Constance of York
Encyclopedia
Constance of York, Countess of Gloucester (c. 1374 – 29 November 1416) was the only daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
and his wife Isabella of Castile
, daughter of Pedro of Castile
and Maria de Padilla
. On about 7 November 1379, Constance married Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester
(22 September 1373 – 16 January 1400), who was eventually beheaded at Bristol
. She was involved in an affair with Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent
and had a daughter by him, Eleanor de Holland. Eleanor was later married to James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley
.
In 1405, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr
, Constance, who held Caerphilly Castle
, arranged the escape of Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, from Windsor Castle
, apparently intending to deliver the young earl, who had the best claim to the throne of any of Henry IV's rivals, to his uncle Edmund who was married to Glyndwr's daughter. The earl was recaptured before entering Wales.
When Constance died in 1416, she was buried at the High altar in Reading Abbey
.
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, 1st Earl of Cambridge, KG was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of the five sons who lived to adulthood, of this Royal couple. Like so many medieval princes, Edmund gained his identifying nickname from his...
and his wife Isabella of Castile
Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York
Infanta Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York was a daughter ofKing Peter of Castile and María de Padilla. She was a younger sister of Constance, Duchess of Lancaster....
, daughter of Pedro of Castile
Pedro of Castile
Peter , sometimes called "the Cruel" or "the Lawful" , was the king of Castile and León from 1350 to 1369. He was the son of Alfonso XI of Castile and Maria of Portugal, daughter of Afonso IV of Portugal...
and Maria de Padilla
María de Padilla
María Díaz de Padilla was the mistress of King Peter of Castile whom he married in secret in 1353.She was a Castilian noblewoman...
. On about 7 November 1379, Constance married Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester KG was the son of Edward le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despencer, whom he succeeded in 1375.-Royal intrigues:...
(22 September 1373 – 16 January 1400), who was eventually beheaded at Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. She was involved in an affair with Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent
Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent
Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent, 5th Baron Holand, KG was the Earl of Kent in ca. 1400 – ca. 1407. He was the 106th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1403....
and had a daughter by him, Eleanor de Holland. Eleanor was later married to James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley
James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley
James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet was an English peer.James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley, son of John Tuchet, 4th Baron Audley and his wife Elizabeth, was a distinguished veteran of the Hundred Years' War...
.
In 1405, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, Constance, who held Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle is a medieval castle that dominates the centre of the town of Caerphilly in south Wales. It is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain after Windsor Castle...
, arranged the escape of Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, from Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
, apparently intending to deliver the young earl, who had the best claim to the throne of any of Henry IV's rivals, to his uncle Edmund who was married to Glyndwr's daughter. The earl was recaptured before entering Wales.
When Constance died in 1416, she was buried at the High altar in Reading Abbey
Reading Abbey
Reading Abbey is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. It was founded by Henry I in 1121 "for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of King William, my father, and of King William, my brother, and Queen Maud, my wife, and all my ancestors...
.
Issue
- Elizabeth le Despenser (died young c. 1398)
- Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron BurghershRichard le Despenser, 4th Baron BurghershRichard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh was the son and heir of Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester , by Constance...
(1396–1414). He married Lady Eleanor NevilleEleanor Percy, Countess of NorthumberlandLady Eleanor Neville was the second daughter of Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland by his second wife, Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and his third wife, Katherine Roet....
(c. 1397 - 1472), daughter of Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (d.1425) and Joan BeaufortJoan Beaufort, Countess of WestmorlandJoan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland was the third or fourth child of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and his mistress, later wife, Katherine Swynford; and, in her widowhood, a powerful landowner in the North of England.-Early life and marriages:She was likely born at the Swynford manor of...
(d.1440), daughter of John of GauntJohn of Gaunt, 1st Duke of LancasterJohn of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster , KG was a member of the House of Plantagenet, the third surviving son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault...
by Katherine SwynfordKatherine SwynfordKatherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster , née Roet , was the daughter of Sir Payne Roet , originally a Flemish herald from County of Hainaut, later...
. He died young without issue. - Edward le Despenser (b. bef. 1400), died young
- Hugh le Despenser (c. 1400–1401)
- Isabel le DespenserIsabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester and WarwickIsabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester and Warwick was the posthumous daughter and eventually the sole heiress of Thomas le Despenser and his wife, Constance of York...
(born after her father's execution). She married, firstly, Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester (d. 1421/2). A daughter, Elizabeth, Lady Abergavenny (b.1415) was the sole product of this union. Following Worcester's death, she married Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of WarwickRichard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of WarwickRichard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Count of Aumale, KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Early Life:...
. They were parents to Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of WarwickHenry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of WarwickHenry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick was an English nobleman.He was the son of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and Isabel le Despenser...
and Anne BeauchampAnne de Beauchamp, 15th Countess of WarwickAnne Beauchamp, 15th Countess of Warwick was born in Cardiff, the only child of Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick and Lady Cecily Neville. Her maternal grandparents were Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury and Alice Montagu, Countess of Salisbury...
.