Elizabeth of Lancaster, Duchess of Exeter
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Elizabeth of Lancaster (bf. 21 February 1363 – 24 November 1426) was the third child of
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399) was an English royal prince, military leader, and statesman. He was the fourth son (third to survive infancy as William of Hatfield died shortly after birth) of King Edward ...
, and his first wife
Blanche of Lancaster Blanche of Lancaster (25 March 1342 – 12 September 1368) was a member of the English royal House of Plantagenet and the daughter of the kingdom's wealthiest and most powerful peer, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster. She was the first w ...
. Elizabeth was made a
Lady of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the George Cr ...
in 1378.


Life

Some sources list her as having been born after 1 January 1363, but prior to 21 February 1363. She was born in
Burford, Shropshire Burford is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,108, rising to 1,392 at the 2011 Census. Location The parish is situated to the north of the River Teme, on the other ...
. In her childhood, she was raised in her father's royal household under Katherine Swynford, whom she held in high regard. She grew up a headstrong and spirited young woman compared to her more serious elder sister.


Marriages


First marriage

On 24 June 1380, at
Kenilworth Castle Kenilworth Castle is a castle in the town of Kenilworth in Warwickshire, England managed by English Heritage; much of it is still in ruins. The castle was founded during the Norman conquest of England; with development through to the Tudor pe ...
, she married
John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke (October 137230 December 1389) was the son of John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and Anne Manny, 2nd Baroness Manny. He was also Baron Abergavenny. Infant Inheritance He succeeded his father as an infan ...
. She was seventeen years old and the groom was only eight. She was transferred to another household befitting her new rank as Countess of Pembroke. However, six years later, the marriage between Elizabeth and young Hastings was annulled.


Second marriage

By the age of 23, Elizabeth had tired of her 14-year-old husband. It is said that she had also been seduced by her cousin Richard II of England's half-brother John Holland, a known schemer, and had become pregnant by him. This forced her father to have her marriage annulled, and on 24 June 1386, at Plymouth, she hastily married Holland. Her father dealt with her leniently and favoured his new son-in-law, such was Holland's charm.


Third marriage

Holland, now bearing the title Duke of Exeter, was executed in 1400 for conspiring during the
Epiphany Rising The Epiphany Rising was a failed rebellion against King Henry IV of England in early January 1400. Background Richard II rewarded those who had supported him against Gloucester and the Lords Appellant with a plethora of new titles. Upon the us ...
against his cousin, Elizabeth's brother Henry IV of England, who had by this time usurped the throne from Richard II. That same year, Elizabeth married Sir John Cornwall, 1st Baron Fanhope and Milbroke. Her marriage to Sir John caused some scandal, since Sir John failed to ask her brother for permission to marry Elizabeth. This resulted in Sir John's arrest. However, the marriage is said to have been a happy and loving one and they went on to have two children together, Constance and John. Elizabeth died in 1426 and was buried at St Mary's Church, Burford,
Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to ...
.


Children

With John Holland she had six children: #Richard Holland, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon (d. 3 September 1400), eldest son and heir, who survived his father only 7 months #Constance Holland (1387–1437) who married
Thomas Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk Thomas de Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, 8th Baron Segrave, 7th Baron Mowbray (17 September 1385 – 8 June 1405), English nobleman and rebel, was the son of Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, and Lady Elizabeth F ...
and Sir John Grey and had issue. #Elizabeth Holland (c. 1389 – 18 November 1449); who married Sir
Roger Fiennes Sir Roger Fiennes (1384–1449) was an English knight of the shire, High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, and builder of Herstmonceux Castle. He was also Treasurer of King Henry VI's household. Origins Roger Fiennes was the son of William de Fienne ...
and had issue. #Alice Holland (c. 1392 – c. 1406) who married
Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford KG (15 August 1385 – 15 February 1417) was the son and heir of Aubrey de Vere, 10th Earl of Oxford. He took part in the trial of Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and Lord Scrope for their part in the Southampto ...
; had no issue. #
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 ...
(1395–1447); had issue. #Sir Edward Holland (1399–1413); had no issue. With John Cornwall, 1st Baron Fanhope and Milbroke she had two children: #Constance Cornwall (c. 1401 – c. 1427) who married
John Fitzalan, 14th Earl of Arundel John Fitzalan, 7th Earl of Arundel, 4th Baron Maltravers KG (14 February 140812 June 1435) was an English nobleman and military commander during the later phases of the Hundred Years' War. His father, John Fitzalan, 3rd Baron Maltravers, fou ...
, but had no issue. #Sir John Cornwall (c. 1404 – 2 May 1422) was only seventeen when, in his father's presence, his head was blown off by a gun-stone at the
Siege of Meaux The siege of Meaux was fought in 1421-1422 between the English and the French during the Hundred Years' War. The English were led by King Henry V. Henry became ill while fighting this long battle, which took place during the winter months. He di ...
.Barker, pg. 159 He had no issue.


References


Further reading

*Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online resource) 2004–2007. (Print version: Oxford dictionary of national biography : in association with the British Academy : from the earliest times to the year 2000 / edited by H.C.G. Matthew and Brian Harrison.) Article on "Elizabeth of Lancaster" by Anthony Goodman. {{DEFAULTSORT:Elizabeth Of Lancaster 1364 births 1426 deaths House of Lancaster Daughters of English dukes Pembroke Exeter
Elizabeth of Lancaster, Duchess of Exeter Elizabeth of Lancaster (bf. 21 February 1363 – 24 November 1426) was the third child of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his first wife Blanche of Lancaster. Elizabeth was made a Lady of the Garter in 1378. Life Some sources list h ...
Holland family 14th-century English people 14th-century English women 15th-century English people 15th-century English women