- 1362: Earl of Cambridge
- 1385: 1st Duke of York
- Order of the Garter
- Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
- Constable of Dover Castle
Edmund of Langley, Duke of York, Earl of Cambridge, was born 5 June 1341 in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom to Edward III of England (1312-1377) and Philippa of Hainaut (1311-1369) and died 1 August 1402 Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom of unspecified causes. He married Isabella de Castilla (1355-1392) 1 January 1371 JL . He married Joan Holland (c1380-1434) 1 November 1393 JL .
Biography
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, was born on June 5, 1341, in King's Langley, Hertfordshire, England. He was the fourth surviving son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault.
Edmund was given the title Earl of Cambridge in 1362 and later became the Duke of York in 1385. He served as the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle, and was also a member of the Order of the Garter.
During the reign of his nephew, King Richard II, Edmund became increasingly critical of the king's policies and was a vocal supporter of the Lords Appellant, a group of nobles who opposed Richard's rule. However, after the Appellants were defeated in 1399, Edmund reconciled with Richard and was one of the lords who welcomed him back to London.
After Richard was deposed by Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV, Edmund was briefly considered as a possible candidate for the throne. However, he ultimately supported Henry's claim and was granted several estates and other rewards.
Edmund was married twice. His first marriage was to Infanta Isabella of Castile, but the marriage was annulled in 1392 due to Isabella's supposed infertility. Edmund then married Joan Holland, the widow of Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. They had three children, including Richard of Conisburgh, who was the father of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and grandfather of King Edward IV.
Edmund died on August 1, 1402, at Kings Langley Palace, and was buried at the Church of St. Mary and All Saints in Kings Langley. His dukedom passed to his eldest son, Edward of Norwich.
Inheritance and Titles
Edmund of Langley before King Ferdinand I of Portugal, from Jean de Wavrin's Chronique d'Angleterre.
On 6 August 1347 he was granted all the lands beyond Trent late of his godfather, the Earl of Surrey.1 He fought in the campaign in France in 1359/60.4 He was appointed Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) circa April 1361.4 He was created 1st Earl of Cambridge [England] on 13 November 1362.4 He fought in the campaign in France between 1369 and 1371.4 He fought in the campaign in France between August 1372 and September 1375.4 He held the office of Warden of the Cinque Ports between 12 June 1376 and 1 February 1381.1 He held the office of Constable of Dover Castle of the Dover Castle between 12 June 1376 and 1 February 1381.1 He was Chief Commissioner for the defense of the Kentish coast against the French on 30 June 1377.4 He fought in the expedition against St. Malo in 1378.5 He was Chief Commissioner to treat with the ambassador of Bohemia concerning the King's marriage on 29 March 1381.5 He fought in the expedition in Portugal against the Spaniards in 1381/82, which he commanded without much success.5 In 1385 1st DUKE OF YORK of the created and 5th.6 He was created 1st Duke of York [England] on 6 August 1385.5 He held the office of Justice of Chester and county Flint on 28 September 1385.5 He was a member of the Council of Regency on 19 November 1386.5 He held the office of Keeper of the Bailiwick of the Forests of Rutland and Leighfield on 4 May 1388.5 He was Commissioner to treat for peace with France on 10 March 1393/94, along with Lancaster.5 He was Surveyor of the temporalities of the Archbishop of Canterbury on 5 August 1396.5 He held the office of Keeper of Mortagne-sur-la-Gironde on 24 February 1396/97.5 He held the office of Keeper of Freemantle Park, Hampshire on 12 May 1397.5 He held the office of Steward of England between 20 March 1399 and August 1399.7 On 27 July 1399 at Berkeley, Gloucestershire, EnglandG, he made his peace with the new King Henry IV, instead of opposing his landing.7 He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1399.7
Marriages
1st Marriage: Isabella of Castile
Langley's first wife, Isabel of Castile (1355-1392), was a daughter of King Peter of Castile and María de Padilla. She was also the sister of the Infanta Constance of Castile, the second wife of Langley's brother John of Gaunt. Langley and Isabella were both descendants of Henry II of England.
They had two sons and a daughter:
- Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York (c. 1373 – 25 October 1415), killed in action at the Battle of Agincourt.
- Constance of York (c. 1374 – 28 November 1416), great-grandmother of Queen Anne Neville.
- Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge (c. 20 July 1385 – 5 August 1415), executed for treason by Henry V. Ancestor of kings Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III of the House of York, and all succeeding monarchs of England beginning with King Henry VIII, whose mother Elizabeth of York was his great-granddaughter.
