Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset (''probably'' 26 November 1401 – 25 November 1418) was an English nobleman who died aged 17 at the Siege of Rouen in France during the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...

, fighting for the Lancastrian cause. As he died unmarried without issue, his younger brother, John Beaufort, became his heir and the 3rd Earl of Somerset.

Origins

He was the eldest son and heir of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset (1371-1410), the eldest of the four legitimised sons 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 surviving) of King Edward III of England, and the father of King Henry IV. Because ...

(a younger son of King Edward III) by his mistress

Katherine Swynford Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster (born Katherine de Roet, – 10 May 1403) was the third wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the fourth (but third surviving) son of King Edward III. Daughter of a knight from County of Hainaut, Ha ...

. His mother was Margaret Holland (1385-1439), a daughter of Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent, the son of Joan "the Fair Maid of Kent", a grand-daughter of King

Edward I Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 125 ...

and wife of Edward the Black Prince (eldest brother of John of Gaunt) and mother of King Richard II

Career

Henry succeeded his father as Earl of Somerset on 16 March 1410. During his minority his mother held his lands for him until he reached the age of 15.

Death and succession

He died aged sixteen at the Siege of Rouen during the

, where he fought under the command of his uncle Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter.Harriss, G.L, ''Cardinal Beaufort: A Study of Lancastrian Ascendancy and Decline'' (Oxford: Clarendon, 1988), 102. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, 3rd Earl of Somerset (1404-1444).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerset, Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl Of 1401 births 1418 deaths Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset Earls of Somerset