Edmund Langley, Duke of York

Also known as: Edmund Langlie / Edmund Langlie duke of Yorke / Edmund duke of Yorke / Edmund earle of Cambridge / Edmund of Langleie / Edmund of Langlie · Family: England · Role: earl · First appears: Richard II 3

Around 1377, while Richard II was still too young to govern, Edmund Langley, then Earl of Cambridge, was appointed with John of Gaunt and other peers to administer the realm. He later went to Portugal with William de Beauchamp and Matthew Gournay, bringing armed men and archers to aid John I of Portugal against John I of Castile; John of Gaunt was expected to follow with a larger force.

Edmund was the brother of Richard II, John of Gaunt, and Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, and the son of Edward III. He was the father of Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge and Edward Plantagenet, Duke of York, and the brother of Anne of York. In 1397, Edmund and John of Gaunt withdrew from court for a time, and their absence left Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester exposed; assembled lords then planned to imprison Richard II, Edmund, and John of Gaunt.

Afterward, Richard II and the dukes reached an accord in which the king promised to act only with their assent. In 1398, Edmund was among those granted broad authority over both houses of Parliament, while Henry IV and other nobles received new titles and lands. When Henry IV arrived, Richard II had left Edmund as governor of the realm; Edmund assembled a force, but no one willingly used it against Henry IV and his supporters.