Alice de Lacy, 4th Countess of Lincoln

Who was Alice de Lacy, 4th Countess of Lincoln?

Alice de Lacy, suo jure 4th Countess of Lincoln, suo jure 5th Countess of Salisbury was an English peeress.

Born on Christmas Day 1281, Alice was the only daughter and heir of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln and Margaret Longespée, 4th Countess of Salisbury suo jure. Her mother Margaret was the great-granddaughter and ultimate heiress of one of the illegitimate sons of Henry II of England, William Longespée, whose nickname became his surname.

In her long and eventful life Alice was married three times, the first time at the age of 12; widowed three times; abducted; imprisoned; raped; and her inheritance extorted from her. Yet throughout her life she remained generous and respected by her subordinates and those who were dependent upon her.