Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford facts for kids

Edmund Stafford was an important English nobleman who lived a long time ago, from 1377 to 1403. He was known as the 5th Earl of Stafford and the 1st Baron Audley. Edmund was the son of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, and his mother was Philippa de Beauchamp.

Edmund became an Earl when he was 18 years old. He was the third of four brothers to inherit this important title. His oldest brother, Sir Ralph, passed away before he could become Earl. His other two older brothers also died without having children, so the title eventually came to Edmund.

Family Life and Children

Edmund Stafford married Anne of Gloucester. This was Anne's second marriage. Her first husband was Edmund's own brother, Thomas Stafford, 3rd Earl of Stafford. Sadly, Thomas died young, at 18, before they could start a family.

Edmund and his brothers were looked after by the Gloucester family when they were young. Anne was a very important person. She was the granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Her father was Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, and her mother was Eleanor de Bohun.

Edmund and Anne had three children together:

1. Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham: He grew up to be a very important Duke. Humphrey married Anne Neville. Her parents were Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland and Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland. Joan was the daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and Katherine Swynford. Humphrey and Anne had children of their own.
2. Anne Stafford: She became the Countess of March. Anne passed away in 1432. First, she married Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, but they did not have any children. Later, she married John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter. With John, she had a son named Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter (born in 1430, died in 1475) and a daughter named Lady Anne Holland (died in 1486).
3. Philippa Stafford: She was the youngest child but sadly passed away when she was still very young.

Life as a Knight

Edmund Stafford was honored as a Knight of the Bath at the special event where Henry IV became King. His younger brother, Hugh, was also made a Knight at the same time. Later, in 1403, Edmund received an even higher honor: he became a Knight of the Garter. This was a very prestigious group of knights.

Final Battle and Death

Edmund Stafford's life ended during a big battle. He was fighting alongside King Henry IV's army at the Battle of Shrewsbury. On July 21, 1403, he was killed by a Scottish warrior named Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas. After his death, Edmund was buried at the Church of the Austin Friars in Stafford.

Mention in Shakespeare

Edmund Stafford's death at the Battle of Shrewsbury is mentioned in one of William Shakespeare's famous plays, Henry IV Part 1. Although he isn't a main character in the play, his death is noted. A line from the play (Act 5, Scene 3) says: "And thou shalt find a king that will revenge Lord Stafford’s death."