#john of lancaster duke of bedford

[historicconfessions]

[harryofderby]

Thinking about the pictures in the Bedford Hours once again and I know that most of you already know this but it is obvious that Bedford had his brother depicted as St. George due to-

1) The resemblance in appearance between Bedford and George

2) St George being dressed in the robes of the Sovereign of the Order of the Garter ( which was the King of England) rather than slaying the dragon. ( Perhaps, the dragon was already slain).

3) The bowl cut and the age of St George which with 1) and 2) allows us to narrow it down to Henry V.

Which makes it obvious that St. George is Henry V. However, it is interesting that Henry V is shown with a beard which is at stark contrast with virtually every other portrayal of him.

This taken along with the expressions of John, Duke of Bedford and St. George which is a combination of love, devotion, duty, solemnity and sorrow implies to me that Henry V may have grown a beard in the final few months of hie life and this was against his will and entirely due to his illness which rendered him incapable of shaving considering the fact that there is no evidence of either John or Humphrey growing a beard in their lives ( both of them looked upto their brother Harry a lot).

[eve-to-adam]

Book illustration - Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland with her daughters.

[une-sanz-pluis]

The thing that strikes me as extraordinary about Henry V and his brothers is how there's no real comparative case to make about English kings who were universally supported by their brothers. Edward II alienated his brothers and stepmother by favouring his favourites at their expense. Edward III's only brother, John of Eltham, died young and Edward was rumoured to have murdered him. Of the "three sons of York", George Duke of Clarence attempted to usurp his brother and was later executed for treason by Edward IV while Richard III usurped his brother's sons and had them declared bastards. The Devil's Brood was, well, the Devil's Brood.

Yet whatever could be said for the rivalry between Henry V and Thomas, Duke of Clarence in their father's reign, or the fractious relationship between John, Duke of Bedford and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in their nephew's reign, they worked as a team. They were all loyal to Henry V and he rewarded their loyalty. There is no sign of faction or discontent between them.

[themidnightcircusshow]

On one hand, John probably would have been a great king and could have potentially mitigated a lot of factors that lead to the war of the roses

On the other hand, John had no legitimate children, and no one, no one wanted King Humphrey I

[henryfitzempress]

Miniature of Anne of Burgundy, duchess of Bedford, kneeling before Anne, the Virgin, and Christ. British Library Add MS 18850, f. 257v.

[elysabeththequeene]

medieval women week (day two)

favourite non queen or queen-adjacent woman: jacquetta of luxembourg (1415/1416-1472)

Jacquetta was a prominent figure doing the War of The Roses, and was firmly allied to the House of Lancaster via her first marriage to the John, Duke of Bedford, who was Henry V's brother, their marriage bore no children and John died at Rouen on September 15 1435. Soon on her journey to England, Jacquetta met Richard Woodville who was commissioned by Henry VI, they fell in love and were married in secret, without permission from the King. Theirs was a fruitful marriage that resulted into fourteen children, including the future Queen consort Elizabeth Woodville, and by the mid 1440's the Woodvilles would be in a powerful position at court.

(no known portrait of Jacquetta survives, above is a depiction of a 15th century Burgundian woman by the artist Petrus Christus that dates from 1450-1460)

[whencyclopedia]

Henry VI of England

Henry VI of England ruled as king from 1422 to 1461 CE and again from 1470 to 1471 CE. Succeeding his father Henry V of England (r. 1413-1422 CE), Henry VI was crowned the king of France in 1431 CE but he could not prevent a French revival led by Charles VII of France (r. 1422-1461 CE) and such figures as Joan of Arc (c. 1412-1431 CE). The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453 CE) was ultimately lost and with it all England's territory in France except Calais. Back in England, the king's weakness of character and mind, and the intense rivalry between his barons led to the conflict known as the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487 CE) between the rival houses of Lancaster and York. After an episode of insanity, Henry VI had, in effect, a regent, Richard, the Duke of York in 1454 CE. Despite military victories by Henry's wife, Queen Margaret, the king was ultimately deposed by Richard's son Edward in 1461 CE. Henry would make a brief return to the throne in 1470 CE before Edward, now Edward IV of England (1461-1470 & 1471-1483 CE), was once more victorious on the battlefield and able to declare himself king for a second time. Henry was then murdered in the Tower of London in May 1471 CE.

