John Hastings, Earl of Pembroke

Also known as: Iohn Hastings / Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke / Iohn Hastings erle of Penbroke / Iohn de Hastings / Iohn fitz & heyre Iohn de Hastinges / lord Iohn de Hastings · Family: England · Role: earl · First appears: Richard II 46

John Hastings, Earl of Pembroke, is described as the son of Laurence Hastings, Earl of Pembroke and Lawrence Hastings, Earl of Pembroke, and as the child of Anne Mortimer. While under age, he was in the custody of Richard II. In 1371, at Rochell, he was captured and carried prisoner into Spain: “they slue and tooke manie of the English, burnt their nauie, and caried the earle with sundrie other prisoners into Spaine;” After almost three years, Bertram Cleikine ransomed him for a great sum, but he died while returning to England.

In 1390, John was accidentally killed while practising jousting, when John St John struck him in the private parts and his internal injuries caused his immediate death. The accounts name Margaret of England and Anne Manny as his two wives, and also record marriages to Isabella Valence and Isabella Spencer; his children included Elizabeth Hastings, Hugh Hastings, Lord Folliot, and another John Hastings. In 1395, he was recorded as dying without issue, after which his inheritances and titles were dispersed among Francis, Reynold Grey, and William Beauchamp of Bedford; the marshals court awarded the Hastings inheritance and arms to Reynold Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin and barred Edward Hastings from bearing them. Reginald Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin later claimed the king’s great spurs as heir to John Hastings.