Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, KG, Lord Marshal and Earl Marshal (22 March 1366 – 22 September 1399) was an English nobleman.
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Mowbray was the son of John de Mowbray, 4th Baron Mowbray (died 1368), and Elizabeth de Segrave, 5th Baroness Segrave (died 1375).[1] His mother was the eldest daughter of John de Segrave, 4th Baron Segrave and Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk, who was the eldest daughter of Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk, a son of Edward I of England[1] and his second Queen consort Margaret of France. Thus Mowbray was a great-great-grandson of King Edward I. He was also descended from a younger son of Henry III of England.
On 10 February 1382, he succeeded his brother John as 6th Baron Mowbray and 7th Baron Segrave, and was soon created 1st Earl of Nottingham, a title that was also created for his elder brother. Three years later, he was appointed Earl Marshal of England, and in that capacity he fought against the Scots and then against the French. He was appointed Warden of the East March towards Scotland in 1389, a position he held until 1403.
Lord Nottingham was one of the Lords Appellant to King Richard II who deposed some of King Richard's court favourites in 1387. The King's uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, was imprisoned at Calais, where Nottingham was Captain. When Gloucester was killed in 1397, it was probably at the King's orders and probably with Nottingham's involvement. A few weeks later he was created Duke of Norfolk. His aged grandmother, the Countess of Norfolk, was still alive; she was created Duchess of Norfolk for life. When she died the next year he also became 3rd Earl of Norfolk.
Later, in 1398, Norfolk quarrelled with Henry of Bolingbroke, 1st Duke of Hereford (later King Henry IV), apparently due to mutual suspicions stemming from their roles in the conspiracy against the Duke of Gloucester. Before a duel between them could take place, the King banished them both. After Hereford returned and usurped the throne, Norfolk was stripped of the Dukedom of Norfolk, though he retained his other titles. He died of the plague ("pestilence") in Venice, on 22 September 1399.[1]
The matter of Norfolk's quarrel and subsequent banishment is depicted at the beginning of Shakespeare's Richard II.[2]
Norfolk had no children by his first wife, Elizabeth le Strange, 3rd Baroness Strange suo jure, daughter and heiress of John le Strange, 2nd Baron Strange.
He had by his second wife, Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan, daughter of Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel, two sons and two daughters:
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Lord Maltravers (Lord Marshal) |
Lord Marshal 1383–1397 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Surrey (Earl Marshal) |
| Earl Marshal 1397—1398 |
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| Peerage of England | ||
| New title | Duke of Norfolk 1st creation 1397—1399 |
Vacant
Restored 1425
Title next held by
John de Mowbray |
| Preceded by Margaret Manny |
Earl of Norfolk 3rd creation 1399 |
Succeeded by Thomas de Mowbray |
| New creation | Earl of Nottingham 2nd creation 1383—1399 |
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| Preceded by John de Mowbray |
Baron Mowbray 1379—1399 |
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| Baron Segrave 1379—1399 |
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