Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge

Also known as: Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cambridge / Richard earle of Cambridge / Richard of Conisburgh / Richard, Earl of Cambridge · Family: England · Role: earl · First appears: Richard II 29

Around 1385, Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge married Anne Mortimer, daughter of Edmund Langley, Duke of York. They had a son, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and a daughter, Isabel of Cambridge. He was also described as the brother of Edward Plantagenet, Duke of York and as connected by marriage to Anne of York.

Around 1399, Richard and Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March opposed Henry IV’s coronation, beginning a sustained persecution between their lineages. Around 1415, Richard joined Henry Scrope, Baron Scrope of Masham and Thomas Grey in a conspiracy against Henry V. The prisoners confessed that they had accepted French money to betray or murder the king, though another account said Richard sought to advance his brother-in-law Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Richard, Henry Scrope, Baron Scrope of Masham, and Thomas Grey were arrested and executed; he was indicted with Thomas Grey for plotting to take Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March into Wales.

A later record again describes Anne Mortimer as married to Richard, while also naming John Mortimer as his cousin.