Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence facts for kids
Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, was an important English prince. He was born in Antwerp on November 29, 1338. Lionel was the third son of King Edward III of England. He played a key role in English rule over Ireland during his lifetime.
Lionel was married when he was still a child. His first wife was Elizabeth de Burgh, who died in 1363. She was the daughter of William de Burgh, the Earl of Ulster. Their wedding ceremony took place at the Tower of London in 1342. When Lionel was 14, in 1352, their marriage became official. He then took control of all of Elizabeth's lands in Ireland. A famous English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, even worked for Elizabeth as a page.
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Lionel's Role in England and Ireland
Lionel was a representative for his father, King Edward III, in England. In 1355, he was given the title of Earl of Ulster. This title came from his wife's family.
In 1361, Lionel traveled to Dublin to become the Chief Governor of Ireland. This meant he was in charge of the English government there. His father also made him the Duke of Clarence in 1362.
The Statutes of Kilkenny
Lionel and the English government in Dublin were worried. They saw that English settlers in Ireland were starting to adopt Irish customs. They were marrying Irish people and using Irish names.
To stop this, Lionel introduced new laws in 1366. These laws were called the Statute of Kilkenny. They made it illegal for English people to:
- Marry Irish people
- Adopt Irish children
- Use Irish names
- Wear Irish clothes
- Play the game of hurling
- Play Irish music
These laws were meant to keep English and Irish cultures separate. However, Lionel found it hard to fully control Ireland. He returned to England in 1367.
Later Life and Death
After Elizabeth's death, Lionel married again. His second wife was Violante, the daughter of Galeazzo Visconti. Galeazzo was a powerful lord from Pavia, Italy. Their wedding took place in Milan in June 1368.
While traveling through Italy, Lionel became sick. He died on October 7, 1368. He was buried at the Clare Priory in Suffolk, England.
Family and Legacy
Lionel had one daughter named Philippa Plantagenet. In 1368, Philippa married Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March. Through his daughter Philippa, Lionel became an ancestor of King Edward IV of England. This means King Edward IV was a descendant of Lionel.
See also
In Spanish: Leonel de Amberes para niños
