Today I want to find out a little about John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. He was the younger brother of Henry V and became one of England’s most powerful military commanders during the Hundred Years’ War.
Image info:
Artist: Bedford Master
Date: 1410 -1430
Collection: British Library
John was born on the 20th of June 1389. His father was Henry Bolingbroke, who later seized the English throne and became Henry IV, while his mother was Mary de Bohun.
As he was a grandson of John of Gaunt and a great-grandson of Edward III, John belonged to the powerful House of Lancaster. His elder brother was the future Henry V, while his other brothers were Thomas, Duke of Clarence, and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
John received an excellent education. Following his father’s accession in 1399, he was knighted and began receiving important lands and positions.
One of his earliest responsibilities was defending England’s northern border against Scotland. As Warden of the East March, John faced shortages of money, unpaid soldiers and continuing unrest. Despite these difficulties, he gained valuable military and administrative experience.
Henry V became king in 1413, and John was created Duke of Bedford in 1414. He frequently governed England while his brother campaigned in France.
In 1416, Bedford commanded an English fleet which defeated French ships near the mouth of the River Seine. This helped to relieve the English-held port of Harfleur and strengthened his reputation as a capable commander.
Following Henry V’s death in 1422, Bedford became one of the most important men in Europe. Henry’s son, Henry VI, was not yet a year old, but was recognised by the English as king of both England and France.
Bedford took responsibility for governing English-controlled France on behalf of his young nephew. His brother Humphrey was left to manage affairs in England whenever Bedford was overseas.
John attempted to continue Henry V’s conquests while maintaining England’s alliance with Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. In 1423, he strengthened this relationship by marrying Philip’s sister, Anne of Burgundy.
Bedford’s marriage to Anne of Burgundy strengthened the alliance between England and Burgundy. The couple had no surviving legitimate children.
His greatest military victory came on the 17th of August 1424 at the Battle of Verneuil. Bedford’s army defeated a combined French and Scottish force, helping to bring English power in France close to its greatest extent.
However, England’s position soon began to weaken. There were disagreements between the English leaders that damaged the Burgundian alliance, and Bedford struggled to find enough money and soldiers to continue the war.
The Siege of Orléans started in 1428, despite Bedford apparently having doubts about the campaign. The arrival of Joan of Arc transformed the French morale, and the English were forced to abandon the siege in 1429.
Joan was later captured by Burgundian troops and transferred to English control. She was tried by a church court at Rouen and executed on the 30th of May 1431. Bedford did not intervene to save her.
That same year, Bedford arranged for the young Henry VI to be crowned King of France in Paris. However, the coronation could not reverse England’s declining fortunes.
Bedford’s first wife, Anne, possibly died from plague in 1432. The following year, he married the seventeen-year-old Jacquetta of Luxembourg. Their marriage was childless, although Bedford had an illegitimate son named Richard.
Jacquetta later married Richard Woodville and became the mother of Elizabeth Woodville, the future queen of Edward IV.
John of Lancaster died at Rouen on the 14th of September 1435, aged 46. He was buried in Rouen Cathedral.
His death came at a disastrous moment for England. Shortly afterwards, Burgundy abandoned the English alliance and made peace with Charles VII of France.
Bedford had been a talented soldier and administrator, but even he could not permanently hold together the English empire created by Henry V.
Do you think England’s position in France might have survived longer if John of Bedford had lived?
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