John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford

English Royalty
House of Lancaster

Henry IV Children    Henry V    John, Duke of Bedford    Thomas, Duke of Clarence    Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Henry V Children    Henry VI Henry VI Children    Edward, Prince of Wales

John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford (20 June 1389–14 September 1435), also known as John Plantagenet, was the fourth son of King Henry IV of England by Mary de Bohun, and acted as Regent of England for his nephew, King Henry VI.

John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford (right).

He was created Earl of Kendal, Earl of Richmond and Duke of Bedford in 1414 by his brother, King Henry V. In 1423, he married Anne, daughter of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. After Anne's death in childbirth in 1432, he married Jacquetta of Luxembourg.

Arms of the Duke of Bedford

When Henry V died in 1422, Bedford vied with his younger brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, for control of the Kingdom. The boy King was declared Regent of France, technically heir to the throne of that country as well as to England. Bedford defeated the French several times, until the arrival of Joan of Arc rallied the opposition. In 1431, Bedford had Joan tried and executed at Rouen, then arranged a coronation for the young Henry VI at Paris. While negotiating the Treaty of Rouen, he died at his home and was buried at Rouen Cathedral. Bedford had been Governor in Normandy between 1422-1432, according to.