Biography of John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset 1403-1444

Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet

Maternal Family Tree: Aoife NI Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188

1397 Richard II Rewards his Supporters

1418 Siege of Rouen

1421 Battle of Baugé

1443 Beaufort Campaign

Richard II Rewards his Supporters

On 29 Sep 1397 King Richard II (age 30) rewarded his relations with Dukedoms, possibly for their part in downfall of Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (deceased), Thomas Beauchamp 12th Earl Warwick (age 59) and Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl Surrey 11th Earl Arundel (deceased) ...

His older half-brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 45) was created 1st Duke Exeter. [his aunt] Elizabeth Lancaster Duchess Exeter (age 34) by marriage Duchess Exeter.

His nephew [his uncle] Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey (age 23) was created 1st Duke Surrey.

His second cousin once removed Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 29) was created 1st Duke Norfolk. Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 31) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.

His first cousin Edward York 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle (age 24) was created 1st Duke Albemarle aka Aumale. Beatrice Burgundy Countess Rutland and Cork (age 24) by marriage Duchess Albemarle aka Aumale.

His illegitimate first cousin [his father] John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset (age 24) was created 1st Marquess Somerset, 1st Marquess Dorset. [his mother] Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence (age 12) by marriage Marchioness Somerset, Marchioness Dorset.

Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 33) was created 1st Earl of Westmoreland. [his aunt] Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland (age 18) by marriage Countess of Westmoreland.

On 27 Nov 1397 [his father] John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset (age 24) and [his mother] Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence (age 12) were married. She by marriage Countess Somerset. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent (age 47). He the son of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 57) and Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster (age 47). They were half third cousins. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

In 1403 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset was born to John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset (age 30) and Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence (age 18). He a great grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 25 Mar 1404 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 1) was baptised.

In Nov 1411 [his step-father] Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence (age 23) and [his mother] Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence (age 26) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent (age 61). He the son of Henry IV King England (age 44) and Mary Bohun. They were first cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

Siege of Rouen

On 29 Jul 1418 the English forces commenced the Siege of Rouen. Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby (age 33) fought. John Blount (age 30) died. William Harrington (age 45), the King's Standard Bearer, was wounded.

Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford (age 40) fought.

[his brother] Henry Beaufort 2nd Earl Somerset (age 17) was killed. His brother John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 15) succeeded 3rd Earl Somerset.

In 1419 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 16) fought in his cousin King Henry V of England (age 32) campaigns in France.

Before 23 Mar 1421 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 18) accompanied the King's younger brother [his step-father] Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence (age 32) to the fighting in Anjou.

Battle of Baugé

On 23 Mar 1421 the Dauphin's (age 18) French army and a Scottish army heavily defeated the English army at the Battle of Baugé. On the French side Étienne Vignolles "La Hire" fought. On the Scottish side John Stewart 2nd Earl Buchan (age 40) and John Stewart of Darnley 1st Count Évreux (age 41) fought. William Douglas (age 37) was killed.

On the English side John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 18), [his uncle] Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter (age 44), [his brother] Thomas Beaufort Count Perche (age 16) and John Holland 2nd Duke Exeter (age 26) were captured. John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 18) would be captive for the next seventeen years. Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter (age 44) was released in 1422. Thomas Beaufort Count Perche (age 16) was released around 1427 in a prisoner exchange.

[his step-father] Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence (age 32) was killed in battle. Duke Clarence extinct.

John Lumley (age 38) was killed in battle.

John Ros 7th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 24) was killed in battle. His brother Thomas Ros 8th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 13) succeeded 8th Baron Ros Helmsley.

William Ros (age 24), and Gilbert V Umfraville were killed.

John Grey 1st Earl Tankerville (age 37) was killed in battle. His son Henry Grey 2nd Earl Tankerville (age 3) succeeded 2nd Earl Tankerville.

William Douglas 1st Lord Drumlanrig was present.

In 1438 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 35) was released after have been captive for seventeen years following his capture at the Battle of Baugé.

Before 1426 Oliver St John (age 25) and [his future wife] Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 15) were married.

In 1439 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 36) and Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 29) were married. She by marriage Countess Somerset. He the son of John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset and Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence (age 54). He a great grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 31 Dec 1439 [his mother] Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence (age 54) died.

Around 1440 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 37) was appointed Admiral of the Sea.

In 1443 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) was appointed 156th Knight of the Garter by King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 21).

1443 Beaufort Campaign

In Apr 1443 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) declared himself Lieutenant of Aquitaine and Captain-General of Guyenne. He was paid £25,000 attracting the enmity of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York (age 31) whose significants debts remained unpaid by the Crown.

In Sep 1443 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) led 7000 men to Cherbourg [Map]. He returned around Dec 1443 having achieved nothing but the loss of all his funds and, possibly, half his men.

