| | | | Anjou |
| | Fulk (I, the Red, Count of Anjou) (b.870 - d.942)
|
| | | Fulk was the son of Ingeldar who was a legendary soldier who took control of an area in the Loire valley, now in France. Fulk became the first count of Anjou. He was succeeded by his son also called Fulk and known as Fulk the Good. |
| | Fulk (II, the Good, Count of Anjou) ( - d.960)
|
| | | Fulk the Good was the son of Fulk the Red, first count of Anjou. Under his leadership the region prospered. He had several children and was succeeded by his son Geoffrey who was a legendary soldier. |
| | Fulk (Nerra, the Black, count of Anjou) ( - d.1040)
|
| | | Fulk was the son of Geoffrey Greymantle (Greygown). He became count of Anjou as a teenager in 987 after the death of his father. Fulk was both a fanatical pilgrim and a tyrant. On the one hand he travelled to the holy land three or four times in his life and had built the abbey of Beaulieu-les-Loches, but on the other had his wife burnt at the stake for adultery. Fulk was a fierce warrior both defending his lands and attacking those that opposed him. |
| | Fulk Rechin (count of Anjou) (b.1043 - d.1109)
|
| | | Fulk Rechin was the nephew of Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. The count had no children so arranged for his lands to be divided between his nephews Geoffrey the Bearded and Fulk Rechin. Fulk received the area of Touraine and Geoffrey received the areas of Anjou and Saintonge, an area on the west coast of France. The brothers Geoffrey and Fulk began to fight amongst themselves and in 1066 Fulk captured Geoffrey and imprisoned him. Fulk became count of Anjou from 1068. |
| | Geoffrey (I, Greymantle, count of Anjou) ( - d.987)
|
| | | Geoffrey was the son of Fulk II, count of Anjou. A legend surrounds Geoffrey depicting him as a great knight and warrior. The legend concerns an invasion by the Danes who had been attacking lands of France for some time. Amongst them was a fierce warrior called Ethelulf. No one could kill the huge Dane and he challenged all to try. When Geoffrey heard of this he secretly travelled to Paris where the Danes were approaching. Geoffrey confronted Ethelulf and killed the giant. He cut off the head of Ethelulf and gave it to a servant to take to Paris. No one knew who had killed the Dane and it was only later at a reception at Paris that Geoffrey was recognised by the servant who had been given the head. Because he was wearing a grey cloak, Geoffrey was given the nickname Graygown or Greymantle. Geoffrey was succeeded by his son Fulk, the Black. |
| | Geoffrey (Martel, I, count of Anjou) ( - d.1060)
|
| | | Geoffrey Martel was the son of Fulk Nerra, count of Anjou. Geoffrey became count of Anjou in 1040 when his father died. Martel was a fierce warrior brushing aside all that stood before him. In 1044 the county of Touraine was overrun by Geoffrey when his army captured Tours, its capital town. When he died in 1060 Geoffrey had no children so he divided his lands of Anjou and Touraines between his nephews Geoffrey the Bearded and Fulk Rechin. Fulk received Touraine and Geoffrey received Anjou. Geoffrey Martel died in great pain from an illness. |
| | Geoffrey (Plantagenet, 'The Fair', Count of Anjou) ( - d.1151)
|
| | | Geoffrey was the son of Fulk V, Count of Anjou and was the founder of the Plantagenet dynasty of rulers. Geoffrey was given the nickname 'Plantagenet' due to his habit of wearing a sprig of broom in his hat. The broom plant being called planta genista in France. In 1128 the fifteen year old Geoffrey married King Henry I of England's daughter Matilda and together they had a son Henry who became King Henry II of England. In 1129 Geoffrey's father Fulk gave up his title of Count of Anjou to marry Melisende, the heir to the Kingdom of Jerusalem and so Geoffrey inherited the title. Geoffrey had to fight his own brother, Elias, when he rebelled and threatened to capture the area of Maine. Elias was captured and imprisoned. He later died from an illness contracted while in prison. Bigger problems arose with the death of King Henry I of England in 1135. Geoffrey's wife Matilda was the rightful heir to the throne but Henry's cousin, Stephen of Blois, claimed the English throne for himself with the help of the Norman barons. A civil war between Stephen and Matilda broke out in England while in Normandy the conflict continued between Stephen and Geoffrey who both had a claim to duchy. |
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| Arran |
| | Hamilton, James (2nd earl of Arran) ( - d.1575)
|
| | | James Hamilton was descended from James I and James II of Scotland. Arran became regent of Scotland when James V of Scotland died in 1542. James V's daughter Mary became Queen of Scotland but she was only a few days old so the earl took control of Scotland. |
