Arms granted by Richard II to Thomas
de Mowbray, I st Duke of Norfolk in 1399
The
Duke of Norfolk is the Premier Duke in the
peerage of England, and also, as
Earl of Arundel, the Premier Earl.
The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the
Earl
Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England.
The seat of the Duke
of Norfolk is Arundel
Castle
in Sussex, although the title
refers to the county of Norfolk. The
current Duke of Norfolk is
Edward
Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. The dukes have
historically been
Roman Catholic, a
state of affairs known as
recusancy in
England. Despite this apparent handicap however, for Protestant
England to have its highest ranking Peer remain a Roman Catholic
carried certain undeniable diplomatic benefits that may have
protected the Dukes from further religious persecution after the
reign of
Elizabeth I.
All past and present dukes have been descended from
Edward I; see
Dukes of Norfolk family
tree.
History
John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk (3rd
Creation)
Before the Dukes of Norfolk, there were the Bigod
Earls of Norfolk, starting with
Roger Bigod from
Normandy (died 1107). Their male line ended with
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl
of Norfolk, who died without an heir in 1307, so their titles
and estates reverted to the crown.
Edward II then created his brother
Thomas of
Brotherton earl in 1312. It passed to Thomas's daughter
Margaret, and then to
her grandson
Thomas Mowbray.
When
King Richard II created
Thomas Mowbray duke in 1397, he conferred upon him the estates and
titles (including
Earl Marshal) that
had belonged to the earls. His elderly grandmother Margaret was
still alive, and so at the same time she was created Duchess of
Norfolk for life. Mowbray died in exile in 1399, some months after
his grandmother, and his dukedom was repealed. His widow took the
title
countess of Norfolk.
Between 1401 and 1476, the Mowbray family held the title and
estates of the Duke of Norfolk. John Mowbray, the 4th duke, died
without male issue in 1476, his only surviving child being the
3-year-old
Anne Mowbray. At the age of
three, a
marriage was arranged
between Anne and
Richard, Duke of
York, the four -year-old son of
King Edward IV of England. She remained
Richard's
child bride until she died
at the age of 8.
In accordance with the marriage arrangements, Richard inherited the
lands and wealth of the Mowbray family. He was also made Duke of
Norfolk. However, upon the death of Edward IV, controversy over the
legitimacy arose, as evidence of an
earlier
marriage on the part of Edward IV emerged. Soon after their
father's death Richard, and his brother Edward, were declared
illegitimate.
Richard was sent to the Tower of London
by the new king, Richard III, in mid-1483, thus ending
his claim to both York and Norfolk.
For his support of Richard III's claim to the throne,
John Howard, the son of
Thomas Mowbray's elder daughter Margaret, was created 1st Duke of
Norfolk in 1483, in the title's third creation. From this point to
the present, the title has remained in the hands of the descendants
of John Howard.
The current Duke of Norfolk is
Edward
Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, who succeeded his
father,
Miles
Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk, in 2002.
Duties and other titles
In
addition to the title of Duke of Norfolk, the Dukes of Norfolk also
hold the hereditary position of Earl
Marshal, which has the duty of organizing state occasions such
as the state opening of parliament
. For the last five centuries, save some
periods when it was under
attainder, both
the Dukedom and the Earl-Marshalship have been in the hands of the
Howard family.
According to The House of Lords Act 1999, due
to his duties as Earl Marshal, Norfolk is one of only two
hereditary peers automatically admitted to the House of Lords
, without being elected by the general body of
hereditary peers (the other being the Lord Great Chamberlain).
Additionally, the Duke of Norfolk participates in the ceremony of
the
State Opening of
Parliament. He is among the four individuals who precede the
monarch, and one of the two of these who walks always facing the
sovereign (thus backwards).
As the
Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk is head of the College of Arms
, through which he regulates all matters connected
with armorial bearings and standards, in addition to controlling
the arrangements for state functions.
He is one of three claimants to the title
Chief Butler of England.
The Duke of Norfolk currently holds the following subsidiary
titles:
All titles are in the
Peerage of
England, save for the Barony of Howard of Glossop which is in
the
Peerage of the United
Kingdom. All descend to heirs male except the Barony of
Beaumont, which can pass in the female line. The style
Earl of
Arundel is used as a
courtesy
title by the Duke's eldest son, the present one of which is
Henry
Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel. The style
Lord
Maltravers is used as a
courtesy
title by the eldest son of the Duke's eldest son (the Duke's
grandson).
Coats of arms
Howard Augmentation
The coat of arms of the Duke of Norfolk consist of four different
elements: the arms (or shield), the crest(s), the supporters, the
motto, and the batons of the Earl Marshal. Each will be addressed
in turn:
- The Arms: Quarterly 1st Gules on a Bend
between six Cross-crosslets fitchy
Argent an Escutcheon Or charged with a Demi-lion rampant pierced
through the mouth by an arrow within a Double Tressure flory
counterflory of the first (Howard); 2nd Gules three
Lions passant gardant in pale Or, Armed and Langued Azure, in chief
a Label of three points Argent (Thomas of
Brotherton); 3rd Checky Or and Azure (Warenne); 4th Gules a Lion rampant Or, Armed
and Langued Azure (Fitzalan).
