Earl of Somerset

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Earl of Somerset was a hereditary British title of nobility awarded three times in the Peerage of England .

Awards

The title was first awarded in 1141, during the English Civil War ("The Anarchy") , by Empress Matilda to her favorite William de Mohun , in recognition of his military service against Stephan von Blois . In the charter of the Bruton Priory, William calls himself Willielmus de Moyne, comes Somersetensis . The title was not recognized by either King Stephen or Henry II and William's descendants no longer led it.

On February 10, 1397, the title of King Richard II was bestowed on his cousin, John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset . This was the illegitimate son of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster . On September 29, 1397 he was also raised to Marquess of Somerset and Marquess of Dorset , but after the coronation of Henry IV on November 3, 1399, the two marquess titles were revoked. His younger son, John , 3rd Earl of Somerset, was raised to Duke of Somerset and Earl of Kendal on August 28, 1443 . Since he, like his older brother, the 2nd Earl of Somerset, had no legitimate male descendants, the two titles expired on his death on May 27, 1444. The Earldom of Somerset fell to his younger brother Edmund as the 4th Earl. This had already been given the title of Earl of Dorset on August 28, 1441 and the title of Marquess of Dorset on June 24, 1442. On March 31, 1448 he was also raised to the Duke of Somerset. His son Henry , the 2nd Duke, was stripped of his title on November 4, 1461 by parliamentary resolution ( Bill of Attainder ) during the Wars of the Roses , because of his fight on the side of the House of Lancaster, and all his lands were confiscated. His son Edmund was still considered the 3rd Duke by the supporters of the House of Lancaster, but was captured by the supporters of the House of York at the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471 and executed two days later. Since he did not leave any male heirs, the titles became permanently void.

In the third bestowal, the title was recreated on November 3, 1613 for Robert Carr, 1st Viscount Rochester , along with the subordinate title of Baron Brancepeth , in the County of Durham. This was an influential favorite of King James I and on March 25, 1611 was made Viscount Rochester . In 1613 he was involved in a successful murder plot against his adversary at court, Sir Thomas Overbury, and was thereupon convicted of murder, imprisoned and pardoned in 1622. Since he had no sons, the title expired on his death on July 17, 1645.

List of the Earls of Somerset

Earls of Somerset, first bestowal (1141)

Earls of Somerset, second bestowal (1397)

Earls of Somerset, third bestowal (1613)

See also

Literature and web links