William la Zouche, 1st Baron Zouche (1276/86–1352), lord of the manor of Harringworth in Northamptonshire, was an English baron and soldier who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He is referred to in history as "of Harringworth" to distinguish him from his first cousin (of the senior line) Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche (1267–1314) of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire.
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Ancestry
William was the son of Eudo la Zouche (d. 1279) by his wife Millicent de Cantilupe (d. 1299), widow of John de Mohaut, daughter of William III de Cantilupe by his wife Eva de Braose, 3rd daughter and co-heiress of William de Braose, Baron Bergavenny. Millicent de Cantilupe was a great heiress, being a co-heir to her brother George de Cantilupe (d. 1273), Baron Bergavenny, feudal baron of Totnes in Devon (formerly held by de Braose), she was heiress of the English feudal barony of Eaton Bray (formerly held by Cantilupe) and of the manor of Harringworth, amongst many other lands.
William's younger brother was Roger la Zouch, Lord of Lubbesthorpe (d. 1303), father of Roger la Zouch the instigator of the murder of Roger de Beler in 1326. William's sister, Eva la Zouch, was married to the rebel Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley who was imprisoned in Wallingford Castle and died there also in 1326.
Career and life
William inherited the manor of Harringworth, including a park and wood, upon the death of his mother Millicent de Cantilupe in 1299.