Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey

Thomas Holland
Duke of Surrey Earl of Kent Baron Holland
Arms of Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey
Born	1374 Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire
Died	7 January 1400 (aged around 26)
Spouse	Lady Joan Stafford, daughter of Hugh Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford
Issue	None
House	Holland
Father	Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent
Mother	Lady Alice FitzAlan

Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey, 3rd Earl of Kent, 4th Baron Holland, KG, Earl Marshal (1374 – 7 January 1400) was an English nobleman.

Early life and family

He was the son of the 2nd Earl of Kent and Lady Alice FitzAlan. His maternal grandparents were the 10th Earl of Arundel and Lady Eleanor of Lancaster. He was also a nephew of King Richard II, and a Knight of the Garter.

On his father's death in 1397 he succeeded him as 3rd Earl of Kent and 4th Baron Holland. At that time Kent's uncle King Richard II was removing the Duke of Gloucester and his associates from power, and sent Kent to arrest his own uncle, the Earl of Arundel. In reward he received a share of the forfeited estates, and on 29 September 1397 was created Duke of Surrey. Another uncle, the Earl of Huntingdon, was created Duke of Exeter on that day as well.

Arms of Thomas de Holland KG 1399 ^[1]

Last years and execution

Surrey, along with many of King Richard II's advisors, was arrested after the King's deposition by King Henry IV in 1399. In the end he had to forfeit the honours and estates he had gained after the arrests of Gloucester and Arundel, in particular the Dukedom of Surrey, although he retained the Earldom of Kent.

Early in 1400, Kent, along with his uncle, the Earl of Huntingdon (no longer Duke of Exeter), plotted to kill King Henry IV and free King Richard II from prison and return him to the throne. This "Epiphany Rising" failed and Kent was captured and executed.

He left no children by his wife, Lady Joan Stafford, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Stafford. He was succeeded as Earl of Kent by his brother Edmund.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey

16. Sir Robert de Holland of Upholland               8. Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand                       17. Elizabeth, daughter of William de Samlesbury               4. Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent                             18. Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby               9. Maude la Zouche                       19. Eleanor de Segrave               2. Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent                                   20. Edward I of England               10. Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent                       21. Margaret of France               5. Joan of Kent                             22. John Wake, 1st Baron Wake of Liddell               11. Margaret Wake, 3rd Baroness Wake                       23. Joan Fiennes               1. Thomas Holland                                         24. Richard Fitzalan, 8th Earl of Arundel               12. Edmund Fitzalan, 9th Earl of Arundel                       25. Alice of Saluzzo               6. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel                             26. William de Warenne               13. Alice de Warenne                       27. Joan de Vere               3. Alice FitzAlan, Countess of Kent                                   28. Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster               14. Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster                       29. Blanche of Artois               7. Eleanor of Lancaster                             30. Sir Patrick de Chaworth, Lord of Kidwelly               15. Maud Chaworth                       31. Isabella de Beauchamp

References

1. (M.S. Harl. 5805, f. 392) ISBN 0-906223-34-2. The Art of Heraldry by A.C. Fox-Davies. Page 97. Fig 201. (Image by Zorlot).