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| Bedford |
| | John (Duke of Bedford) ( - d.1435)
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| Berry |
| | John (Ist Duke of Berry) ( - d.1416)
|
| | | John was the son of John II, King of France. He was the first Duke of Berry. |
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| Blois |
| | Stephen (count of Blois)
|
| | | Married Adela the daughter of William the Conqueror. Their second son Stephen becomes king of England. |
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| Boulogne |
| | Eustace (II, Count of Boulogne) ( - d.1093)
|
| | | Eustace of Boulogne married Godgifu the daughter of Athelred the Unready and sister of Edward the Confessor. |
| | Eustace (IV, Count of Boulogne) ( - d.1153)
|
| | | Eustace was the son of Stephen of Blois, King of England. King Stephen tried to ensure Eustace would become king after his death but the throne of England went to Henry II instead. |
|
| Buckingham |
| | Stafford, Henry (Duke of Buckingham) ( - d.1483)
|
| | | Henry was descended from Thomas of Woodstock, a son of Edward III. After his father died in 1455 fighting on the side of the Lancastrians Henry became a royal ward. A marriage was arranged for him to Catherine Woodville, Queen Elizabeth Woodville's younger sister. A marriage he was not happy about. Buckingham was Steward of England at the time of Clarence's execution and after the death of Edward IV he had sided closely with Richard Duke of Gloucester (Richard III). In 1483 Buckingham assisted Richard with the arrest and confinement of the young king Edward V and Richard's claim to the English throne. At Richard's coronation Henry walked behind Richard holding the King's train. Buckingham's reward were the titles of Constable and Great Chamberlain of England. In October of 1483 Buckingham changed his allegiance away from the King and to the King's enemies the Woodvilles and Henry Tudor. Richard was made aware of Buckingham's treachery and was captured after a disastrous revolt. Buckingham was executed at Salisbury on 2nd November 1483. |
| | Stafford, Humphrey (Duke of Buckingham) ( - d.1460)
|
| | | Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was a Lancastrian supporter during the Wars of the Roses and fought along side King Henry VI. Humphrey Stafford was killed at the Battle of Northampton by the Yorkists. |
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| Burgundy |
| | Robert (Duke of Burgundy)
|
| | | Third son of Robert II, King of France and Constance. Robert became Duke of Burgundy when the King died and his elder brother, Henry, became King of France. |
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| Cambridge |
| | Richard (Earl of Cambridge) ( - d.1415)
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| Carrick |
| | Bruce, Robert (Earl of Carrick) ( - d.1304)
|
| | | Details |
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| Chester |
| | Ranulf (Earl of Chester 1129-53) ( - d.1153)
|
| | | Information to follow. |
|
| Clarence |
| | George (Duke of Clarence) (b.1449 - d.1478)
|
| | | Details supplied by Dorothy Davies |
| | Lionel (of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence) ( - d.1368)
|
| | | Son of Edward III. |
| | Thomas (Duke of Clarence) ( - d.1421)
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| Cornwall |
| | John (Earl of Cornwall) ( - d.1336)
|
| | | Second son of Edward II |
| | Richard (Earl of Cornwall) (b.1209 - d.1272)
|
| | | Son of King John. Becomes Earl of Cornwall. |
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| East Anglia |
| | Gyrth (Earl of East Anglia) ( - d.1066)
|
| | | Son of Godwine, Earl of Wessex. Died at the Battle of Hastings. |
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| Essex |
| | Mandeville, Geoffrey de (Earl of Essex) ( - d.1144)
|
| | | One of the barons who during the reign of Stephen took advantage of the chaos to pillage and cause as much destruction as possible to further his own power and wealth. Mandeville had inherited the position of Constable of the Tower of London. When Stephen became king in 1135, Mandeville swore alliegance to the new king and was rewarded with the Earldom of Essex. During the first few years of Stephen's reign, Mandeville travelled with Stephen helping him put down revolts against the king. When Matilda took control of London in 1140, Mandeville was quick to change to her side to protect his interests. When king Stephen again took back control in 1141 again he changed sides, but his changing loyalties eventually led to his arrest and banishment. It was from 1141 until his death in 1144 that he became an outlaw. |
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| Exeter |
| | Beaufort, Thomas (Duke of Exeter) ( - d.1426)
|
| | | Thomas Beaufort was the son of John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford. |
