Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland
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Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (c. 1364 – October 21, 1425) was born in Raby Castle, County Durham, England, and was created 1st Earl of Westmorland in 1397. He had become the fifth Baron Neville de Raby in 1388. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1402, taking the place left vacant by the death of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York. Neville was a supporter of King Henry IV of England.
He was the son of John de Neville and Maud Percy. His first wife (1382) was Margaret Stafford, daughter of Sir Hugh Stafford and Philippa de Beauchamp. On November 29, 1396, he married as his second wife Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Katherine de Roet (better known as Katherine Swynford). Her paternal grandparents were Edward III of England and his Queen consort Philippa of Hainault
Like the first lords of Richmond and Peter II of Savoy before him, Ralph was endowed with the lordship of Richmondshire but without the peerage.
[edit] Family and children
He had nine children by Margaret Stafford:
- Maud Neville (d. October 1438), married Piers de Mauley, 5th Baron Mauley
- Alice Neville, married first Sir Thomas Grey of Heton; married second Sir Gilbert Lancaster
- Philippa Neville, married Thomas Dacre, 6th Baron Dacre
- John Neville, Lord Neville (d. 1420)
- Sir Ralph Neville (d. February 25, 1458), married Mary Ferrers, daughter of Sir Robert Ferrers and had issue
- Elizabeth Neville, a nun
- Anne Neville, married Sir Gilbert Umfraville
- Margaret Neville (d. c. 1465), married first Richard Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Bolton; married second William Cressoner
- Anastasia Neville
He had fourteen children by Joan Beaufort:
- Lady Katherine Neville, married first on January 12, 1411 John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk; married second Sir Thomas Strangways; married third John Beaumont, 1st Viscount Beaumont; married fourth Sir John Woodville (d. August 12, 1469).
- Lady Eleanor Neville (d. 1472), married first Richard le Despencer, 4th Baron Burghersh, married second Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland
- Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1400–1460)
- Robert Neville (d. 1457), Bishop of Durham
- William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent (d. 1463)
- Edward Neville, 1st Lord Bergavenny (d. 1476)
- Anne Neville (?1411–1480), married Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham
- Cecily Neville (1415–1495) ("Proud Cis"), married Richard, 3rd Duke of York and mothered Kings Edward IV of England and Richard III of England
- George Neville, 1st Baron Latymer (d. 1469)
- John Neville, died young
- Cuthbert Neville, died young
- Thomas Neville, died young
- Henry Neville, died young
- Joan Neville, a nun
The character of Westmorland in William Shakespeare's play Henry V is based on Neville. It has been claimed by Brenda James and Professor William Rubinstein that Neville's great-great-grandson, Sir Henry Neville wrote the works of William Shakespeare
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Duke of Surrey |
Earl Marshal 1400–1412 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Norfolk |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by New Creation |
Earl of Westmorland 1397–1425 |
Succeeded by Ralph Neville |
| Preceded by John Neville |
Baron Neville de Raby 1388–1425 |
|
| Preceded by John de Montfort |
Earl of Richmond 1399–1414 |
Succeeded by John of Lancaster |
