Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset

Also known as: Henrie duke of Summerset / Henrie earle of Mortaigne / Henrie the new duke of Summerset / lord Henrie Beauford / this yoong duke · Family: England · Role: earl · First appears: Henry VI 27

In 1456, after Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset was slain at Saint Albons, Henry succeeded him as Duke of Somerset, becoming “newlie duke of Summerset by the death of duke Edmund his father”. He stood with Henry VI and Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham in taking the king’s part, while his mother Eleanor Beaufort, Duchess of Somerset and he were granted five thousand marks in assigned royal debts by Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. He was also the brother of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (the younger) and John Beaufort, the three brothers taking the part of Henry VI to the extremity of death.

Around 1459, Henry was repulsed from Calais and withdrew to Guisnes, where Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers and Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers were sent with men to aid him. He was opposed by Thomas de Camoys, who was trapped and taken while coming to the rescue of a castle, and by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, to whom some of the mariners showed greater goodwill. Henry VI later entrusted him with command of the royal army alongside Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (Lancastrian captain) and John Clifford, Lord Clifford; John Gois served him.

After submitting to Edward IV, Henry later revolted and returned to Henry VI, as did Ralph Percy. At Exham, John Neville, Marquess of Montagu defeated the Lancastrian army and captured him; Henry was then beheaded, while the other captured lords and knights were taken to Newcastle and put to death.