| | Holland, John (Duke of Exeter - 1400)
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| Gloucester |
| | Humphrey (Duke of Gloucester) ( - d.1447)
|
| | | Humprey, Duke of Gloucester, was the son of Henry IV, king of England and the brother of Henry V, king of England. In 1422 Henry V died leaving a son as heir to the English throne. Also called Henry, the young boy was less than a year old. Humphrey and his older brother John, Duke of Bedford were selected as regents to the young king to rule England until the boy was old enough to rule himself. The Duke of Bedford went to France where the English controlled the northern areas while Humphrey governed in England. Gloucester was Unpopular in England and within Parliament. |
| | Robert (Earl of Gloucester) ( - d.1147)
|
| | | The Illegitimate son of Henry I, King of England. Robert was the chief supporter of his step-sister Matilda's claim to the English throne during the civil war with King Stephen. |
| | Thomas (of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester) ( - d.1397)
|
| | | Son of Edward III. |
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| Guelderland |
| | Reginald (Duke of Guelderland)
|
| | | Married Eleanor, daughter of Edward II |
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| Hereford |
| | Fitz Osbern, Roger (Earl of Hereford)
|
| | | Roger was the son of William Fitz Osbern, William the Conqueror's trusted supporter. |
| | Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford) ( - d.1071)
|
| | | William Fitz Osbern, a Norman, came into power after the conquest in 1066 and is closely associated with William the Conqueror. Fitzobern became Earl of Hereford in 1067 and to strengthen his position over the Anglo-Saxons built many castles, including Clifford, Chepstow, Ewyas Harold, Monmouth and Wigmore. He died in 1071. He is also known as lord of Breteuil. |
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| Huntingdon |
| | David (Earl of Huntingdon) ( - d.1219)
|
| | | David was the youngest son of Henry, Earl of Huntingdon who was the son of David I, King of Scotland. David's elder brothers were Malcolm IV and William I, themselves both kings of Scotland. David has several children and when, in 1290, the succession to the throne of Scotland was in question three of his descendants put in claims. These included John Balliol and Robert Bruce. |
| | Henry (Earl of Huntingdon) ( - d.1152)
|
| | | Son of David I of Scotland and father of Malcolm IV and William 'the Lyon' of Scotland. |
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| Ireland |
| | Vere, Robert de (Duke of Ireland)
|
| | | Friend of Richard II, to whom Richard gave titles in Ireland and so power there even though he had no rightful claims. Richard was criticised over his attachments to de Vere. |
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| Kent |
| | Edmund (Earl of Kent) ( - d.1330)
|
| | | Son of Edward I and his second wife Margaret. Edmund was executed in 1330 by Mortimer for opposing Queen Isabella. |
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| Kent and Essex |
| | Leofwine (Earl of Kent and Essex) ( - d.1066)
|
| | | Son of Godwine, Earl of Wessex. Died at the Battle of Hastings. |
|
| Lancaster |
| | Edmund (Earl of Lancaster) ( - d.1296)
|
| | | Second son of Henry III. |
| | Henry (of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster) (b.1300 - d.1361)
|
| | | Henry worked for Edward III as a soldier and diplomat during the early years of the Hundred Years War. He had inherited his wealth from his father, the Earl of Lancaster. In France Henry increased his income by obtaining a licence to mint coins and through a monopoly over salt in Poitou. He was made a Duke in 1351. When he died he had no male heir and his wealth went to his daughter, Blanche. Blanche married John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III. |
| | John (of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster) ( - d.1399)
|
| | | John of Gaunt was the son of Edward III, King of England and the father of Henry IV, king of England. He was born in Ghent, Flanders from which his name comes. When Edward III died in 1377 the English throne passed to Richard II, John's nephew. Richard was only ten at the time and too young to rule unaided. John of Gaunt took control of the country until Richard was old enough to rule. Gaunt alienated the Church by supporting Wyclif's criticism of the Church's power and wealth. |
| | Thomas (Earl of Lancaster) ( - d.1322)
|
| | | Son of Edmund Earl of Lancaster and cousin of Edward II king of England, Thomas became one of the most powerful Lords of the time. As one of the leaders of the Lord Ordainers he attempted to limit the powers of the King and to remove Gaveston the King's favourite. Thomas was captured and executed as a traitor. |