- The Crests: 1st On a Chapeau Gules turned up
Ermine a Lion statant gardant with tail extended Or gorged with a
Ducal Coronet Argent (Thomas of Brotherton); 2nd Issuant from a
Ducal Coronet Or a pair of Wings Gules each charged with a Bend
between six Cross-crosslets fitchy Argent (Howard); 3rd On a Mount
Vert a Horse passant Argent holding in the mouth a Slip of Oak
fructed proper (Fitzalan).
- The Supporters: Dexter a Lion sinister a Horse
both Argent the latter holding in his mouth a Slip of Oak Vert
fructed proper.
- The Motto: Sola Virtus Invicta
(Virtue alone is unconquered).
- The Batons: Placed behind the shield two gold
Batons in Saltire enamelled at the end Sable (black), which
represent the Duke of Norfolk's office as Earl Marshal and
Hereditary Marshal of England.
Often, the
coat of arms of the Duke of
Norfolk appears with the garter of the
Order of the Garter surrounding the
shield, as seen in the arms of
Miles
Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk. However, this
is by no means hereditary. His Grace, the 17th Duke of Norfolk did
not become a Knight of the Garter until 22 April 1983. The current
Duke of Norfolk,
His Grace Edward
William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, has not (yet)
been awarded the
Order of the
Garter. Thus, the
Order of the
Garter, or any order of knighthood for that matter, is not
necessarily a component of the coat of arms of the Duke of
Norfolk.
The shield
on the bend in the first quarter of the arms (shown to the right)
was granted as an Augmentation of
Honour by Henry VIII to
Thomas Howard, 2nd
Duke of Norfolk to commemorate his victory at the Battle of
Flodden Field
. It is a modification of the
Royal coat of arms of
Scotland. Instead of its normal rampant position, the lion is
shown with an arrow through its mouth.
Residences
The main
residences commonly associated with the Dukes of Norfolk are:
Framlingham
Castle
, Bungay
Castle
, as well as Clun Castle
in Shropshire
, which are now largely ruins; Carlton Towers
and most notably Arundel Castle.
Framlingham Castle was originally a part of the
properties of the Earls of Norfolk, but when the title fell from
use, the castle was administered by the crown. In 1397, it was
given to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, by King Richard II. And
when the Mowbray line became extinct, it passed eventually to the
Howard family. Major repairs to this castle were carried out in
1485 by John Howard. The castle would remain in the Howard family,
and thus the Dukes of Norfolk, for a while, but would eventually
pass from their possession. In 1553, for example, Framlingham was
given to
Mary Tudor, sister of
King Edward VI.
[11634]
Bungay Castle was also originally apart of the
properties of the Earls of Norfolk. In 1483, it passed into the
possession of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk, and the family
continued to own it, apart from brief periods, until the late 20th
century. However, the castle has been in a state of decay for quite
some time. And for this reason, the 17th Duke of Norfolk, in 1987
presented the castle to the town, which had already begun
restoration attempts on their own, with an endowment towards its
preservation. It is now owned and administered by the Castle Trust.
[11635]
Carlton Towers is in Carlton
(near Goole), Yorkshire
, England. It is a
Victorian gothic
country house designed by
Edward Welby Pugin. It is the Yorkshire
home of the Duke of Norfolk.Though the Duke of Norfolk's family
still live in part of the house, it is now largely used for wedding
receptions and similar events.
The
principal seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over
850 years is Arundel
Castle. Built in the 11th Century by
Roger de
Montgomery,
Earl of Arundel, the
castle was seized by the crown in 1102.
King Henry II, who added on to the
castle, in 1155 confirmed
William d'Aubigny as
Earl of Arundel, with the honour and the castle of Arundel. Arundel
Castle is still to this day the home of The Duke and Duchess of
Norfolk and their children.
The Fitzalan Chapel
, founded in 1390 by the 4th Earl of Arundel, is
located on the western grounds outside the castle, and has been the
burial place of the most recent Dukes of Norfolk. [11636]
Glossop as an occasional residence is situated in
the High Peak District of Derbyshire. As the family became closely
connected with Sheffield, The Farm in Glossop became increasingly
used, particularly when Henry Howard lived there in the 1760s; when
the fourteenth Duke, enlarged The Farm as an occasional residence;
and during the time of the fifteenth Duke, Henry Granville
Fitzalan-Howard, who had interest in the activities of the
City.
List of the Dukes of Norfolk
The Duchy of Norfolk has gone through three creations: in 1397,
when it was the possession of the Mowbray family; in 1477 when it
was a duchy of the Duke of York; and in 1483, when it came into
possession of the Howard family. Notable members of the Howard
Family were
Anne Boleyn and
Catherine Howard, second and fifth wives of
Henry VIII. Both women were nieces of
Thomas Howard, 3rd
Duke of Norfolk, who played a major role in the machinations
behind their relationships, and eventually marriages to Henry VIII.
