Philippa de Beauchamp facts for kids

Philippa de Stafford, Countess of Stafford (born before 1344 – died 6 April 1386), was an important English noblewoman from the late Middle Ages. She was the daughter of Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, who was a Knight of the Garter, and Katherine Mortimer. Her grandfather on her mother's side was the very powerful Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March.

Family Life and Children

Philippa married Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford around March 1, 1350. Hugh was the son of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, and Margaret de Audley. Margaret was a baroness in her own right, meaning she inherited her title.

Philippa and Hugh had at least seven children together:

• Margaret Stafford (born around 1364 – died June 9, 1396). She married Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland and they had children.
• Sir Ralph Stafford (born around 1367 – died July 1385). He passed away during a trip to Scotland in 1385.
• Thomas Stafford, 3rd Earl of Stafford (born around 1368 – died July 4, 1392). He became the Earl when he was 18, after his father passed away. He married Anne Plantagenet, who was the daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester. They did not have any children.
• William Stafford, 4th Earl of Stafford (born September 21, 1375 – died April 6, 1395). He became the Earl at age 14 after his brother Thomas died. He was cared for by Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester. William passed away when he was 19 years old.
• Katherine Stafford (born around 1376 – died April 8, 1419). She married Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk and they had children.
• Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford (born March 2, 1377 – died July 22, 1403). He became the Earl at age 17 after his brother William died. He married Anne of Gloucester, who was the widow of his older brother Thomas. Edmund and Anne were the parents of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham.
• Joan Stafford (born 1378 – died October 1, 1442). She married Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey. They did not have any children.

Later Life and Passing

Countess Philippa passed away in the spring of 1386. Her death, along with the earlier passing of their oldest son, may have led her husband to go on several pilgrimages. She was buried at Stone Priory in Staffordshire. Her husband, Hugh, passed away in October of the same year in Rhodes, before he could reach his destination of Jerusalem.