John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk

John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal, was a fifteenth-century English magnate. He was a key figure in the early years of the Wars of the Roses. As a minor he became a ward of King Henry VI and was placed under the protection of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. He married Eleanor Bourchier in 1430s, and became the bitter rival of William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk.

About John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk in brief

John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal, was a fifteenth-century English magnate. He was a key figure in the early years of the Wars of the Roses. As a minor he became a ward of King Henry VI and was placed under the protection of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. He seems to have had an unruly and rebellious youth. His early career was spent in the military, where he held the wartime office of Earl Marshal. Later he led the defence of England’s possessions in Normandy during the Hundred Years’ War. In March 1461 he was instrumental in Edward’s victory at the Battle of Towton, bringing reinforcements late in the combat. He died in November 1461, and was succeeded by his only son, John. John was the only son of John de Mow bray, 2nd Duke of Norwich, and his wife Katherine Neville, who was a daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, a powerful magnate in northern England. He married Eleanor Bourchier in 1430s, and became the bitter rival of William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk. He shared an enmity towards York, and aligned with York early in 1460 until York’s death later that year. The National Archives, Chancery Masters’ Exhibits, C 11526 251, foists for John Mow Bray, c. 1435-1461, for £35,000. MowBray appears to have been raucous and troublesome, and surrounded himself with equally unruly followers.

Exactly which aspects of his behaviour were viewed as problematic is unknown, and a precise regimen was imposed upon him by the King and his council before he was summoned before the King in 1461. He had only recently recently—with the other lords—sworn an oath in parliament to not recruit or recruit wrong-doers into his affinity, nor maintain them to maintain them in his service. He also had a reputation for taking the law into his own hands, which drew the disapproving attention of the Crown, and he was bound over for massive sums and imprisoned twice in the Tower of London. His enemies, particularly de la pole, also resorted to violent tactics, but often in vain. As law and order collapsed in eastern England, national politics became increasingly factional, with popular revolts against the King’s councillors. By the 1450s Richard,. Duke of York, who by the 1460s felt excluded from government, grew belligerent. He rebelled twice, and both times MowBRay defended King Henry. He was able to evade direct involvement in the fractious political climate, and align himself with York until the death of York in 1462. He inherited his titles upon his father’s death in 1432. By March 1434, Anne had arranged for Mow BRay’s marriage to her daughter Eleanor Bour chier, and by 1437–38 served as warden of the east march.

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