Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence

Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence ( born November 29, 1338 Antwerp, † October 17, 1368 in Alba, Italy) was Earl of Ulster and Duke of Clarence.

He was the third son of King Edward III. of England (House of Plantagenet ) and Philippa of Hainault. Since the second-born brother William of Hatfield died before Lionel's birth, Lionel was the second in the English throne after his elder brother Edward of Woodstock.

On August 15, 1342 Four year old Lionel married at the Tower of London which is six years older Elizabeth de Burgh, Duchess of Clarence, 4th Countess of Ulster, daughter of William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster. Due to the young age of the spouses, the marriage was, however, completed until ten years later.

1345 and 1346 Lionel took the duties of his staying in France father in England true. Since 1347, he led from the right of his wife the title of Earl of Ulster. 1355 he took part in the invasion of France. 1361 to 1367 he was governor of his father in Ireland, since 1362 his title was Duke of Clarence. The king undertook at this time also unsuccessful efforts to bring his son to the Scottish throne. In its role as governor Lionel 1366 was also the Chairman of the Assembly, against his will, the infamous Statutes of Kilkenny adopted, forbade marriages between the English and Irish. As a result, Lionel gave up his governor post.

Lionel's first wife, Elizabeth, of Pittsburgh, died in 1363 in Dublin. The marriage produced a daughter, Philippa Plantagenet, 5th Countess of Ulster ( 1355-1382 ) showed the great-grandson as Edward IV ascended the English throne. Lionel married in 1368 in Milan Violanta Visconti, daughter of Galeazzo II Visconti, Lord of Milan and Pavia, but died in Alba just ten months later. He was buried in the Priory of Clare.