Constance of York
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| Constance of York | |
|---|---|
| Baroness le Despencer; Countess of Gloucester | |
| Spouse | Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester m. 1379; dec. 1400 |
| Issue | |
| Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh Isabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester, Countess of Warwick |
|
| House | House of York (by birth) |
| Father | Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York |
| Mother | Infanta Isabella of Castile |
| Born | c. 1374 Conisburgh Castle, Yorkshire |
| Died | 29 November 1416 (aged c. 41–42) Reading Abbey, Berkshire |
Constance of York (c. 1374 - 29 November 1416) was the only daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and his wife Isabella of Castile, daughter of Pedro of Castile and Maria de Padilla. On about 7 November 1379, Constance married Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester (22 September 1373 – 16 January 1400), who was eventually beheaded at Bristol. She was involved in an affair with Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent and had a daughter by him, Eleanor de Holland. Eleanor was later married to James Tuchet, 5th Baron Audley.
In 1405, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, Constance, who held Caerphilly Castle, arranged the escape of Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, from Windsor Castle, apparently intending to deliver the young earl, who had the best claim to the throne of any of Henry IV's rivals, to his uncle Edmund who was married to Glyndwr's daughter. The earl was recaptured before entering Wales.
When Constance died in 1416, she was buried at the High altar in Reading Abbey.
[edit] Issue
- Elizabeth le Despenser (died young c. 1398)
- Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh (1396–1414). He married Eleanor, daughter of Ralph, 1st Earl of Westmorland (d.1425) and Joan Beaufort (d.1440), daughter of John of Gaunt by Katherine Swynford. He died young without issue.
- Edward le Despenser (b. bef. 1400), died young
- Hugh le Despenser (c. 1400–1401)
- Isabel le Despenser (born after her father's execution). She married, firstly, Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester (d. 1421/2). A daughter, Elizabeth, Lady Abergavenny (b.1415) was the sole product of this union. Following Worcester's death, she married Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick. They were parents to Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick and Anne Beauchamp.
[edit] References
- Peggy K. Liss, "Isabel the Queen," New York: Oxford University Press, 1992, p. 165
- James Reston, Jr. "Dogs of God," New York: Doubleday, p. 18.