Chronicle of Gregory 1443. 08 Sep 1443. And on the same yere, the viij day of Septembyr, there was done a grete vyage yn Fraunce by the Duke of Somesette (age 40) and his retynowe; and at the same viage were slayne and takyn to the nombyr of iij M vij c [3700], whereof were ix lordys and a squyer, whyche that was a grete captayne.

In Apr 1443 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) was appointed Lieutenant of Aquitaine.

On 31 May 1443 [his daughter] Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond was born to John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) and [his wife] Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 33) at Bletsoe Castle [Map]. Some sources suggest her death may have been two years earlier in 1441 by saying she was three years old when her father died on 30 May 1444 - see Excerpta Historica. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Before 20 Jun 1443 [his illegitimate daughter] Tacine Beaufort Baroness Grey Wilton was born illegitimately to John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40). She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In Aug 1443 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) landed 7000 men at Cherbourg [Map] and then marched south. His campaign achieved little being bought off by Francis Montfort I Duke Brittany (age 29). He marched through Maine [Map] then returned to England in the winter of 1443.

On 28 Aug 1443 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 40) was created 1st Duke Somerset, 1st Earl Kendal by King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 21). [his wife] Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 33) by marriage Duchess Somerset.

Around 1444 [his illegitimate son] John Beaufort was born illegitimately to John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 41). He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 30 May 1444 John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset (age 41) committed suicide. Suicide not certain but likely. Duke Somerset, Earl Kendal extinct. His brother [his brother] Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke Somerset (age 38) succeeded 4th Earl Somerset. Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 35) by marriage Countess Somerset.

His only child [his daughter] Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond aged one was his heir. King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 22) granted her wardship to William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 47) who married her to his son John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 1).

On 14 Apr 1447 Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles (age 41) and [his former wife] Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 37) were married. She by marriage Baroness Welles. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

On 31 Mar 1448 [his brother] Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke Somerset (age 42) was created 1st Duke Somerset. He is frequently referred to as the 2nd Duke Somerset since his brother John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset was the 1st Duke Somerset of the first creation. Edmund didn't inherit the Dukedom from his brother; it was a new creation. His did inherit the Earldom.

On 08 Aug 1482 [his former wife] Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 72) died.

John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset 1403-1444 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King Edward "Longshanks" I of England 1239-1307

King Edward III of England 1312-1377

John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster 1340-1399

Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey 1318-1372

Richard Fitzalan 10th Earl Arundel 8th Earl Surrey 1306-1376

Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent 1350-1397

Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster 1350-1403

Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England 1314-1369

Royal Ancestors of John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset 1403-1444

Kings Wessex: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 8 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 14 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 9 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 9 Grand Son of Malcolm III King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 7 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 3 Grand Son of Philip "The Fair" IV King France

Royal Descendants of John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset 1403-1444

King Henry VII of England and Ireland x 1

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 2

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 5

Ancestors of John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset 1403-1444

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Edward "Longshanks" I of England Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Edward II of England Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Dammartin Queen Consort Castile and Leon

Great x 1 Grandfather: King Edward III of England Son of King Edward II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" III King France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip "The Fair" IV King France 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabella of France Queen Consort England 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry I King Navarre 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Blois I Queen Navarre 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Queen Navarre 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

GrandFather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Hainault I Count Hainault 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Hainault II Count Hainault II Count Holland 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Adelaide Gerulfing Countess Hainault 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Hainault I Count Hainault III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainault and Holland 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" III King France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Valois I Count Valois 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainault 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles II King Naples 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Capet Countess Valois 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples

Father: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Giles "Payne" Roet

GrandMother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster

John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thurstan de Holland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert de Holand of Upholland

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Holland 1st Baron Holand

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Zouche 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alan Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Ashby 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ela Longespée Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Zouche Baroness Holand 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Segrave 1st Baron Segrave

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Segrave

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud de Lucy

GrandFather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Edward "Longshanks" I of England Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund of Woodstock 1st Earl Kent Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" III King France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret of France Queen Consort England 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maria Reginar Queen Consort France 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Baldwin Wake

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Wake 1st Baron Wake of Liddell 2 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Hawise Quincy Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Wake Countess Kent 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Fiennes

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Fiennes Baroness Wake Liddell 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Beaumont 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Mother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzalan 7th Earl Arundel 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 8th Earl Arundel 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Mortimer Countess Arundel 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Fitzalan 9th Earl Arundel 4 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas I Marquess Saluzzo 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Saluzzo Countess Arundel 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 10th Earl Arundel 8th Earl Surrey 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Warenne 6th Earl Surrey

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Warenne

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Lusignan Countess of Surrey

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Warenne Countess Arundel

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert de Vere 5th Earl of Oxford

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Vere

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Sanford Countess of Oxford

GrandMother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund "Crouchback" Plantagenet 1st Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Lancaster Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet Count of Artois Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Queen Navarre 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Patrick Chaworth

Great x 3 Grandfather: Patrick Chaworth

Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Chaworth

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick