John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter facts for kids

John Holland (born around 1352 – died January 16, 1400) was an important English nobleman. He was the 1st Duke of Exeter and the 1st Earl of Huntingdon. John Holland was also the half-brother of King Richard II, and he was very loyal to the king.

He is remembered for being involved in the downfall of King Richard's uncle, Thomas of Woodstock. Later, John Holland was part of a plan against King Richard's cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV.

Who Was John Holland's Family?

John Holland was the third son of Thomas Holland and Joan of Kent. His mother, Joan, was known as "The Fair Maid of Kent."

Joan's father was Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent, who was a son of King Edward I. This means John Holland had royal blood!

Later, Joan married Edward the Black Prince. They had a son named King Richard II. This made King Richard II John Holland's half-brother.

What Was John Holland's Career Like?

John Holland had an active life in politics and the military. He was recognized early in King Richard's reign.

Becoming a Knight

In 1381, John Holland was made a Knight of the Garter. This was a very special honor. He also helped escort Anne of Bohemia to England when she was going to become queen.

A Difficult Temper

John Holland was known for having a quick temper. This caused him problems more than once.

One famous event happened in 1385. King Richard II was on a trip to Scotland. An archer working for Ralph Stafford accidentally killed one of Holland's assistants.

Ralph Stafford went to apologize to Holland. But as soon as Stafford said who he was, Holland killed him. King Richard II was very angry and took away Holland's lands.

John Holland's mother, Joan of Kent, died soon after. People said she died from sadness over the fight between her sons.

Restoring His Status

In early 1386, John Holland made peace with the Stafford family. His lands were given back to him.

Later in 1386, he married Elizabeth of Lancaster. She was the daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. John of Gaunt was the younger brother of the Black Prince.

John and Elizabeth went with John of Gaunt on a trip to Spain. There, Holland became a leader in the English army.

New Titles and Roles

After returning to England, John Holland received new titles. On June 2, 1388, he became the Earl of Huntingdon. This was decided by the English Parliament.

In 1389, he was given several important jobs for life. He became the Lord Great Chamberlain, a high-ranking official. He also became the Admiral of the Fleet in the Western Seas, leading naval forces. And he was made the constable of Tintagel Castle in Cornwall.

King Richard also gave him large amounts of land during this time.

Further Service

Over the next few years, John Holland held even more positions. He was Constable of Conway Castle in 1394. In 1395, he became Governor of Carlisle Castle.

He also served as a Warden and later Constable-General of the West Marches towards Scotland. This meant he helped protect the border with Scotland. In 1394, he took a break from military service to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Becoming a Duke

In 1397, John Holland marched with King Richard to arrest the king's uncle, Thomas of Woodstock. He also helped seize Arundel Castle for the king.

As a reward for his loyalty, on September 29, 1397, John Holland was given the title of Duke of Exeter. This was a very high honor.

Changes Under King Henry IV

In 1399, John Holland went with King Richard on a trip to Ireland. When they returned, King Richard sent him to talk with his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke. Henry Bolingbroke was also Holland's brother-in-law.

Soon after, Henry Bolingbroke removed Richard from the throne and became King Henry IV. King Henry IV then took action against those who had been involved in the arrest of his uncle, Thomas of Woodstock.

As a result, John Holland lost his title as Duke of Exeter. He became just the Earl of Huntingdon again.

The Epiphany Rising

In early 1400, John Holland joined a plan known as the Epiphany Rising. He conspired with his nephew, Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, and others.

Their goal was to remove King Henry IV and his sons from power. They wanted to put King Richard, who was then in prison, back on the throne.

However, the plan failed. John Holland tried to escape but was caught near Pleshey Castle in Essex. He was executed on January 16, 1400. Among those who watched was Thomas Fitzalan, the son of the Earl of Arundel.

John Holland's lands and titles were taken away. But later, they were given back to his second son, John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter.

Who Were John Holland's Children?

John Holland and Elizabeth of Lancaster had several children:

Sons

• Richard Holland (died September 3, 1400): He was the oldest son. He passed away only seven months after his father.
• John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon (1395–1447): He was the second son. His father's dukedom was given back to him in 1426.
• Sir Edward Holland (born around 1399 – died after 1413)

Daughters

• Constance Holland (1387–1437): She married Thomas Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk first. Later, she married Sir John Grey.
• Elizabeth Holland (born around 1389 – died 1449)
• Alice Holland (born around 1392 – died around 1406): She married Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford.

Where Was John Holland Buried?

John Holland was buried at the church in Pleshey. His tomb was there until the late 1500s. At that time, many tombs in the church were broken up and used for building materials. By the early 1600s, only a small piece of his tomb remained in the church.

Images for kids

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  Arms of John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter.

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  The great hall at Dartington, built by the 1st Duke of Exeter.