Succession

Henry was born on 6 December 1421 CE in Windsor Castle, the son of Henry V of England and Catherine of Valois (l. 1401 - c. 1437 CE), the daughter of Charles VI of France. The reign of Henry's father was short but brilliant. Pressing his claim to the French throne, which had started with Edward III of England (r. 1327-1377 CE), Henry V had won a famous victory against a French army at the Battle of Agincourt in October 1415 CE and then conquered Normandy between 1417 and 1419 CE. This was to be the peak of English fortunes during the on-off conflict between the two countries known to history as the Hundred Years' War. The victories allowed Henry V to sign the 1420 CE treaty of Troyes with Charles VI of France (r. 1380-1422 CE) which made Henry the French king's heir while the blood heir, the Dauphin Charles, was disinherited. All this happened while France was split between two rival factions: the Burgundians and the Armagnacs.

The English barons would entangle themselves in a spiral of competition to see who could hold most power while Henry remained a minor.

Henry V died, probably of dysentery on 31 August 1422 CE at Bois de Vincennes in France. The English king had missed the chance to become the king of France by less than two months as Charles VI died on 21 October 1422 CE. Prince Henry, not even one year old, became the new king of England and the youngest to hold such a title before or since. He would not receive his coronation until 6 November 1429 CE in Westminster Abbey, officially becoming Henry VI of England. In the meantime, the infant had two regents, appointed by Henry V before his death: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (l. 1390-1447 CE) for England and John, Duke of Bedford (l. 1389-1435 CE) for the territories in France, where, at least according to the Treaty of Troyes, he was also now the king. Another important figure was the king's great-uncle, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester. These three men and others would entangle themselves in a spiral of competition to see who could hold most power while Henry remained a minor.

The Wars of the Roses were not over yet, though. Edward, the Duke of York's son, backed by the Earl of Warwick, was promoted as a replacement to his father and to King Henry. When Edward won the bloody Battle of Towton in March 1461 CE, the largest and longest battle in English history, this is indeed what transpired. Henry VI was deposed, and he, Queen Margaret, and their son Edward (b. 13 October 1453 CE) all fled to Scotland. Edward of York, just 19 years of age, was crowned Edward IV of England at Westminster Abbey on 28 June 1461 CE. Even this was still not the end of the civil war, merely a pause.

Continue reading...

[pwlanier]

Gold plaque: God the Father, the Annunciation, the Crucifixion, Saint Anne and Saint George, with the donor (probably John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford) before Saint Catherine, Saint Christopher, Saint Stephen, and Saint Barbara, Paris, circa 1423-1430. Gold, translucent enamel on basse-taille gold.

This little gold plaque is unquestionably among the most refined and accomplished examples of Medieval enamelwork. Stylistically, the type of figures together with the treatment of drapery and organisation of the space are fully consistent with the Parisian art of the 1420s and offer multiple comparisons with the art of illumination from the same period.

Given the absence of heraldic emblems, an indication of the patron’s identity can only be drawn from the specific choice and combination of different Saints, and of the place they occupy in the composition. Those represented here are among the most popular Saints of the period. However, the association of some of these with others on this plaque, and their placement, reveal a specific meaning that would have been determined by the patron. We should therefore note the extremely atypical and prominent place given here to Saint Anne and Saint George, who hold corresponding positions to either side of the Cross. The association of these two Saints in the central register of the composition, together with how the patron is shown as an important military figure kneeling at the foot of the Cross, allow us to suggest that he may be identified as John of Lancaster, first Duke of Bedford.

Third son of King Henry V of England, Lancaster became Constable of England in 1403 and Duke of Bedford in 1414. He acceded to the Regency of France on behalf of his nephew Henry VI in 1422. In 1423, he married Anne of Burgundy, daughter of Duke John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria. This alliance echoed the one sealed between the English and the Burgundians shortly after the Treaty of Troyes (1420), which disinherited Charles VI by placing the Kingdom of France under the Regency of the Crown of England. Thus, the association – as on the plaque – of Saint George, one of the principal patron saints of the Duke of Bedford, and of Saint Anne, the patron of his wife, makes a notable appearance on the two full-page illuminations of the Hours of the Duke of Bedford, where the Regent and his spouse are both depicted before these Saints, personal to each of them.