|
| Leicester |
| | Dudley, Robert (Earl of Leicester)
|
| | | Favourite and potential husband of Queen Elizabeth I. Details to follow. |
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| Lincoln |
| | Pole, John de la (Earl of Lincoln) ( - d.1487)
|
| | | John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, was the son of Elizabeth, sister to Edward IV. He assisted Lambert Simnel's false claim to be Edward the Earl of Warwick. The real Earl of Warwick had been imprisoned by Henry VII in the Tower of London because he was the nephew of Edward IV and a rightful heir to the English throne. John de la Pole landed in Ireland in May of 1487 with some German mercenaries. The Irish crowned Simnel as Edward VI in Dublin and supported an invasion force. They landed on the Lancashire coast, but Henry was prepared and the two armies met at Stoke on 16th of June. The fight could have gone either way but Henry's army won the battle. Lincoln was killed and Lambert Simnel was captured. |
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| March |
| | Mortimer, Edmund (5th Earl of March) (b.1391 - d.1425)
|
| | | Edmund was directly descended from Edward III via Lionel and when Richard II died became the true heir to the English throne but Henry IV took the throne for himself. During Henry's reign there were several revolts which planned to overthrow Henry and place Edmund on the throne. |
| | Mortimer, Edmund (3rd Earl of March) ( - d.1381)
|
| | | |
| | Mortimer, Roger (4th Earl of March) (b.1374 - d.1398)
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| March and King of England |
| | EDWARD (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483) (b.1442 - d.1483)
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| Mercia |
| | Leofric (Earl of Mercia) ( - d.1057)
|
| | | Leofric rose to power during the reign of Canute and Edward the Confessor. He became the Earl of Mercia and controlled large parts of the Midlands. He supported Edward against the Godwines. He appears to have been quite religious as there are records of him founding abbeys at Coventry and Wenlock. Leofric died in 1057. |
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| Moray |
| | Stewart, James (1st Earl of Moray) (b.1531 - d.1570)
|
| | | James was the illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland and Lady Margaret Erskine. James was one of many illegitimate sons that the king had. Although James had been born out of marriage he still had royal blood and a claim to the Scottish throne. James was the half-brother of Mary, Queen of Scots and when Mary returned from France to claim the Scottish throne, James became her close adviser. When Mary married Lord Darnley, James' support for Mary waned and he and several other nobles rebelled against the Queen. They were defeated and James was exiled to England. When Mary abdicated in 1567 James was chosen as Regent of Scotland but in 1570 was murdered by a supporter of the old Scottish Queen. |
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| Mortain |
| | Robert (Count of Mortain) (b.1060 - d.1095)
|
| | | Son of Herleva and Herluin de Conteville. |
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| Norfolk |
| | Thomas (Earl of Norfolk) ( - d.1338)
|
| | | Son of Edward I and his second wife Margaret. |
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| Normandy |
| | Richard (I, Count of Normandy)
|
| | | Richard I, Count of Normandy from 942 to 996. |
| | Richard (II, Duke of Normandy)
|
| | | Richard II was the Duke of Normandy from 996 to 1026 and also grandfather of William the Conqueror. (More details when I can find some) |
| | RICHARD (III, Duke of Normandy) ( - d.1027)
|
| | | Son of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. He was Duke for just one year, and was followed by his brother, Robert I. |
| | Robert (I, Duke of Normandy 1027-35) ( - d.1035)
|
| | | Robert was the Duke of Normandy from 1027 to 1035. He was the second son of Richard II. He succeeded his brother Richard III, who was Duke for only one year, a fact that may indicate that Richard III may have been murdered. Robert was the father of William the Conqueror. William's mother was Herleva who Robert did not marry. Robert faced problems as soon as he succeeded his brother, facing conflicts with Robert of Rouen and Bishop Hugh of Bayeux, both churchmen who owned large amounts of land. He defeated Hugh and came to a compromise with Robert. |
| | Robert (II, Duke of Normandy 1087-1106) ( - d.1134)
|
| | | First son of William the Conqueror. |
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| Northumberland |
| | Neville, John (Earl of Northumberland, Lord Montagu) ( - d.1471)
|
| | | John was the brother of Richard Neville, the 'Kingmaker'. |
| | Percy, Henry (Earl of Northumberland) ( - d.1408)
