Humphrey Duke of Gloucester

Also known as: Humfreie duke of Glocester / Humfrie duke of Glocester / Humphrey Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester / Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester / late duke of Glocester / that good duke of Glocester / this duke Humfreie · Family: House of Lancaster · Role: duke of Gloucester · First appears: Richard II 30

Humphrey Duke of Gloucester was one of the six children of Henry IV and Mary de Bohun, alongside Henry V, Thomas of Lancaster, Duke of Clarence, John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford, Blanche of Lancaster, Duchess of Bavaria, and Philippa of Lancaster. In c. 1399, his name was included among the lawful sons through whom the crown was to descend, and during the parlement of c. 1414 Henry V made him Duke of Gloucester. He served his brother in the French campaigns, directing the siege of Harflue, commanding the middle ward at Agincourt, and being wounded there before Henry V rescued him “like a brother valiantlie rescued from his enimies.” From 1417 to 1419 he held commands at Alanson, in the Ile of Constantine, Chierburgh, Yuri, and S. Germane in Laie, appointing captains and taking surrendered towns and castles.

When Henry VI became king, John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford was made regent of France and Humphrey was appointed protector of England. In 1423 he married Jacqueline of Bavaria, though she was still married to John IV, Duke of Brabant; after the people of Hainault submitted to him through her claim, Pope Martin V declared her first marriage valid and his second marriage unlawful. Humphrey then took Eleanor Cobham as his second wife. During this period his political division with Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester troubled the realm: he brought articles against him, faced an alleged plan involving armed men at London Bridge, and later submitted their disputes to arbitration, with the council ordering them to show one another affection as kinsmen. As protector, Humphrey governed during Henry VI’s absences, concluded peace with James I of Scotland, challenged the duke of Burgundy through Penbroke, and led a campaign into Flanders before returning to Calis with cattle and riches.

By c. 1441 Humphrey was again bringing complaints to Henry VI against senior churchmen, but by c. 1446 he had been excluded from rule. In 1447 he was arrested and imprisoned at Berrie, and the following night he was found dead in his bed. His servants, including Roger Chamberline, Middleton, Herbert, Arteise, and Richard Nedham, were later arraigned, while William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk was said to have procured the death of “that good duke of Glocester.” In 1454, however, Humphrey was publicly declared “a true subiect” to Henry VI and the realm; he was also recorded as a patron of the learned John Wethamsted.