Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomas of Woodstock |
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|---|---|
| Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Aumale, Earl of Buckingham and Earl of Essex | |
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| Successor | Humphrey, 2nd Earl of Buckingham |
| Born | 7 January 1355 Woodstock Palace, Oxfordshire |
| Died | 8 or 9 September 1397 (aged 42) Calais, Pale of Calais |
| Spouse | Eleanor de Bohun |
| Issue Detail |
Humphrey, 2nd Earl of Buckingham Anne of Gloucester Joan, Lady Talbot Isabel |
| House | Plantagenet |
| Father | Edward III of England |
| Mother | Philippa of Hainault |
Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester (born January 7, 1355 – died September 8 or 9, 1397) was an important English prince. He was the youngest son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault.
Contents
Early Life and Titles
Thomas was born at Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire. In 1374, he married Eleanor de Bohun. He was given Pleshey Castle in Essex. He also became the Constable of the Realm. This was a very important job in the kingdom.
In 1377, when he was 22, Thomas became a knight. He was also given the title of Earl of Buckingham. Later, in 1380, he became the Earl of Essex because of his wife's family. In 1385, he received the title of Duke of Aumale. Around the same time, he was also made Duke of Gloucester. These titles showed his high rank and power.
Military Campaigns in France
Thomas of Woodstock led a large English army in northern France. This was after a long conflict called the War of the Breton Succession. This war was about who should rule the Duchy of Brittany. England supported one side, and France supported the other.
In 1379, the Duke of Brittany, John IV, returned from exile. He was supported by local nobles who worried France would take over Brittany. So, an English army was sent to help him. In July 1380, Thomas of Woodstock led his army to Calais, an English stronghold in France.
Marching Through France
Woodstock's army of 5,200 men marched east of Paris. They met the French army near Troyes. However, the French had learned from earlier battles not to fight the English directly. So, the two armies did not clash. The French king, Charles V of France, died in September 1380. This caused confusion in the French defense plans.
Woodstock's army continued marching west. In November 1380, they began to attack Nantes. This city had a key bridge over the Loire River. But Woodstock could not fully surround the city. By January, the Duke of Brittany had made peace with the new French king, Charles VI of France. With the alliance falling apart and many of his soldiers getting sick, Woodstock ended the attack. He returned to England in early 1381.
Conflict with King Richard II
When Thomas returned, he found that his brother, John of Gaunt, had married his wife's sister, Mary de Bohun, to John's own son, Henry. This caused some tension between the brothers.
Thomas helped to stop the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. After this, he became closer to John of Gaunt. In 1385, he was made Duke of Gloucester. However, Thomas soon became an opponent of his nephew, King Richard II.
Standing Up to the King
Thomas led a group of nobles who disagreed with King Richard's advisors. These advisors included Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk and Robert de Vere. Many people were unhappy with the king's spending and how he ruled. Thomas quickly gained power.
He forced the king to remove Suffolk from his position. Thomas was also part of a group that tried to improve the kingdom and the royal household in 1386. When Richard II tried to act against this group, Thomas and his allies took up arms. They defeated Robert de Vere's forces in December 1387.
Thomas and his allies, known as the "Lords Appellant," then entered London. The king was powerless. Thomas had even suggested removing Richard from the throne. But his friends stopped him from taking such an extreme step. In February 1388, a special Parliament met. It was filled with Thomas's supporters. They punished the king's advisors. This rebellion greatly weakened the king's power.
Thomas's Death
King Richard II slowly regained control. In 1397, he finally acted against the Lords Appellant. By 1396, Thomas and Richard were again disagreeing about how to rule. In 1397, the king himself arrested Thomas at his home. Thomas was then imprisoned in Calais to await a trial for treason.
However, Thomas died while imprisoned. It is believed he was killed on King Richard II's orders. Parliament then declared him guilty of treason, and his lands were taken by the crown. Many nobles in England were very upset by Thomas's death. This event made King Richard even more unpopular.
Thomas was buried in Westminster Abbey. His wife was later buried next to him.
Family and Children
Thomas married Eleanor de Bohun (born around 1366 – died 1399). She was the older daughter and co-heiress of Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford. Thomas and Eleanor had several children:
- Humphrey, 2nd Earl of Buckingham (born around 1381 – died 1399). He died young at 18, without marrying or having children.
- Anne of Gloucester (born around 1383 – died 1438). She married three times:
- First, to Thomas Stafford, 3rd Earl of Stafford. They had no children.
- Second, to Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford, who was her first husband's younger brother. They had one son and two daughters.
- Third, to William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu. They had children.
- Joan (1384–1400). She married Gilbert Talbot, 5th Baron Talbot. She died during childbirth.
- Isabel (born March 12, 1385 or 1386 – died around 1421). She became a nun.
Because Thomas was declared a traitor, his title of Duke of Gloucester was lost. His son, Humphrey, inherited the title of Earl of Buckingham. But Humphrey died just two years after his father. Thomas of Woodstock's eldest daughter, Anne, married into the powerful Stafford family. Her son, Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham, later became Duke of Buckingham in 1444. He also inherited some of the Bohun family lands.
In Literature
- Thomas of Woodstock's death is an important part of William Shakespeare's play Richard II. Even though he is already dead when the play begins, his death is discussed.
- He is also the main character in another play called Thomas of Woodstock. This play was written by an unknown author during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms of Thomas of Woodstock, showing his family's arms combined with those of his father-in-law, Humphrey de Bohun. This stained glass is from a church in Devon.
See also
In Spanish: Tomás de Woodstock para niños
