John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coat of arms of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter
Coat of arms of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter

John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter KG (18 March 13955 August 1447) was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War.

[edit] Family

He was the second son of John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter and Elizabeth Plantagenet. His maternal grandparents were John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Blanche of Lancaster.

He was thus a half-nephew of Richard II of England, a nephew of Henry IV, and a first cousin of Henry V.

[edit] Life account

Holland was just a boy when his father conspired against Henry IV and was attainted and executed. Nevertheless, he was given a chance to serve Henry V in the 1415 campaign in France, where he distinguished himself at Agincourt.

The next year Holland was restored in blood and to his father's earldom of Huntingdon, and was made a Knight of the Garter. (His older brother Richard had died in 1400.)

Over the next five years he held various important commands with the English forces in France, until he was captured by the French in 1421 at the Battle of Baugé. He spent four years in captivity, not being released until 1425.

On March 6, 1427, he married Lady Anne Stafford (d. September 20, 1432), daughter of Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford. By her he had one child:

He married secondly Beatrice of Portugal on January 20, 1433; then finally, he married Anne Montagu (d. November 28, 1457), daughter of John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury.

By his third marriage he also had one child:

In 1435 he was appointed admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine, and in 1439 he was made the king's lieutenant in Aquitaine, and later governor of Aquitaine.

Holland recovered his father's dukedom of Exeter in 1439, and was given precedence just below the Duke of York. He was succeeded as duke by his son Henry.

[edit] References

Hardy, W. H. (1891). "John Holland, duke of Exeter and earl of Huntingdon (1395-1447)". Dictionary of National Biography 27: 148-149. 

John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter
Born: 1395 1447
English royalty
Preceded by
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Heir to the English Throne
as heir presumptive

23 February - 5 August 1447
Succeeded by
Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter
Political offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Bedford
Lord High Admiral of England
1435–1447
Succeeded by
The Earl of Suffolk
Peerage of England
Preceded by
John Holland
(forfeit 1400)
Earl of Huntingdon
1416–1447
Succeeded by
Henry Holland
Duke of Exeter
1439–1447
Languages