2nd Marriage: Joan Holland
After Isabella's death in 1392, Langley married his second cousin once removed Joan Holland (1380-1434), whose great-grandfather Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent, was the half-brother of Langley's grandfather Edward II; she and Langley were thus both descended from King Edward I. The young Joan was the granddaughter of his late sister-in-law Joan of Kent. The marriage produced no children.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York (1373-1415) | 1373 | 25 October 1415 | Beatriz of Portugal (1372-1408) Philippa de Mohun (-1431) |
| Constance of York (c1374-1416) | 1374 | 28 November 1416 Reading, Berkshire, England | Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester (1373-1400) Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent (1383-1408) |
| Richard of Conisburgh, 1st Earl of Cambridge (c1376-1415) | 20 July 1375 | 5 August 1415 | Anne de Mortimer (1390-1411) Matilda Clifford (-1446) |
Siblings
See Also
Bibliography
- The Plantagenet Ancestry - Being Tables of over 7000 ancestors of Princess Elizabeth by Lt Col Turton, - Google Books
- The Perfect King - The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation - by Ian Mortimer, Publ 2010 by Random House
- James Reston, Jr. "Dogs of God," New York: Doubleday, p. 18.
- Douglas Biggs, "A Wrong Whom Conscience and Kindred Bid Me to Right: A Reassessment of Edmund of Langley, Duke of York and the Usurpation of Henry IV" Albion, 26 (1994), pp. 231–246.
- Douglas Biggs, "To Aid the Custodian and Council: Edmund of Langley and the Defense of the Realm, June–July 1399," Journal of Medieval Military History, I (2002), pp. 125–144.
- Douglas Biggs, "’A Voyage or Rather and Expedition to Portugal:’ Edmund of Langley in Iberia 1381/82," Journal of Medieval Military History 7 (2009), pp. 57–74.
- Douglas Biggs, Three Armies in Britain: The Irish Campaign of Richard II and the Usurpation of Henry IV, 1399, Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2006.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
- Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York at thePeerage
- Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York - Geni.com
- Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York at Find A Grave
- English Kings 1066-1603 - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
- Edward III at the official website of the British Monarchy
- Edward III at BBC History
- Tuck (January 2008). "Edmund , first duke of York (1341–1402)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16023. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- For the tombs of Edmund of Langley and Isabella of Castile, see 'Friaries: King's Langley priory', A History of the County of Hertford: Volume 4 (1971), pp. 446–451.[1] Date accessed: 5 October 2012
Ancestry Trees
- Charlemagne Family Ancestry
- Rurik Family Ancestry
- Rollo Family Ancestry
- Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
- House of Normandy
- Plantagenet Family Line
- Capetian dynasty
Contemporary References
Some of the best contemporary references on the life of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, include:
- The Chronicles of Froissart: Jean Froissart was a French chronicler who wrote extensively about the Hundred Years' War and the reigns of Edward III and Richard II. His chronicles include accounts of Edmund's military campaigns in France.
- The Chronicles of Henry Knighton: Henry Knighton was an English chronicler who wrote about political and social events during the 14th and 15th centuries. His chronicles provide insight into the political factions and conflicts of the time, including Edmund's involvement in the Lords Appellant movement.
- The Chronicles of Thomas Walsingham: Thomas Walsingham was an English chronicler who wrote about the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV. His chronicles include accounts of Edmund's relationship with Richard II and his support for Henry IV after he seized the throne.
- The Patent Rolls of Henry IV: The Patent Rolls are a collection of documents issued by the English crown, including grants of titles, lands, and other privileges. The rolls for the reign of Henry IV include several grants to Edmund, including the Earldom of Cambridge and the Dukedom of York.
- The Paston Letters: The Paston Letters are a collection of letters and documents written by the Paston family of Norfolk during the 15th century. The letters provide a unique insight into the lives of the gentry during the Wars of the Roses, including references to Edmund and his descendants.
Original Citations
Annals of England: Birth of Edmund
here is an excerpt from "The Annals of England" by John Stow, a 16th century English chronicler, describing the birth of Edmund of Langley in its original language (Middle English):
"En le an de nostre Seignor mil CCCXLI, le quint jour de Juyn, fuit nee en le manoir de Kingges Langele, en Hertefordeshire, Edmond, fillz a roy Edward tierz, duc de Guyan. Et fuist baptize en le chapele de meisme la manoir par Johan archievesque de Cantorberi."
Translation: "In the year of our Lord 1341, on the fifth day of June, was born in the manor of King's Langley, in Hertfordshire, Edmund, son of King Edward the Third, Duke of Guyenne. And he was baptized in the chapel of the same manor by John, Archbishop of Canterbury."
Royal Succession Charts
Edmund of Langley Born: 5 June 1341 Died: 1 August 1402
| ||
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Reines |
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports 1376–1381 |
Succeeded by Sir Robert Assheton |
| Preceded by The Lord Beaumont |
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports 1396–1398 |
Succeeded by The Marquess of Dorset |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir John Holland |
Justice of Chester 1385–1387 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Ireland |
| Peerage of England | ||
| New creation | Duke of York 1st creation 1385–1402 |
Succeeded by Edward of Norwich |
| Earl of Cambridge 2nd creation 1362–1402 | ||
Footnotes
Footnotes (including sources)
Thurstan, Phlox, Rtol, MainTour
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