Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Holland
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| Earl of Kent | |
Arms of Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent: Arms of King Edward I within a bordure argent
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| Other titles | Baron Holand Baron Wake of Liddell |
| Born | 1350 Upholland, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 25 April 1397 (aged 46–47) Arundel Castle, Sussex, England |
| Buried | Bourne Abbey, Lincolnshire |
| Noble family | Holland family |
| Spouse | Alice FitzAlan |
| Issue more... |
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| Father | Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent |
| Mother | Joan of Kent |
Thomas Holland (1350 – 25 April 1397) was an important English nobleman. He was known as the 2nd Earl of Kent. He also served as a trusted advisor to his half-brother, King Richard II of England.
Contents
Thomas Holland's Early Life and Family
Thomas Holland was born in a place called Upholland, in Lancashire, England, in 1350. He was the oldest son of Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent, and a famous lady named Joan "The Fair Maid of Kent".
His mother, Joan, was the daughter of Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent. Edmund was a son of Edward I of England, who was a king. This made Thomas Holland's mother a very important person.
Thomas's father passed away in 1360. Later that year, Thomas became the Baron Holand. His mother, Joan, was still the Countess of Kent. In 1361, she married Edward, the Black Prince, who was the son of King Edward III. This made Edward the Black Prince Thomas's stepfather.
Military Career and Royal Connections
When Thomas Holland was sixteen, in 1366, he became a captain in the English army. He was sent to a region called Aquitaine in France. For the next ten years, he fought in many battles.
One of these battles was the Battle of Nájera. He fought under the command of his stepfather, Edward, the Black Prince. In 1375, Thomas was made a Knight of the Garter. This was a very special award given by the King.
In 1377, Richard II became king. He was Thomas Holland's younger half-brother. Thomas quickly became very influential with the new king. He used this influence to become even wealthier and more powerful. In 1381, he officially became the Earl of Kent.
Later Years and Passing
Before he passed away, Thomas Holland was given the job of Governor of Carisbrooke Castle. This was an important castle.
Thomas Holland died at Arundel Castle, in Sussex, England, on 25 April 1397. He was about 46 or 47 years old.
Thomas Holland's Family and Children
On April 10, 1364, Thomas Holland married Lady Alice FitzAlan. She was the daughter of Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel.
Thomas and Alice had four sons and six daughters. Sadly, all their sons passed away without having any children of their own. This meant that their daughters and their children became the heirs to the Holland family's wealth and titles.
Sons of Thomas Holland
- Thomas Holland, 3rd Earl of Kent, 1st Duke of Surrey (born 1372, died 1400): He was the oldest son and inherited his father's titles. He became the Duke of Surrey but died without children.
- John Holland (born 1374, died 1394): The second son, who also died without children.
- Richard Holland (born 1376, died 1396): The third son.
- Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent (born 1382, died 1408): He became the Earl of Kent after his older brother. He did not have any legitimate children.
Daughters of Thomas Holland
Through his daughters' marriages, Thomas Holland became an ancestor to many important people in English history. These included figures involved in the Wars of the Roses, like Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Henry Tudor. He was also an ancestor of Catherine Parr, who was the last wife of King Henry VIII.
Here are his daughters:
- Eleanor I Holland (born 1370, died 1405): She married Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March. Their grandson, Richard, Duke of York, later claimed the throne of England. This claim led to the long and famous conflict known as the Wars of the Roses.
- Joan Holland (born around 1380, died 1434): She married Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York.
- Margaret Holland (born 1385, died 1439): She married John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, and later Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence.
- Elizabeth Holland: She married Sir John Neville. They had three sons and one daughter.
- Eleanor II Holland (born 1386, died after 1413): She had the same first name as her oldest sister. She married Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury.
- Bridget Holland: She became a nun.
