| The Duke of Exeter | |
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Coat of arms of John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter |
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| Born | 18 March 1395[1] Dartington, Devonshire, England |
| Died | 5 August 1447 (aged 51–52) Stepney, Middlesex, England |
| Title | Duke of Exeter Earl of Huntingdon |
| Spouse | Lady Anne Stafford |
John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter KG (18 March 1395 – 5 August 1447) was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War.
The second son of John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter and Elizabeth of Lancaster, 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 of England and a first cousin of Henry V of England.
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 6 March 1427, he married Lady Anne Stafford (d. 20 September 1432), daughter of Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford. By her he had two children, a son and daughter:
He married secondly Beatrice of Portugal on 20 January 1433; then finally, he married Anne Montagu (d. 28 November 1457), daughter of John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury.
By an unnamed mistress or mistresses he also had several illegitimate children, two of whom he named in his will. William, Thomas and Robert, the so-called 'Bastards of Exeter', were active in the Lancastrian struggles, and Stow reported that two of them were among the notable dead at Towton.
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.
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John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter
Born: 1395 1447 |
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| Political offices | ||
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| 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 in 1400 |
Duke of Exeter 1439–1447 |
Succeeded by Henry Holland |
| Earl of Huntingdon 1416–1447 |
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