John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford facts for kids

John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford (born April 23, 1408 – died February 26, 1462), was an important English nobleman. He was the son of Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford, and his second wife, Alice Sergeaux. John de Vere was a strong supporter of the House of Lancaster during a time of great conflict in England. He faced serious charges and died on Tower Hill in London.

Life of John de Vere

John de Vere, the 12th Earl of Oxford, was born on April 23, 1408, at Hedingham Castle. He was the older son of Richard de Vere, the 11th Earl, and Alice Sergeaux. When his father passed away in 1417, John was still a child. He inherited his important title at a young age.

Growing Up and Marriage

Since John was a minor (underage), other powerful people looked after him and his lands. First, the Duke of Exeter was his guardian. After the Duke's death, the Duke of Bedford took over.

In 1425, while still young, Oxford married Elizabeth Howard. She was an heiress, meaning she would inherit a lot of land and wealth. Elizabeth's family owned lands in places like Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire. This marriage was not officially approved by the King, so Oxford had to pay a large fine. He found it difficult to pay because his earldom (his lands and title) was not very wealthy. In 1437, he said his lands were only worth about £500 a year.

Early Career and Public Service

John de Vere was knighted in Leicester on May 26, 1426. This was a special ceremony where he became a knight, along with 34 other people, including the young King Henry VI. In 1429, he officially took control of his lands.

In 1431, he joined the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King. During the 1430s and 1440s, Oxford was active in local government in East Anglia. He was part of various commissions (special groups for tasks) in Essex. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, helping to keep law and order. In 1435, he received permission to travel to the Holy Land, though it is not known if he actually went.

Military and Diplomatic Roles

In July 1436, Oxford gathered his retainers (loyal followers) at Sandwich, Kent. They were preparing for a trip to help defend Calais from an attack by the Duke of Burgundy. A year later, in July 1437, he was called to attend the funeral of Queen Joan in Canterbury.

In June 1439, Oxford was appointed a commissioner to discuss peace with France. He worked alongside important figures like Cardinal Henry Beaufort. In May 1441, he sailed to France with Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York. The Duke of York was in charge of France and Normandy at that time. In June 1450, Oxford was among the noblemen chosen to act against Jack Cade's rebels in Kent.

Political Influence and Challenges

In the late 1440s, Oxford expanded his political reach into Norfolk. He was often a Justice of the Peace there. After William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk lost power in 1450, Oxford, along with John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, and Sir John Fastolf, challenged the influence of Suffolk's supporters. However, by 1452, Suffolk's allies had regained some power.

The Wars of the Roses

As England's politics became more divided in the 1450s, Oxford did not immediately pick a side. He was part of the King's council when the Duke of York was Lord Protector. This happened in 1453–54 when King Henry VI was unwell. In May 1455, Oxford and the Duke of Norfolk arrived too late to join the First Battle of St Albans.

It was not until 1459 that Oxford fully supported Margaret of Anjou, the Queen, against the Duke of York. In 1459 and 1460, he was appointed to lead groups against Yorkist supporters in Essex. By May 1460, his oldest son, Sir Aubrey Vere, was reported to be close to the Queen.

The area on Tower Hill where important people were executed.

After the Yorkist side won the Battle of Northampton in July 1460, Oxford seemed to be in poor health. In November of that year, he was excused from appearing before the King or in Parliament due to his "infirmities." However, this did not protect him from the new Yorkist King, King Edward IV. In February 1462, Oxford was arrested. His son Aubrey and Sir Thomas Tuddenham, another supporter of the House of Lancaster, were also arrested. They faced serious charges before the Constable of England, John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester. John de Vere died on February 26, 1462, and was buried in the church of the Austin Friars, London. His eldest son, Aubrey, had died six days earlier. John de Vere was succeeded by his second son, John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford.

Family and Children

John de Vere married Elizabeth Howard between May and August 1425. Elizabeth was the only child and heiress of Sir John Howard. Together, John and Elizabeth had five sons and three daughters:

• Sir Aubrey Vere, who married Anne Stafford.
• John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford (1442–1513), who became the next Earl.
• Sir George Vere, who married Margaret Stafford. They had two sons and four daughters.
• Sir Richard Vere, who married Margaret Percy.
• Sir Thomas Vere.
• Mary Vere, who became a nun.
• Joan (or Jane) Vere, who married Sir William Norreys.
• Elizabeth Vere, who married William Bourchier.