Antigone Plantagenet
Encyclopedia
Antigone Plantagenet was an English noblewoman and the legitimised daughter of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester (1390–1447). She was the granddaughter of Henry IV of England
. She was thought to have been born between 1425 and 1428. Her date of death is not known, but was later than 1450.
Richardson, in “Magna Carta Ancestry” (et al) states that her mother was an “unknown mistress”.
Weir, however, believes that both Antigone and her brother, Arthur, may have been the children of Humphrey and his mistress Eleanor Cobham
, whom he later married. She states, after alluding to the births of Antigone and Arthur: “She (Eleanor Cobham) became Humphrey's mistress sometime before their marriage, and may have borne him two bastard children, possibly those listed above,...” . Weir does not though attribute this proposition to any firm evidence to support her belief.
Kelsall writes that: “Eleanore was also very fond of Humphrey's two illegitimate children, Antigone and Arthur, who seem to have had French mothers...” She also says that Humphrey became “enamoured” of Eleanore Cobham on the return trip from Holland to England (i.e., 1425).
Hartley, in her biography of Eleanor Cobham, states that: "She became Humphrey's mistress and bore him two children."
In "Duke Humphrey: a sidelight on Lancastrian England" Davis & Lucy argue that Eleanor had to watch Humphrey lavish attention on Antigone: "Eleanor had to watch all this attention given to another woman's child; a bitter thing for a woman with no child of her own."
Weis, et al, state that: "It is often suggested, but without proof, that Eleanor was mother before mar. of Humprey's 2 illegit. chn.: Arthur and Antigone. No proof of their maternity."
Roberts states that Eleanor Cobham was "probably the mother of Antigone".
Vickers in his definitive biography of Humphrey says that by Humphrey's return to England in 1425: "she (Eleanor) had gained a complete ascendency over her royal lover, to whom she had probably borne two children by this time,". He also later adds: "She (Eleanor) left no legitimate issue, but she may have been the mother of
the two children who called Humphrey father.
(1419–1450), 7th Earl of Powis.
After the death of Henry Grey in 1450, Antigone remarried to Jean d'Amancy (also known as John d'Amancier):
It is possible, given her likely age, that she had further children with Jean d'Armancy.
Her descendents are the only known descendants of King Henry IV still living after 1471.
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
. She was thought to have been born between 1425 and 1428. Her date of death is not known, but was later than 1450.
Parentage
Whilst it is generally accepted that Antigone was the daughter of Humphrey of Gloucester, there is no firm evidence, and therefore some debate, as to who her mother was.Richardson, in “Magna Carta Ancestry” (et al) states that her mother was an “unknown mistress”.
Weir, however, believes that both Antigone and her brother, Arthur, may have been the children of Humphrey and his mistress Eleanor Cobham
Eleanor Cobham
Eleanor [née Eleanor Cobham], Duchess of Gloucester , was a mistress and the second wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. A convicted sorceress, her imprisonment for treasonable necromancy in 1441 was a cause célèbre.-Family:...
, whom he later married. She states, after alluding to the births of Antigone and Arthur: “She (Eleanor Cobham) became Humphrey's mistress sometime before their marriage, and may have borne him two bastard children, possibly those listed above,...” . Weir does not though attribute this proposition to any firm evidence to support her belief.
Kelsall writes that: “Eleanore was also very fond of Humphrey's two illegitimate children, Antigone and Arthur, who seem to have had French mothers...” She also says that Humphrey became “enamoured” of Eleanore Cobham on the return trip from Holland to England (i.e., 1425).
Hartley, in her biography of Eleanor Cobham, states that: "She became Humphrey's mistress and bore him two children."
In "Duke Humphrey: a sidelight on Lancastrian England" Davis & Lucy argue that Eleanor had to watch Humphrey lavish attention on Antigone: "Eleanor had to watch all this attention given to another woman's child; a bitter thing for a woman with no child of her own."
Weis, et al, state that: "It is often suggested, but without proof, that Eleanor was mother before mar. of Humprey's 2 illegit. chn.: Arthur and Antigone. No proof of their maternity."
Roberts states that Eleanor Cobham was "probably the mother of Antigone".
Vickers in his definitive biography of Humphrey says that by Humphrey's return to England in 1425: "she (Eleanor) had gained a complete ascendency over her royal lover, to whom she had probably borne two children by this time,". He also later adds: "She (Eleanor) left no legitimate issue, but she may have been the mother of
the two children who called Humphrey father.
Marriages
Antigone married first Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of TankervilleHenry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville
Henry Grey, 2nd Earl of Tankerville, 7th Lord of Powys was an English peer. He was the son of John Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville and his wife Joan Charleton, co-heiress and 6th Lady of Powys.-Life:...
(1419–1450), 7th Earl of Powis.
After the death of Henry Grey in 1450, Antigone remarried to Jean d'Amancy (also known as John d'Amancier):
-
- "Antigone survived her husband, and a year after his death we find her the wife of Jean d'Amancier, Esquire of the Horse to Charles VII of France."
-
- "Very soon after [Henry Gray] Lord Powys' death in 1450, as will be seen later, Antigone married Jean d'Amancier, Master of the Horse to Charles VII, an alliance utterly alien to her dead father's policy."
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- "Nous rencontrons un certain nombre de lettres de légitimation, données à Louis Rolin, fils naturel de Nicolas Rolins (november 1449); ... à Antigone, fille naturelle de Humphroy, duc de Glocester, et femme de Jean d'Amancier, écuyer d'écurie du Roi (june 1451) ..."
Children
Antigone had three known children with her husband Henry:- Richard Grey, 3rd Earl of TankervilleRichard Grey, 3rd Earl of TankervilleRichard Grey, 3rd Earl of Tankerville, 8th Lord of Powys fought on the side of the House of York in the War of the Roses.-Family:...
, married Margaret Touchet, daughter of James Touchet, 5th Baron Audley - Humphrey Grey, married Eleanor Touchet, also a daughter of James Touchet.
- Elizabeth GreyElizabeth GreyElizabeth Grey or Gray may refer to:*Elizabeth Woodville , whose married name was Elizabeth Grey; her second husband was Edward IV of England*Elizabeth Grey, 6th Baroness Lisle Elizabeth Grey or Gray may refer to:*Elizabeth Woodville (c. 1437–1492), whose married name was Elizabeth Grey; her second...
(c. 1440 - 1501?), married Sir Roger KynastonSir Roger KynastonSir Roger Kynaston Kt. of Myddle and Hordleyc.1433 - 1495, was a Knight of the Realm and English nobleman. He was a member of the Kynaston family, of North Shropshire and the Welsh Marches-Early Life:...
, High Sheriff of Shropshire, who, interestingly, killed the above James Touchet in battle.
It is possible, given her likely age, that she had further children with Jean d'Armancy.
Her descendents are the only known descendants of King Henry IV still living after 1471.