Also they were the granddaughters of
Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of
Norfolk. He was the father of Anne's mother Lady Elizabeth
Howard, later
Elizabeth
Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire and Ormonde and Catherine's
father
Lord Edmund Howard, making
the queens first cousins.
The following are the men who have held the title of Duke of
Norfolk:
Dukes of Norfolk, first Creation (1397)
- *Margaret Manny, 2nd
Countess of Norfolk, Duchess of Norfolk (c. 1320-1398),
daughter and heir of Thomas of Brotherton,
1st Earl of Norfolk (himself third son of Edward I), was suo jure 2nd
Countess of Norfolk and grandmother of the 1st Duke. She was
created Duchess of Norfolk for life in 1397.
- *Thomas de
Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk (1385–1405), eldest son of the 1st
Duke, also incurred Bolingbroke's wrath and was executed rather
than restored to the dukedom
- John de
Mowbray, 5th Earl of Norfolk, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1392-1432),
second son of the 1st Duke was restored to his father's dukedom in
1425
- John de
Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1415-1461), only son of the 2nd
Duke, was an important figure in the Wars of the Roses
- John de
Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk (1444-1476), only son of the 3rd
Duke, died without male issue, so several of his titles were
extinct
- *Anne de
Mowbray, 8th Countess of Norfolk (1472–1481), only daughter of
the 4th Duke, succeeded him as the 8th and last Countess of
Norfolk. She died without issue.
Dukes of Norfolk, second Creation (1481)
Dukes of Norfolk, third Creation (1483)
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of
Norfolk
- John Howard, 1st
Duke of Norfolk (c.1425-1485) was created Duke by
Shrewsbury's uncle Richard
III for supporting him in taking the throne from Henry V. After his death, Richard III's
rival the new king Henry VII
declared his dukedom forfeit
- Thomas Howard,
1st Earl of Surrey, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443-1524), eldest son
of the 1st Duke, was restored to his father's dukedom in 1514
- Thomas Howard,
3rd Duke of Norfolk, 2nd Earl of Surrey (1473-1554), eldest son
of the 2nd Duke, was an immensely important man in the reign of
Henry VIII. He incurred the
king's disfavour and his dukedom was forfeit in 1547 upon his
imprisonment (he only just avoided execution because the king
died). Mary I released him and
restored his dukedom in 1553
- *Henry Howard, Earl of
Surrey (1517-1547), eldest son of the 3rd Duke, was executed
before his father
- *Philip Howard,
1st Earl of Arundel (1557–1595), eldest son of the 4th
Duke
- *Thomas Howard,
2nd Earl of Arundel, 3rd Earl of Surrey, 1st Earl of Norfolk
(1585–1646), eldest son of the 1st Earl of Arundel, attained the
favour of Charles I, who
restored the Dukes' Earldom of Surrey and created him Earl of
Norfolk
- *Henry Howard, 3rd
Earl of Arundel (1608–1652), eldest son of the 2nd Earl of
Arundel
- *Lord Thomas Howard (d. 1689), second son of the 6th Duke
- Thomas Howard,
8th Duke of Norfolk (1683-1732), eldest son of Lord Thomas
Howard
- Edward Howard,
9th Duke of Norfolk (1685-1777), second son of Lord Thomas
Howard
- Charles Howard,
10th Duke of Norfolk (1720-1786), grandson of the 22nd Earl of
Arundel's fourth son
- Charles Howard,
11th Duke of Norfolk (1746-1815), only son of the 10th
Duke
- Bernard Howard,
12th Duke of Norfolk (1765-1842), great-grandson of the 22nd
Earl of Arundel's fifth son
- Henry Howard,
13th Duke of Norfolk (1791-1856), only son of the 12th
Duke
- Henry
Fitzalan-Howard, 14th Duke of Norfolk (1815-1860), eldest son
of the 13th Duke
- Henry
Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk (1847-1917), eldest son
of the 14th Duke
- *Philip Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel (1879-1902), eldest
son of the 15th Duke, died unmarried
Knights of the Garter
12th Duke of Norfolk shown wearing the
star and sash of the Order of the Garter.
Many of the Dukes of Norfolk have also been knights of the
Order of the Garter. The following list
is of those Dukes of Norfolk, along with their year of investiture,
that were also Knights of the
Order
of the Garter across all creations of the title.
- 1383 - Thomas
Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk
- 1421 - John
Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
- 1451 - John
Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk
- 1472 - John Howard,
1st Duke of Norfolk
- 1475 – Richard of Shrewsbury,
1st Duke of York, 1st Duke of Norfolk
- 1510 - Thomas
Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
- 1559 - Thomas
Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk; degraded 1572
- 1685 - Henry
Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk
- 1834 - Bernard
Edward Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk
- 1848 - Henry
Howard, 13th Duke of Norfolk
- 1886 - Henry
Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
- 1937 - Bernard Marmaduke
Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk
- 1983 - Miles
Francis Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk
See also
Further reading
- Robinson, John Martin. The Dukes of Norfolk: A
Quincentennial History. Oxford University Press, 1982.
External links
References
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