Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York

Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, (June 5, 1341 - August 1, 1402) was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of the five sons of the Royal couple who lived to adulthood. He was the founder of the House of York, but it was through the marriage of his younger son, Richard, that the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses made its claim on the throne.

Related Topics:
June 5 - 1341 - August 1 - 1402 - Edward III of England - Philippa of Hainault - House of York - Yorkist - Wars of the Roses

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Like so many medieval princes, Edmund gained his identifying nickname from his birthplace: Kings Langley in Hertfordshire. At the age of twenty-one, he was created Earl of Cambridge. In 1384, Edmund was created Duke of York.

Related Topics:
Kings Langley - Hertfordshire - Cambridge - 1384 - Duke of York

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His first wife, Isabella, was the daughter of Pedro "the Cruel" of Castile. They had two sons, Edward (killed in action at the Battle of Agincourt) and Richard, Earl of Cambridge (executed for treason by Henry V), as well as a daughter, Constance (an ancestor of queen Anne Neville).

Related Topics:
Pedro "the Cruel" of Castile - Edward - Battle of Agincourt - Richard, Earl of Cambridge - Henry V - Constance - Anne Neville

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After Isabella's death in 1392, Edmund married Joan de Holland, his second cousin twice removed (she was a granddaughter of Joan of Kent; Joan of Kent and Edmund were both descendents of Edward I). Langley and Joan produced no children.

Related Topics:
1392 - Joan of Kent - Edward I

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although marriages within the royal family and between royal families are the rule, it is interesting to note Edmund's marital ties to his older brother, John of Gaunt. Edmund's first wife was the sister of John of Gaunt's wife, and Edmund's second wife was the sister of John of Gaunt's daughter-in-law.

Related Topics:
John of Gaunt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~