Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland

Also known as: Rafe Neuill earle of Westmerland / Rafe earle of Westmerland / Rafe erle of Westmerland / earle of Westmerland / lord Neuill surnamed Daurabie · Family: England · Role: earl · First appears: Richard II 69

In 1398 at Shrewsbury, Richard II raised Ralph Neville to the earldom of Westmorland during a royal feast and granted the newly elevated nobles lands formerly belonging to attainted nobles. At Henry IV’s coronation in 1399, Ralph claimed and obtained the office of earl marshal, despite the opposing claim of Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Around the same time, a dispute over Richmond involving John V, Duke of Brittany was committed to the councils of the parties and the king’s council.

Around 1405, Ralph joined John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford and Henry FitzHugh, Ralph Eure, and Robert Umfreville in assembling forces against the rebels. At the forest of Galtree, they faced Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, with their standards pitched opposite one another. Later, as lord warden of the marches against Scotland, Ralph urged Henry V to begin with Scotland before taking up war in France.

In later family records, Ralph’s daughter Alice was married to Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, while Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York married another of his daughters.