Courtesy Alain Truong

[letsgostealthelouvre]

In the Louvre’s records, the title of this translates to English as “Crying” and you know what, legit. I feel you, bud. 

The Louvre tells me that this is a decoration from the tomb of Anne of Burgundy, daughter of John the Fearless and wife of John of Lancaster, the Duke of Bedford. Her brother commissioned the monument; this figure was one of the “mourners” adorning the tomb prior to the church’s destruction (I believe during the Revolution). 

[ID: A small figurine of a person; their body is concealed under a bulky robe capped with a cowl, and only their face is visible. Their eyes are closed and their mouth is frowning slightly; they appear to be crying, but very elegantly so.]

[womenwhochangedhistory]

ELIZABETH OF YORK, THE WHITE ROSE

The eldest child of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York was born at Westminster on 11th February, 1466. She was christened by George Neville, Archbishop of York and her godparents were Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, Cecily Neville, Dowager Duchess of York and Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford. Elizabeth’s parents had married secretly at Grafton Manor, soon after her father’s accession to the throne. Her mother, Elizabeth Woodville was the daughter of Sir Richard Woodville, (later created Earl Rivers) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg, the widow of John, Duke of Bedford (the brother of Henry V). Edward IV had met Elizabeth’s mother, the widow of Sir John Grey, a Lancastrian knight who was killed at St. Albans in 1461, when she came to petition him for the return of her husband’s estates. Edward had wanted to make her his mistress, but she held out for marriage. Following the death of her father and the usurpation of Richard III, Elizabeth and her siblings, including Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, the so-called Princes in the Tower, was declared illegitimate by the Act of Titulus Regius. Her young brothers disappeared inside the Tower of London amidst rumours that they had been murdered. How Elizabeth herself reacted to their demise has gone unrecorded, but she had at the time taken sanctuary with her mother at Westminster Abbey. Rumour suggested that Richard III was planning to marry her himself. Her mother, in secret correspondence with Margaret Beaufort, agreed to the marriage of Elizabeth and Margaret’s son, Richard’s rival and the exiled heir to the House of Lancaster, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who took a public oath to marry Elizabeth should he became King of England. Richmond became King Henry VII after his victory over Richard III at Bosworth Field and the Princess was brought back to London from Sheriff Hutton Castle in Yorkshire. Henry was crowned at Westminster alone on 30th October, to underline that he ruled in his own right. Parliament petitioned the king to honour his promise to marry the Yorkist heiress and the marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII was finally celebrated on 18th January 1486 at Westminster Abbey. As the eldest daughter of King Edward IV with no surviving brothers, Elizabeth of York had a strong claim to the throne in her own right, but she did not rule as queen regnant. The rule of a queen regnant would not be accepted in England for another sixty-seven year until the ascension of Elizabeth’s granddaughter, Mary I. Nine months later, the new Queen was delivered of a son. He was given the symbolic name of Arthur, in honour of the legendary Dark Age British King. Elizabeth was finally crowned Queen Consort on 25 November 1487. Elizabeth was tall, fair haired, attractive and gentle in natured. Despite being a political arrangement, the marriage proved successful and both partners appear to have genuinely cared for each other. Elizabeth was generous to her relations, servants and benefactors, and she enjoyed music and dancing, as well as dicing. The Queen’s household was ruled byLady Margaret Beaufort. The Queen’s own mother, the meddlesome and grasping Elizabeth Woodville, suspected of involvement in Yorkist plots, was shut up in a nunnery and stripped of all her belongings. The marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII was to produce seven children, of which only four survived the perils of infancy in Tudor times. One of these was the future Henry VIII. Elizabeth of York  died tragically on her 37th birthday, after a long and difficult labor that produced a baby girl, Katherine, who also perished. According to records, in addition to the entire kingdom and the royal court, the king fell into deep mourning, and became more reclusive, avoinding public appearances.  Elizabeth was buried at Westminster Abbey, within an magnificent effigy created by the Renaissance sculptor Pietro Torrigiano. Henry VII would be buried at her side, only six years later.

