs of England
• Countess of Huntingdon
  • Maud, Countess of Huntingdon
  • Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon
• Huntington family

Coat of arms of the Earl of Huntingdon

Crest A Bull's Head erased Sable armed and ducally gorged Or. Escutcheon Argent a Maunch Sable. Supporters On either side a Man Tiger (or Lion guardant with Human Face) Or the Faces proper. Motto In Veritate Victoria (Victory is in Truth).

In English folklore, the title has been associated with Robin Hood, whose true name is often given as "Robert of Huntingdon", though alternatively Robin is said to be from Locksley or Loxley. It was used in the 1980s ITV TV series Robin of Sherwood starring Jason Connery as Robert, who succeeds Robin of Loxley (Michael Praed) in the role of Robin Hood.

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

•  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Huntingdon, Earls of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 949.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

• Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. 160A, Fleet street, London, UK: Dean & Son. p. 491.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

• Britannia
• Morris, Susan (20 April 2020). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2019. Debrett's; eBook Partnership. ISBN 978-1-9997-6705-1. John Debrett ^{[page needed]}
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Francis Theophilus Henry Hastings, 13th Earl of Huntingdon
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Francis Power Plantagenet Hastings, 14th Earl of Huntingdon
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Warner Francis John Plantagenet Hastings, 15th Earl of Huntingdon
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Edward Robin Hood Hastings-Bass, 17th Earl of Huntingdon