Ralph Neville, 2nd Lord Neville ★

Born Abt in England. He married January 14, 1326, to Alice de Audley. He died August 5, 1367.

Family Background

Ralph Neville was born around 1291, son of Ralph Neville, 1st Baron Neville de Raby, and Euphemia de Clavering, inheriting a family already prominent in the governance of England's northern frontier.

Warden of the Marches

Like his father before him, Neville served as a warden of the marches, one of the principal officers responsible for defending the Anglo-Scottish border, a role that became closely associated with the Neville family for generations; by the mid-fourteenth century the family had also taken on naval responsibilities as Admiral of the North.

The Battle of Neville's Cross

Neville's greatest achievement came in 1346, when he commanded the English army that decisively crushed a Scottish invasion at the Battle of Neville's Cross near Durham, capturing King David II of Scotland in the process — a victory that greatly enhanced both his own reputation and his family's standing.

Marriage and Children

On January 14, 1326, Neville married Alice de Audley, daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Baron Audley, and widow of Ralph de Greystoke, 1st Baron Greystoke. The couple had thirteen children, including John Neville, who succeeded him as 3rd Baron Neville, and Alexander Neville, who became Archbishop of York.

Death and Legacy

Ralph Neville died August 5, 1367. He and Alice share a tomb, though damaged over the centuries, in the south transept of Durham Cathedral, and his son John succeeded him as 3rd Baron Neville.