[harryofderby]

I was thinking about switching to John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford in Tumblr but decided against it as I am already him on discord so I shall remain Henry IV here.

[eve-to-adam]

How to make Richard of York angry, Season 7, Episode 12

Cecily Neville: What do you do when York sends you annoying letters? Isabel Plantagenet: I'll give him a tailored answer. Cecily Neville: Do you write even more annoying letters? Isabel Plantagenet: No. I send him lines from the Canterbury Tales, an answer he won't understand a word of. This makes him lose his mind.

[heartofstanding]

Hi! I'm not not as familiar with 14th/15th century English history as I am with earlier and later periods, and I'm getting conflicting information online, so I wanted to ask: Where Philippa of Hainault and Joan of Navarre formally regents during Edward III and Henry V's reigns? I know Isabella of France technically wasn't, but I'm a little confused regarding Philippa and Joan since different sites are telling me different things, and the book "Later Plantagenet consorts" that I recently read doesn't specify anything.

I wasn't sure whether to send this ask to this blog or your Lancaster side blog so I'm really really sorry if it's inconvenient

Thank you!

No worries, I'll take asks on either of my blogs. 💖 And I'm sorry it took me awhile to answer this; I was trying to finish off the ask about Jacqueline of Hainault and wanted to check some references because I'm not very familiar with Philippa's life. It's actually a very simple answer: neither Philippa or Joan were officially regents for their husband and stepson respectively.

I'm not sure where the story of Philippa's regency comes from; possibly from Froissart who wrote about her leading the English army at the Battle of Neville's Cross but in 1346, England was nominally led by Lionel of Antwerp (who was seven years old) and Philippa had joined Edward III in Calais the month before the Battle of Neville's Cross. It does seem like she had a great deal of authority when Edward was away but lacked the formal position of regent. From Lisa Benz St. John's Three Medieval Queens:

There were never any queen regents or keepers in England, as there were in France. However, fourteenth-century English queens acted in administrative capacities when the king was absent from the realm. Isabella [of France] and Philippa were never officially made regents or custos [keepers], but they played a significant part in ruling the kingdom as one of the king’s central administrators. They administered the kingdom in several ways: they aided the king and chancellor in the chancery; and they acted as part of the institution supporting the regent, who was often one of their sons.

Likewise, Joan of Navarre did not serve as regent during Henry V's absence. From Elena Woodacre's Joan of Navarre: Infanta, Duchess, Queen, Witch?:

In June, before Henry's departure, he formally bid Joan farewell and gave her leave to stay in several royal residences during his absence. He did not, however, entrust her with the governance of the realm—while later sixteenth-century chronicles claim this was the case, it is clear that Henry named his brother John, duke of Bedford, as lieutenant in the king's absence.

[themidnightcircusshow]

#even though every source you can find on Henry V basically ends with#'say what you want about the guy but he REALLY loved his siblings'

not me just reading Michael Hicks tearing Henry IV and V a new one for not marrying off John and Humphrey earlier and claiming it led to the failure of the Lancastrian dynasty. thisisfine.gif

...but Hal wasn't married either? And they probably didn't get married for the same reason (busy with the war and on shaky ground when it came to eligibility for marriage)? Like I absolutely see the criticism when it comes to Henry IV because really they shouldn't have even gotten to Hal's reign unmarried, but... there were reasons for it. They all basically married the only logical options they had, because as far as I'm aware no one else was really lining up to ally themselves with them. Plus we don't have a good idea for when Humphrey's children were born, because of the whole mess with Antigone's birth date not making sense for when she had her first child, so that could also have been a factor.

The lack of legitimate heirs absolutely did screw them over, because yeah, would have been really helpful to have someone between Henry and Richard of York when the time came. But of course, considering Humphrey's grandson was a Yorkist we don't necessarily know if it would have turned out in the Lancaster's favor or if we'd just have had more people making claims.

Seriously, of all criticisms about Hal, he went for that one?