Thomas of Lancaster (1388-1421)

Thomas of Lancaster (September 29th 1388 - March 22nd 1421), Count d' Albemarle and Duc of Clarence was the second surviving wire of Henri IV of England and Marie de Bohun.

His/her older brother is the future Henri V and its juniors are Jean, Duc of Bedford and Humphrey de Gloucester, Duc of Gloucester. He marries Marguerite Holland († 1429), girl of Thomas Holland, 2nd Count de Kent, in 1411. The following year, it is created Duc of Clarence

In 1412, benefitting from the disease of the king, two factions dispute the capacity. The first is that of the Prince de Galles, the future Henri V, and of his/her Beaufort half-brothers, the second is that of Thomas of Lancaster, count d' Albemarle and duke of Clarence, and the Arundel archbishop. It is initially the prince of Wales which seems to carry it but, wanting to draw aside Henri IV definitively throne, this one draws aside it from the capacity. During a few months, Thomas of Lancaster is Master of England.

In France, Armagnacs and Bourguignons in open fight the ones against the others for the control of regency are, Charles VI being unable to assume it because of its madness. Lancaster makes alliance with the Armagnacs at the time of a treaty signed with Eltham the May 8th 1412. The English agree to send 1000 men-at-arms and 3000 archers to help them against the possession of the old duchy of Aquitaine reconstituted in his old extension. A few weeks later, this treaty is made null and void by the new truce between Armagnacs and Burgundian.

In August, Thomas of Lancaster unloads with Saint-Vaast-the-Hougue and meets Charles of Orleans to Blois in order to ratify the treaty of Eltham. He makes him pay very expensive his return in England: a few thousand hundred of books and handing-over as an hostage, like guarantee of payment, his/her brother Jean of Angouleme, the future grandfather of François Ier. That does not prevent Thomas from directing his army towards Bordeaux by devastating all on its passage.

It is in Bordeaux when it learns death from his father the March 20th 1413. It returns at once to England to lend allegiance to his brother Henri V. This one does not seem to have wanted of it its recent seizure of power to him and Thomas of Lancaster, from now on, will be to him of a fidelity without fault until the end. He unloads in France in 1415 and takes part in the seat of Harfleur and the Bataille of Azincourt. He also takes part in the conquest of the Normandy in 1417 - 1419.

After the Treated of Troyes, Henri V turns over to England and lets his brother organize a forthcoming offensive against the dolphin Charles, future Charles VII. However, it is this one which attacks it with the Old-Wallow in March 1421. The 22, the future constable John Stuart, attract it in a trap where it is stupidly made take. It is killed in the skirmish.

It is buried in the Cathédrale of Canterbury.

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