John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset
Encyclopedia
John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset, Earl of Dorset (c. 1455 – 4 May 1471) was a member of the Beaufort family
during the Wars of the Roses
.
He was the third son of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset
and his wife, Lady Eleanor Beauchamp
, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
. When his eldest brother, Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset
, died in 1464, John became the marquess of Dorset and earl of Dorset, courtesy titles granted to the Beaufort heir-apparent. It was never recognized by the Yorkist king Edward IV of England
and from 1461, Dorset lived a life in exile in first Burgundy
and then France
. He returned early in 1471 with his brother when the Lancastrian
king, Henry VI of England
, reclaimed the throne. Within months, Henry had been driven from the throne again and the Lancastrian
s were on the run.
Dorset died at the Battle of Tewkesbury
on 4 May 1471 while fighting for the Lancastrian army beside his elder brother, Edmund Beaufort the so-called 4th Duke of Somerset. His brother was beheaded two days later after seeking refuge in the nearby abbey
. Dorset was probably only sixteen years old when he died. He left behind no issue and was never married. With the death of his brother, Edmund, the male line of the Beaufort family
ended.
Beaufort family
The House of Beaufort is an English noble family, which originated in the fourteenth century and played an important role in the political struggles of the fifteenth century....
during the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
.
He was the third son of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset
Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset
Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, KG , sometimes styled 1st Duke of Somerset, was an English nobleman and an important figure in the Wars of the Roses and in the Hundred Years' War...
and his wife, Lady Eleanor Beauchamp
Lady Eleanor Beauchamp
Lady Eleanor Beauchamp, Baroness de Ros and Duchess of Somerset at Wedgenock, Warwickshire, England, was the second daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and Elizabeth de Berkeley.-First marriage:...
, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Count of Aumale, KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Early Life:...
. When his eldest brother, Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset
Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset
Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset was an important Lancastrian military commander during the English Wars of the Roses. He is sometimes numbered the 2nd Duke of Somerset, since the title was re-created for his father after his uncle died...
, died in 1464, John became the marquess of Dorset and earl of Dorset, courtesy titles granted to the Beaufort heir-apparent. It was never recognized by the Yorkist king Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and from 1461, Dorset lived a life in exile in first Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
and then France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
. He returned early in 1471 with his brother when the Lancastrian
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
king, Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
, reclaimed the throne. Within months, Henry had been driven from the throne again and the Lancastrian
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
s were on the run.
Dorset died at the Battle of Tewkesbury
Battle of Tewkesbury
The Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. The forces loyal to the House of Lancaster were completely defeated by those of the rival House of York under their monarch, King Edward IV...
on 4 May 1471 while fighting for the Lancastrian army beside his elder brother, Edmund Beaufort the so-called 4th Duke of Somerset. His brother was beheaded two days later after seeking refuge in the nearby abbey
Tewkesbury Abbey
The Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Tewkesbury in the English county of Gloucestershire is the second largest parish church in the country and a former Benedictine monastery.-History:...
. Dorset was probably only sixteen years old when he died. He left behind no issue and was never married. With the death of his brother, Edmund, the male line of the Beaufort family
Beaufort family
The House of Beaufort is an English noble family, which originated in the fourteenth century and played an important role in the political struggles of the fifteenth century....
ended.