Honour of Richmond

Chronology of earls and dukes

Earl Edwin
The lands wrested by the Normans were initially possessed by earl Edwin of Yorkshire
 997-1040
 Alan III Duke of Brittany
 The honour of Richmond from the Norman Conquest was linked with Brittany for more than 300 years
c1020
 Eudon brother of Alan II
 Eudon disputed the title of duke & was awarded the title of count
 c1070
 Alan Rufus count of Brittany
 Awarded Honour of Richmond by William the Conqueror
 1146
 Alan Niger brother of Rufus
 Niger also a Count claimed Honour on Rufus's death
 1093
 Stephen younger brother of Rufus & Niger
 Stephen assumed the Honour on Niger's death
 c1136
 Alan III Niger Stephen's son
 The first to use the title Earl
 1146
 Constance niece of Alan
Constance was the daughter of Conan IV duke of Brittany, brother of Alan's wife 
 c1186
 Geoffrey Plantagenet
 1st husband of Constance, son of Henry II
c1190
 Ranulf de Blundervill
2nd husband of Constance & earl of Chester. Note link to Robin Hood
c1195
 Guy
3rd husband of Constance, brother to Viscount of Thouars
 c1200
 Arthur son of Constance by 1st marriage
Arthur was murdered by his uncle King John. The honour returned to the Crown 
 1203
 Crown
Honour held by the Crown
 1219
 Peter de Braine
 Duke of Brittany and husband of Alice eldest daughter from Constance's 3rd marriage
 1235
 Crown
Honour returned to Crown when Peter renounced his allegiance to England
 1240
 Peter Savoy
Uncle of Queen Eleanor. Honour granted by Henry III
 1268
 Crown
 Peter willed the honour to his niece but she (on instruction?) returned it to the Crown
 1268
John duke of Brittany 
John, son of Peter de Braine was granted the honour by Henry III
 1342
John of Gaunt 
The honour was held by the family of John duke of Brittany until it was awarded by Edward III to his son
 1372
 John de Montfort duke of Brittany
 The honour was surrendered by John of Gaunt and passed to Montfort
 1399
 Crown
On the death of Montfort the honour was seized by the Crown
 1414
 John Plantagenet duke of Bedford
 The link with Brittany was broken though the dukes assumed title to the honour for some period
1452
 Edmund Tudor
Henry VI conferred the honour on his brother Edmund
 1485
 Henry VII
The honour was assimilated into the Crown when Henry, Edmunds son became King
 1525
 Henry Fitzroy
Henry VIII gifted the honour to his son by his union with Elizabeth Blount
 1536
 Crown
The honour reverted to the Crown with the death of Fitzroy who had no children
 1613
 Ludovic Stuart
Also the 2nd duke of Lennox, was first created earl and subsequent duke of Richmond
 1624
 Crown
Reverted to the Crown on his death without children
 1641
James 4th duke of Lennox 
Nephew of Ludovic was granted the honour thus reuniting the English & Scottish houses
 1655
 Charles 6th duke of Lennox
Title passed to Charles, nephew of James who became the 3rd duke of Richmond
 1672
 Crown
Titles exinct on death of Charles
 1675
 Charles Lennox
 Title given by Charles II to his illegitimate son (when 3 years old). His mother was Louise de Keroualle, duchess of Portsmouth
 1846
 Gordon-Lennox
The honour & title of earl & duke continued within the same family

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