List of earls in the reign of Richard II of England facts for kids

During the time of King Richard II of England, who ruled from 1377 to 1399, many important people held special titles. These titles were like high ranks in the kingdom. Two of the most common titles were "Earl" for men and "Countess" for women.

An Earl was a powerful nobleman, often given land and responsibilities by the King. A Countess was a noblewoman who held a similar rank. Sometimes, a Countess could hold the title in her own right (this is called suo jure), meaning she inherited it herself. Other times, a man might become an Earl because he married a Countess (this is called jure uxoris).

This article lists the Earls and Countesses who held these important titles during King Richard II's reign.

Important Titles During Richard II's Reign

Earl of Arundel

• Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel, who was also the 9th Earl of Surrey. He held this title from 1376 to 1397.

Earl of Buckingham

• Thomas of Woodstock, who was also the 1st Duke of Gloucester. He was the 1st Earl of Buckingham and Earl of Essex (by marriage). He held these titles from 1377 to 1397.
• Humphrey, 2nd Earl of Buckingham. He held the title from 1397 to 1399.

Earl of Cambridge

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, who was also the Earl of Cambridge. He held this title from 1362 to 1402.

Earl of Derby

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• John of Gaunt, who was also the Duke of Lancaster. He was the 2nd Earl of Derby, and Earl of Lancaster and Leicester (by marriage). He held these titles from 1361 to 1399.
• Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV of England in 1399. He was the 3rd Earl of Derby, and also Earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and Northampton. He held these titles in 1399.

Earl of Devon

• Edward de Courtenay, 3rd/11th Earl of Devon. He held this title from 1377 to 1419.

Earl of Essex

(This was the fourth time this title was created.)

• Thomas of Woodstock, who was also the 1st Duke of Gloucester and 1st Earl of Buckingham. He was Earl of Essex (by marriage) from 1380 to 1397.

Earl of Gloucester

(This was the fourth time this title was created.)

• Thomas le Despencer, 1st Earl of Gloucester. He held this title from 1397 to 1399.

Earl of Huntingdon

(This was the third time this title was created.)

• Guichard d'Angle, who was the Earl of Huntingdon. He held this title from 1377 to 1380.

Earl of Huntingdon

(This was the fourth time this title was created.)

• John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter, who was also the 1st Earl of Huntingdon. He held this title from 1388 to 1400.

Earl of Kent

(This was the sixth time this title was created.)

• Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent. He held this title from 1360 to 1397.

Earl of Lancaster

• John of Gaunt, who was also the Duke of Lancaster and 2nd Earl of Derby. He was Earl of Lancaster (by marriage) from 1361 to 1399.
• Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV of England in 1399. He was the 3rd Earl of Derby, and also Earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and Northampton. He held these titles in 1399.

Earl of Leicester

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• John of Gaunt, who was also the Duke of Lancaster and 2nd Earl of Derby. He was Earl of Leicester (by marriage) from 1362 to 1399.
• Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV of England in 1399. He was the 3rd Earl of Derby, and also Earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and Northampton. He held these titles in 1399.

Earl of March

• Edmund de Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March. He held this title from 1360 to 1381.
• Roger de Mortimer, 4th Earl of March. He held this title from 1381 to 1398.
• Edmund de Mortimer, 5th Earl of March. He held this title from 1398 to 1425.

Earl of Norfolk

(This was the third time this title was created.)

• Margaret of Brotherton, who was the 2nd Countess of Norfolk (in her own right). She held this title from 1338 to 1399.
• Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, who was also the 3rd Earl of Norfolk and 1st Earl of Nottingham. He held these titles in 1399.
• Thomas de Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk, who was also the 2nd Earl of Nottingham. He held these titles from 1399 to 1405.

Earl of Northampton

• Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV of England in 1399. He was the 3rd Earl of Derby, and also Earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and Northampton. He held these titles from 1384 to 1399.

Earl of Nottingham

• John de Mowbray, 1st Earl of Nottingham. He held this title from 1377 to 1383.

Earl of Nottingham

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, who was also the 3rd Earl of Norfolk and 1st Earl of Nottingham. He held these titles in 1399.
• Thomas de Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk, who was also the 2nd Earl of Nottingham. He held these titles from 1399 to 1405.

Earl of Oxford

• Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford. He held this title from 1371 to 1388.
• Aubrey de Vere, 10th Earl of Oxford. He held this title from 1393 to 1400.

Earl of Pembroke

(This was the fourth time this title was created.)

• John Hastings, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. He held this title from 1375 to 1389.

Earl of Richmond

(This was the second time this title was restored.)

• John IV, Duke of Brittany, who was also the Earl of Richmond. He held this title from 1372 to 1393.
• Arthur III, Duke of Brittany, who was also the Earl of Richmond. He held this title from 1393 to 1425.

Earl of Rutland

• Edward of Norwich, who was also the 2nd Duke of York and Earl of Cambridge. He was Earl of Rutland from 1390 to 1415.

Earl of Salisbury

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury. He held this title from 1344 to 1397.
• John Montagu, 3rd Earl of Salisbury. He held this title from 1397 to 1400.

Earl of Somerset

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset. He held this title from 1397 to 1410.

Earl of Stafford

• Hugh Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford. He held this title from 1372 to 1386.
• Thomas Stafford, 3rd Earl of Stafford. He held this title from 1386 to 1392.
• William Stafford, 4th Earl of Stafford. He held this title from 1392 to 1395.
• Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford. He held this title from 1395 to 1403.

Earl of Suffolk

(This was the second time this title was created.)

• William Ufford, 2nd Earl of Suffolk. He held this title from 1369 to 1382.

Earl of Suffolk

(This was the third time this title was created.)

• Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk. He held this title from 1385 to 1389.
• Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk. He held this title from 1398 to 1399 (and again from 1399 to 1415).

Earl of Surrey

• Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel, who was also the 9th Earl of Surrey. He held this title from 1376 to 1397.

Earl of Warwick

• Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick. He held this title from 1369 to 1401.

Earl of Westmorland

• Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland. He held this title from 1397 to 1425.