Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster

Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (c. 1310 in Grosmont Castle, † March 23, 1361 ) was a famous member of the British Royal Family as well as a diplomat, politician and soldier.

He was the son of Henry Plantagenet, 3rd Earl of Lancaster and Maud Chaworth. As a soldier in the British army he led numerous campaigns in Scotland and France during the Hundred Years War. His greatest victory he could achieve in the battle of Auberoche 1345, when he could get away with almost 70,000 pounds. Later, he managed to arrange a monumental (but only temporary) peace treaty with France. This earned him the recognition of King Edward III. one.

In his lifetime he was often honored, such as the Earl of Derby, Earl of Lancaster, Earl of Leicester, Earl of Lincoln, Baron of Halton and Duke of Lancaster. He was also one of the first Knights of the Garter and Lord High Steward. In 1354 he wrote the Livre de Seyntz Medicines. This is a work in the form of a prayer, in which Henry enumerates his sins on the basis of seven wounds. It is known for its exceptional held personally notation.

Family

Henry married Isabel de Beaumont, with whom he had two daughters:

• Maud of Lancaster, first married Ralph Stafford and afterwards William I. of Bavaria- Straubing.
• Blanche of Lancaster, married John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster.

Works

• Henry, Duke of Lancaster: Le livre de seyntz medicines. In: Anglo- Norman texts. Vol 2, Reprint 1967.