|
| | | ... |
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| Northumbria |
| | Morcar (Earl of Northumbria)
|
| | | Morcar (Morkere) took part in the 1065 rebellion against the then Earl of Northumbria, Tostig and forced Tostig out. Morcar then became the Earl of Northumbria. At the battle of Gate Fulford in September of 1066 Morcar was beaten by the invading Harold Hardrada. After the Norman Invasion, Morcar accepted William as King, but later on joined Hereward the Wake's rebellion against the king on the Isle of Ely. Morcar was captured and imprisoned. He died in prison. |
| | Tostig (Earl of Northumbria) ( - d.1066)
|
| | | Tostig was the son of Godwine, Earl of Wessex and brother of Harold II, King of England. Tostig became the Earl of Northumbria in 1055 and went to Flanders in 1065 after a rebellion against him led by Morcar forced him out. Tostig sided with Harold Hardrada in the attempt to invade Britain and was killed at the Battle of Stamford. |
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| Paitin |
| | William (Count of Paitin) (b.1136 - d.1164)
|
| | | Third son of Geoffrey of Anjou and younger brother of Henry II. |
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| Pembroke |
| | Clare, Richard fitzGilbert de (Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke) ( - d.1176)
|
| | | Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, is also known as 'Strongbow'. In around 1168 the Earl was approached by the Irish King Dermot of Leinster who had been forced to flee to England by a rival Rory O'Connor. Dermot wanted help to regain his lands in Ireland and offered to let Richard marry his daughter and to rule Leinster after his death. Richard invaded Ireland and took back Leinster and captured Dublin. Richard's father Gilbert had been granted the castle at Chepstow and when Richard died the castle passed into the hands of his only daughter Isabel. Isabel married William Marshal who then took ownership of the castle. |
| | John (Earl of Pembroke - 1389)
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| | Marshal, Richard (Earl of Pembroke) ( - d.1234)
|
| | | Son of William Marshal who became Earl of Pembroke when his elder brother died in 1231. Richard rebelled against Henry III and Peter de Roches (Bishop of Winchester) and Peter de Rivaux (Justiciar) who had taken control of the countries finances against the rules laid down by the Magna Carta. After a brief war, Richard was murdered in Ireland. |
| | Marshal, William (Earl of Pembroke) ( - d.1219)
|
| | | Beginning penniless, William Marshal became an important figure, respected by Henry II, Richard I and king John. At the age of at least seventy he led forces against Louis VIII of France to assist a nine-year old Henry III retain his throne. |
| | Tudor, Jasper (Earl of Pembroke) ( - d.1496)
|
| | | Jasper Tudor was the second son of Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois. He was given the title Earl of Pembroke in 1453. When Edmund his elder brother died in captivity in 1456 Jasper took his wife Margaret who was expecting her first child to Pembroke Castle. |
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| Richmond |
| | Tudor, Edmund (Earl of Richmond) ( - d.1456)
|
| | | Edmund was the son of Owen Tudor, a Welsh landowner, and Catherine of France, the wife of Henry V. Edmund married into the Beaufort family and their son became Henry VII, the first Tudor king. |
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| Salisbury |
| | Neville, Richard (Earl of Salisbury) ( - d.1460)
|
| | | Father of the 'Kingmaker'. Richard held estates in Yorkshire which he inherited from his father Ralph Neville who was Earl of Westmorland. Richard married Alice, the heiress to the estates of Salisbury and this gave him control of lands in the south of England as well. |
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| Saxony |
| | Henry (Duke of Saxony)
|
| | | Married Matilda, Daughter of Henry II. |
|
| Shrewsbury |
| | Robert (of Belleme, Earl of Shrewsbury)
|
| | | Robert was a powerful and evil Norman baron. He already owned several castles in Normandy when in 1098 his brother died in Wales and Robert was given the title of Earl of Shrewsbury. Along with the title came the castles of Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Another important castle that came into Robert's possession was Arundel. Robert was an excellent castle architect and his work included Shrewsbury Castle, Bridgnorth Castle and the fortress at Gisor. Robert was involved in several revolts against William Rufus and Henry I. In 1102 Henry started to bring the powerful barons under control. Robert reinforced his castles but they fell to Henry. Robert finally surrendered at Shrewsbury Castle and he was banished to Normandy. Back in Normandy Robert treated his subjects badly. He fell into Henry I's hands again in 1111 and was imprisoned for the rest of his life. |
