Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge

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Richard of Conisburgh
Earl of Cambridge
Spouse Anne de Mortimer
Issue
Isabel Plantagenet
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
Titles and styles
HRH The Earl of Cambridge
Royal house House of York
Father Edmund of Langley, Duke of York
Mother Isabella of Castile
Born 1375
Conisburgh Castle, Yorkshire
Died 5 August 1415 (aged 40)
Southampton, Hampshire

Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge (c. 13755 August 1415) was the younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and Isabella of Castile.

His paternal grandparents were Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault. His maternal grandparents were Peter of Castile and María de Padilla.[1] He was born at Conisburgh Castle in Yorkshire, and was confirmed in the Earldom of Cambridge, which had been resigned by his brother, in 1414. In about 1406, he married his cousin, Anne Mortimer, also a descendant of Edward III (his great great granddaughter), through his son Lionel of Antwerp. A papal dispensation was dated for 28 May 1406, making it most likely that the marriage took place in May or June. It was through her that the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses claimed the throne. Their marriage produced a daughter, Isabel Plantagenet, and a son, Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York. The latter eventually laid claim to the throne, beginning the Wars of the Roses.

It is believed that Anne died giving birth to Richard. Following Anne's death, Cambridge married Matilda Clifford.

He was discovered to be one of the fomentors of the Southampton Plot against King Henry V immediately prior to departure on the French campaign. (His elder brother, Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, would die at the Battle of Agincourt, less than three months later.) He was stripped of all his titles and estates and was executed on 5 August 1415 at Southampton Green, Hampshire, England; before the fleet set sail on 11 August 1415.

[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms

[edit] Arms

Coat of arms
Coat of arms

Richard bore his father's arms (being those of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of three points, each bearing three torteaux gules), differenced by a bordure Leon.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peggy K. Liss, "Isabel the Queen," New York: Oxford University Press, 1992, p. 165; James Reston, Jr. "Dogs of God," New York: Doubleday, p. 18.
  2. ^ Marks of Cadency in the British Royal Family
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Edward of Norwich
Earl of Cambridge
1414–1415
Succeeded by
Attainted