The title Duke of Exeter was created several times in England in the later Middle Ages. Exeter is the main town of

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...

. It was first created for John Holland, the half-brother of King Richard II in 1397. That title was rescinded upon Henry IV's accession to the throne two years later. The title was then granted to the former's half-brother, Thomas Beaufort, 1st Earl of Dorset by his nephew Henry V. Following Beaufort's death without heirs in 1426, the title was restored to the Holland family, which held it until the 3rd Duke was attainted in 1461 as a Lancastrian, dying in 1475.

Dukes of Exeter, first creation (1397)

Arms of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter

John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter, 1st Earl of Huntingdon ( 1352 – 16 January 1400), KG, of Dartington Hall in Devon, was a half-brother of King Richard II (1377–1399), to whom he remained strongly loyal. He is primarily remembered for being ...

(1352–1400), half-brother of Richard II, was executed for treason against his half-brother's cousin and rival Henry IV Bolingbroke, at which point his honours were forfeit.

Coat of arms

*Arms: The arms of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

(gules, three lions passant or), within a border azure, charged with

fleur-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

of the second. *Crest: The royal lion on a

chapeau A chapeau is a flat-topped hat once worn by senior clerics. In heraldry In European ecclesiastical heraldry, it is used as a mark of ecclesiastical dignity, especially that of cardinals, where it is called the ''red chapeau''. It is worn over t ...

, gorged with a

collar Collar may refer to: Human neckwear *Clerical collar (informally ''dog collar''), a distinctive collar used by the clergy of some Christian religious denominations *Collar (clothing), the part of a garment that fastens around or frames the neck ...

azure, charged with fleurs-de-lis, and ducally crowned.

Dukes of Exeter, second creation (1416)

Arms of Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter

Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter (c. January 137731 December 1426) was an English military commander during the Hundred Years' War, and briefly Chancellor of England. He was the third of the four children born to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, ...

(c. 1377–1426), third legitimated son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (himself the third son of Edward III), died without issue.

Coat of arms

*Arms: The arms of England (quarterly: first and fourth, azure, three fleurs-de-lis; second and third, gules, three lions passant or), within a border gobony azure and ermine. *Crest: A portcullis or, nailed azure, chains of the first.

Dukes of Exeter, third creation (1444)

:Sometimes numbered 2nd and 3rd dukes in reference to the 1397 creation *

John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, (29 March 1395 – 5 August 1447) was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. His father, the 1st Duke of Exeter, was a maternal half-brother to Ri ...

, 1st in this creation (1395–1447), son of the 1st Duke of the 1397 creation, was restored to his father's honours after service to his cousin, the Lancastrian king, Henry V *

Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter, 3rd Earl of Huntington (27 June 1430 – September 1475) was a Lancastrian leader during the English Wars of the Roses. He was the only son of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, and his first wife, Anne Staff ...

, 2nd in this creation (1430–1475), son of preceding, titles forfeited 1461

Coat of arms

As the first creation above.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Exeter Extinct dukedoms in the Peerage of England Forfeited dukedoms in the Peerage of England Noble titles created in 1397 Noble titles created in 1416 Noble titles created in 1444

Dukes of Exeter, first creation (1397)

Coat of arms

Dukes of Exeter, second creation (1416)

Coat of arms

Dukes of Exeter, third creation (1444)

Coat of arms

See also

References