|
| Somerset |
| | Beaufort, Edmund (2nd Duke of Somerset) ( - d.1455)
|
| | | Edmund Beaufort was a Lancastrian supporter of King Henry VI of England. Beaufort's early military career was a great success, relieving Calias and capturing Harfleur from the French. But failing to prevent the the loss of Anjou, Maine and Normandy to the French his career ended badly. Back in England Beaufort's popularity was low and it was only the support of the King that kept him safe. When King Henry had to relinquish power because of his mental health Edmund Beaufort was locked in the Tower of London. When the King regained power Beaufort was released from the Tower. He supported the King until being killed at the Battle of St. Albans on 22 May, 1455. |
| | Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset) ( - d.1464)
|
| | | Son of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset who was killed at the Battle of St. Albans in 1455. Henry Beaufort died in 1464. |
| | Beaufort, Henry (Duke of Somerset) ( - d.1418)
|
| | | Son of John, Earl of Somerset. |
| | Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset) ( - d.1410)
|
| | | Son of John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford. |
| | Edward Seymour (Duke of Somerset, Protector)
|
| | | Edward Seymour was the brother of Jane Seymour, Queen of England to Henry VIII. When Henry VIII died in 1547 Edward Seymour was made Protector of the Realm to run the affairs of the country as Henry VIII's son Edward VI was only nine years old and too young to rule unaided. |
|
| Suffolk |
| | Brandon, Charles (Duke of Suffolk) (b.1485 - d.1545)
|
| | | Charles was a friend of Henry VIII who ran off with Henry's younger sister Mary after Mary's arranged marriage with Louis XII ended when Louis died in 1515. Charles and Mary were secretly married. They were both caught and forced to pay a fine. One of Charles and Mary's descendants was Lady Jane Grey. |
| | Grey, Henry (Duke of Suffolk) ( - d.1554)
|
| | | Henry married Frances the granddaughter of Mary a daughter of Henry VII. Henry and Frances had several daughters one of which was Lady Jane Grey. At the end of the reign of Edward VI Henry and Jane's father-in-law John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, plotted against Mary Tudor, Edward's sister, to place Jane on the throne of England. The plot failed and after another failed rebellion Henry was captured and executed. |
| | Pole, Edmund de la (Earl of Suffolk) ( - d.1513)
|
| | | Details to follow. |
| | Pole, John de la (Duke of Suffolk) ( - d.1491)
|
| | | Married Elizabeth the sister of Edward IV. |
| | Pole, William de la (Duke of Suffolk) ( - d.1450)
|
| | | William de la Pole was a powerful member of the inner circle of advisers of Henry VI. His dominance came to an end in 1450 when he was accused by Parliament of being the cause of the country's problems and was imprisoned. Henry VI allowed him to be banished rather than executed but as William left the country he was attacked and killed. |
|
| Surrey |
| | William (of Warenne, Earl of Surrey) ( - d.1088)
|
| | | At the time of the Conquest, William of Warenne accompanied William the Conqueror across from Normandy, fighting at the Battle of Hastings. William of Warenne was rewarded with huge amounts of land and helped his Lord, William the Conqueror put down revolts. He was responsible for putting up many castles in the quest to dominate the areas under his control. After the Conqueror's death, William supported William Rufus' claim to the throne and as a reward was granted the title of Earl of Surrey. He died in 1088 leaving a massive dynasty that would be powerful for several centuries. |
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| Toulouse |
| | Raymond (IV, Count of Toulouse)
|
| | | A rich Crusader from southern France who left on crusade in October 1096 swearing an oath never to return. He kept to his oath. |
| | Raymond (VI, Count of Toulouse)
|
| | | Played an important part in the Albigensian Crusade along with his son, Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse. |
| | Raymond (VII, Count of Toulouse)
|
| | | Played an important part in the Albigensian Crusade along with his father, Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse. |
|
| Valois |
| | Charles (Count of Valois, Anjou and Maine)
|
| | | Son of Philippe III, king of France. |
|
| Vermandois |
| | Magnus, Hugh (count of Vermandois)
|
| | | Hugh was the son of Henry I, King of France and younger brother of Philip I, King of France. Hugh was the highest ranking baron to take part in the First Crusade. |
|
| Warwick |
| | Beauchamp, Thomas (12th earl of Warwick) (b.1339 - d.1401)
|
| | | Thomas Beauchamp was one of the five lords appellant who accused several of Richard II's advisors of treason. Thomas took part in the battle of Radcot Bridge against the king where the king's army was defeated. In 1397 Thomas was arrested and sent to the Tower of London where the building he was imprisoned in was renamed after hin as the Beauchamp Tower. When Henry IV became King of England Thomas was released from the Tower and given back his lands. |
| | Dudley, John (Earl of Warwick, Duke of Northumberland)
|
| | | John Dudley challenged the power of the Duke of Somerset, the protector of Edward VI. Somerset was sent to the Tower of London and Dudley took his role as Edward's governor. Dudley attempted to place his family in power by marrying his son Guilford Dudley to Lady Jane Grey. He then got Edward to sign an agreement that meant Jane would become Queen of England after his death rather than his sisters Mary and Elizabeth. When Edward died in 1553 Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen but not crowned. Mary, the true heir to the throne, raised a large army and put an end to Dudley's ambitions. |
| | Neville, Richard (Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker') (b.1428 - d.1471)
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| | | Richard was a member of the powerful Neville family. His grandfather Ralph Neville had married the daughter of John of Gaunt (the son of Edward III) and his father gained the title Earl of Salisbury when he married Alice the previous Earl of Salisbuy's daughter. Richard himself married Anne Beauchamp the heiress to the Warwick earldom. The last male Beauchamp died without an heir and so Richard took the title of Earl of Warwick which gave him control of large amounts of land in the Midlands and South Wales. |
| | Plantagenet, Edward (Earl of Warwick) ( - d.1499)
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| | | Son of George, Duke of Clarence and Isabel Neville. Edward was nephew of Richard III and his title was the Earl of Warwick and potential heir to the English throne. At the age of ten, after Richard III's defeat at Bosworth and Henry VII becoming king, Edward was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. A man called Lambert Simnel appeared in Ireland in 1499 and claims were made that he was Edward, Earl of Warwick. |
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| Wessex |
| | Godwine (Earl of Wessex) ( - d.1053)
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| | | King Canute gave Godwine the title of Earl of Wessex and Godwine very quickly rose to be extremely powerful. In 1042 Edward the Confessor married Godwine's daughter Edith and from then on the Earl more or less ran the country. He opposed Edward's Norman advisors and in 1051 the Godwines revolted against the king. Edward expelled them from the country and at about the same time he promised William (the Conqueror) that he could have a claim to the English throne after Edward died. This may have been a ploy by Edward to prevent the Godwines claiming the throne themselves. In 1052 the Godwines, including Harold Godwinson, invaded England with a large army and Edward had to reinstate them to their former positions. Godwine died in following year. |
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| Westmorland |
| | Neville, Ralph (Earl of Westmorland) (b.1364 - d.1425)
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| | | Married Joan Beaufort, the grand-daughter of Edward III. |
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| York |
| | Edmund (of Langley, Duke of York) ( - d.1402)
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| | | Son of Edward III. |
| | Edward (Duke of York) ( - d.1415)
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| | | No details |
| | Richard (Duke of York) (b.1411 - d.1460)
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| | | Background |
| | Richard (Duke of York, Prince in the Tower) ( - d.1483)
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| | | Richard was the son of Edward IV, King of England. Richard's elder brother was called Edward who became king of England as Edward V in April of 1483 after the death of their father. Edward V was only thirteen years old when he became king and too young to rule unaided. Richard and Edward's uncle was Richard, Duke of Gloucester (the future king of England, Richard III). Gloucester stepped in to assist the two young boys and transferred them to the Tower of London for safe keeping. Unfortunately for the two boys Gloucester had his own plans of becoming king of England and mysteriously the boys disappeared supposedly murdered in the Tower. Although it has never been proven it is suspected that Gloucester had the two boys killed so he could become the king as Richard III. |
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