Duke of Exeter

The title Duke of Exeter was created several times in England in the later Middle Ages, when Exeter was the main town of Devon. It was first created for John Holland, the half-brother of King Richard II in 1397. That title was rescinded upon Henry IV's accession to the throne two years later, and the title was subsequently granted to Henry V's uncle, Thomas Beaufort, 1st Earl of Dorset. Following this Duke's death without heirs in 1426, the title was restored to the Holland family, which held it until the 3rd Duke was attainted in 1461 as a Lancastrian, dying in 1475.

Dukes of Exeter, first creation (1397)

Coat of arms of the Dukes of Exeter of the Holland family

• John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter (1352–1400), half-brother of Richard II, was executed for treason against his half-brother's cousin and rival Henry IV Bolingbroke, at which point his honours were forfeit.

Coat of arms

• Arms: The arms of England (gules, three lions passant or), within a border azure, charged with fleur-de-lis of the second.
• Crest: The royal lion on a chapeau, gorged with a collar azure, charged with fleurs-de-lis, and ducally crowned.

Dukes of Exeter, second creation (1416)

Coat of arms of Thomas Beaufort (1377–1427), Duke of Exeter, and son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster

• Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter (1377–1426), third legitimated son of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (himself third son of Edward III), died without issue.

Coat of arms

• Arms: The arms of England (quarterly: first and fourth, azure, three fleurs-de-lis; second and third, gules, three lions passant or), within a border gobony azure and ermine.^[1]
• Crest: A portcullis or, nailed azure, chains of the first.

Dukes of Exeter, first creation (restored 1439)

• John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter (1395–1447), second son of the 1st Duke, was restored to his father's honours after service to his cousin, the Lancastrian king, Henry V
• Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter (1430–1475), only son of the 2nd Duke, titles forfeit 1461

Coat of arms

As the first creation above.

References