Walter de Manny

Walter Manny, 1st Baron Manny
Spouse(s)	Margaret Marshal, Duchess of Norfolk
Issue Anne Manny
Father	Jean de Borgne
Mother	Jeanne de Jenlain
Born	c.1310
Died	8 or 15 January 1372 London
Buried	Charterhouse, London

Walter Manny, (or Mauny), 1st Baron Manny, KG (c.1310 – 8 or 15 January 1372), soldier of fortune and founder of the Charterhouse, was from Masny in Hainault, from whose counts he claimed descent. He was a patron and friend of Froissart, in whose chronicles his exploits have a conspicuous and probably an exaggerated place.

Born about 1310, Walter Manny was the fourth of five sons of Jean le Borgne and Jeanne de Jenlain. His father, who was Lord of Masny (situated some twelve miles west of Valenciennes), was slain in 1324 at La Reole near Bordeaux. In 1346 Walter recovered his father's body, and had it sent to Valenciennes for burial in the church of the Cordeliers. Jean le Borgne's epitaph refers to his son Walter as one 'qui fut merveilles en armes aux gueres des Anglois'.

Manny entered the service William I, Count of Hainault, and was in attendance on the Count's brother, Jean de Beaumont; it has been conjectured that Manny and his four brothers all likely grew up in Beaumont's household. Both William and Jean were brothers of Alice of Hainault, for whose soul Manny requested prayers in his will.

In December 1327 Manny came to England as a page in the household of Edward III's bride, Philippa of Hainault, Count William's daughter. Froissart describes him as the Queen's esquire carver, and Keeper of the Queen's Greyhounds.

Manny played a distinguished role in the Scottish wars of Edward III, being present at the Battle of Dupplin Moor and the Siege of Berwick. He captured the pirate John Crabbe, whose expertise in fighting at sea would become of great value to the king.

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