The Dukes of Norfolk - the Early Years

Sir Robert Howard: born 1385 died 1426
Sir John Howard (1st Duke) born 1420 died 1483 at Bosworth Field

The Dukedom of Norfolk was created over five hundred years ago in 1483. Over the years the family have had a dramatic history and a great influence on the life and times of England. It is a story of triumphs and tragedies. From the 15th to the 17th centuries the family has been at the forefront of national history from the Wars of the Roses, through the Reformation, the victory at Flodden Field and the defeat of the Armada. The third Duke escaped being beheaded only because Henry VIII died on the morning that his execution was due to take place.

The Howards had other interests apart from the pursuit of power. There were great scholars, patrons of the arts and enthusiastic builders. Among the more memorable were the Poet Earl, born in 1517, the Collector Earl in the 17th century and the Whig extrovert 11th Duke. Over the forthcoming editions and prompted by our recent parish trip to Arundel Castle, we will follow the history and fortunes of Dukes up to the present day.

The Howard family dates back to 1297 when Sir William Howard of East Winch in north Norfolk became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1297 during Edward I (Longshanks) reign. And so began the games of political snakes and ladders which elevated his descendants to the top of the peerage tree of England.

In about 1420 Sir Robert Howard, a contemporary of Henry V and who probably fought at Agincourt, made the most brilliant marriage to Lady Margaret Mowbray eldest daughter of Thomas Mowbray, Earl Marshall of England and great grandson of King Edward I. His son, John Howard, sided with the Yorkists during the wars of The Roses and supported The Duke of York onto the throne of England as Edward IV. He became a great favourite of Edward and received many honours. He was elevated to Lord Howard in the late 1460s. Unfortunately Edward IV had acquired the wealth of Mowbray estates by the earlier marriage of his son to Lady Anne Mowbray. However she died without issue leaving Edward’s son (one of The Princes in the Tower) with these valuable estates. On the death of Edward IV, Robert Howard sided with Richard Duke of Gloucester in his push for the throne rather than the young Prince Edward V as this would release the Mowbray estates to him. To this end he may also have been involved in the murder of the Princes in the tower. On 28th June 1483, barely a week after Richard’s accession to the throne, Howard was created 1st Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of England, Lord Admiral of England, Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster and Privy Councillor as well as being granted his share of the Mowbray Estates. And so began the story of The Dukes of Norfolk.

Howard supported Richard III during his brief reign and rallied to his cause at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 after Henry Tudor had landed with a great army to seize the throne. He was cut off from Richard when the turncoat Stanley led his troops into the gap between the two, his visor was struck off in hand to hand combat with the Earl of Oxford and he was shot dead by a stray arrow.

He was treated with greater respect than the King who was also slain at Bosworth. He was carried solemnly to Thetford in Norfolk where he was interred in the Cluniac monastery alongside the earlier Mowbray Dukes of Norfolk. Two months later he was posthumously attainted but he had died and been buried as the 1st Duke of Norfolk.

Next month the second and third Dukes.

Tony Rice-Oxley