Maud, Countess of Leicester

Matilda Plantagenet, Countess of Leicester (also Maud of Lancaster or Matilda of Hainaut; * April 4, 1339 in Lindsey, † April 10, 1362 ) was an English noblewoman and by marriage Duchess of Straubing- Holland.

Origin

She was the eldest daughter of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and his wife Isabel de Beaumont and as her nephew, the future King Henry IV, who was born in Bolingbroke Castle in Lindsey.

First marriage

Even as a child, Matilda was with Ralph Stafford, eldest son and heir of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford († 1372 ), married on 1 November 1344. However, this died a few years later, at the latest in 1347.

Second Marriage

His second wife married in 1352 in London the Wittelsbach William I, Duke of Lower Bavaria - Straubing- Holland, son of Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria and Margaret of Holland. With Wilhelm she had a daughter, but already in 1356 he died.

The Lancaster Heritage

On March 23, 1361, her father died of the plague, whereupon the title of Duke of Lancaster became extinct. His baronies were probably in the floating ( Abeyance ), while the Earls dignities and all lands, probably the former inheritance, according to, went over to his two daughters Matilda and Blanche as joint heirs, who had to divide it among themselves.

Matilda returned to her father's death back to England and regulations regarding the distribution of the property of the late Duke of Lancaster were in July 1361 made ​​by mutual agreement: So Matilda was essentially the lands in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire and the Welsh Marches and the claim to the title of Countess of Leicester.

Quite unexpectedly died Matilda on April 10, 1362 in England, probably also of the plague. Since she had no children, her paternal inheritance now completely fell to Blanche and her husband John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster was awarded the title awarded.