John de Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk

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John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1415-1461)was an important player in the Wars of the Roses.

He was the son of John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Lady Katherine Neville. He held the office of Earl Marshal from 1432, when he inherited the title of 3rd Duke of Norfolk.

At the beginning of the War of the Roses in 1450 he supported Richard, Duke of York, the leader of the Yorkist faction. However, in 1459, he swore allegiance to the Lancastrian Henry VI. He then quickly changed sides back to the Yorkists. This sort of treachery was by no means unusual during the Wars of the Roses.

In February 1461 he fought for the defeated Yorkists in the Second Battle of St Albans. In March 1461 (Richard, Duke of York now being dead) he was one of those who asked the Duke’s son the Earl of March to become Edward IV and later that month his intervention at the Battle of Towton was decisive. The battle took place in a snow storm between 80,000 men. Neither side could get an advantage until about midday Norfolk entered the battle on the Yorkist’s right flank. The Lancastrians then began to slowly fall back. As Earl Marshal Mowbray then officiated at Edward IV’s coronation.

[edit] Marriage and issue

He married Eleanor Bourchier, daughter of William Bourchier, Count of Eu and Anne of Gloucester, Countess of Buckingham. She was the sister of his successor as Justice in Eyre, Henry Boruchier. They had one child, John Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk.

[edit] References

Weir, Alison. Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy. London, UK.: The Bodley Head, 1999.

Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Norfolk	Earl Marshal 1432–1461	Succeeded by The Duke of Norfolk
Legal Offices
Preceded by The Earl of Arundel	Justice in Eyre south of the Trent 1461	Succeeded by The Earl of Essex
Peerage of England
Preceded by John Mowbray	Duke of Norfolk 1432–1461	Succeeded by John Mowbray