Duke of Beaufort (), a title in the

Peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in th ...

, was created by Charles II in 1682 for

Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

, a descendant of

Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, KG (c. 146015 March 1526) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the legitimised bastard son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset by his mistress Joan Hill. Origins He was born in about ...

, legitimised son of

Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset (26 January 143615 May 1464) was an important Lancastrian military commander during the English Wars of the Roses. He is sometimes numbered the 2nd Duke of Somerset, because the title was re-created for his ...

, a Lancastrian leader in the

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the throne of England, English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These w ...

. The name ''Beaufort'' refers to a castle in

Champagne Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

(now

Montmorency-Beaufort Montmorency-Beaufort () is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France. Population See also * Communes of the Aube department The following is a list of the 431 communes of the Aube department of France. The communes cooper ...

). It is the only current dukedom to take its name from a place outside the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isl ...

. The Dukes of Beaufort descend in the male line from the

House of Plantagenet The House of Plantagenet () was a royal house which originated from the lands of Anjou in France. The family held the English throne from 1154 (with the accession of Henry II at the end of the Anarchy) to 1485, when Richard III died in b ...

through

John of Gaunt John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399) was an English royal prince, military leader, and statesman. He was the fourth son (third to survive infancy as William of Hatfield died shortly after birth) of King Edward ...

, son of

Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...

. This statement was challenged after the analysis of the Y chromosomal DNA of the remains of

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Bat ...

. Most living male heirs of the 5th Duke of Beaufort were found to carry a relatively common Y chromosome type, which is different from the rare lineage found in Richard III's remains. The instance of false paternity could have occurred anywhere in the numerous generations separating Richard III from the 5th Duke of Beaufort. The break also could have occurred with Richard III's grandfather Richard of Conisburgh, whose paternity has been called into question although he was acknowledged by his father. The Beaufort Castle was in possession of John of Gaunt, and the surname Beaufort was given to Gaunt's four legitimised children by his mistress and third wife,

Katherine Swynford Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster (born Katherine de Roet, – 10 May 1403), also spelled Katharine or Catherine, was the third wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the fourth (but third surviving) son of King Edward III. Daughte ...

. This was the foundation of the House of Beaufort, Dukes of Somerset. A descendant of the Beauforts through his mother was

Henry VII of England Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henry's mother, Margaret Beauf ...

, KG (c. 1460 – 15 March 1526), was the bastard son of

by his mistress Joan Hill. The Duke of Beaufort holds two subsidiary titles: Marquess of Worcester (created 1642) and

Earl of Worcester Earl of Worcester is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. Five creations The first creation came in 1138 in favour of the Norman noble Waleran de Beaumont. He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leice ...

(1514). The title Marquess of Worcester is used as a

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some con ...

by the duke's eldest son and heir. The title Earl of Glamorgan is used by the eldest son of the

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

to the dukedom. The Earl of Glamorgan's eldest son is known as Viscount Grosmont. The Earldom of Glamorgan and Viscountcy of Grosmont derive from an irregular creation by Charles I in 1644 in favour of Edward Somerset, who later succeeded his father as 2nd Marquess of Worcester. Although the Earldom of Glamorgan and Viscountcy of Grosmont were not recognised as substantive titles at the restoration of Charles II, because of irregularities in the patent of creation, they have nevertheless continued to be used as convenient courtesy titles in order to distinguish the bearer from the Marquess of Worcester as heir apparent, the Earldom of Worcester not being distinctive enough for this purpose. All subsidiary titles are in the Peerage of England.

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

The Lord Raglan, born

Lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the Peerage ...

FitzRoy Somerset Field Marshal FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, (30 September 1788 – 28 June 1855), known before 1852 as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was a British Army officer. When a junior officer, he served in the Peninsular War and the Waterloo ...

(1788–1855), was the youngest son of the fifth duke. The family seat was once

Raglan Castle Raglan Castle ( cy, Castell Rhaglan) is a late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales. The modern castle dates from between the 15th and early 17th centuries, when the succ ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, wit ...

, but was

Badminton House Badminton House is a large country house and Grade I Listed Building in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England, which has been the principal seat of the Dukes of Beaufort since the late 17th century. The house, which has given its name to th ...

near

Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury is a market town and former civil parish, now in the parish of Sodbury, in the unitary authority area of South Gloucestershire, in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, England. It was founded in the 12th century by William ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of ...

. The principal burial place of the Dukes and Duchesses of Beaufort is St Michael and All Angels' Church,

Badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players p ...

. Following the creation of the dukedom, each successive duke has served as Master of the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, a foxhound pack kenneled on the Badminton Estate.

Descent from John of Gaunt

, son of King

and father of King

Henry IV of England Henry IV ( April 1367 – 20 March 1413), also known as Henry Bolingbroke, was King of England from 1399 to 1413. He asserted the claim of his grandfather King Edward III, a maternal grandson of Philip IV of France, to the Kingdom of F ...

John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset John Beaufort, 1st Marquess of Somerset and 1st Marquess of Dorset, later only 1st Earl of Somerset, (c. 1373 – 16 March 1410) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the first of the four illegitimate children of John of Gaunt ( ...

, natural and legitimized son of John of Gaunt by

* Edmund Beaufort, 4th Earl and 2nd Duke of Somerset, fourth and youngest son of the 1st Earl *

, son of the 4th Earl and 2nd Duke of Somerset; his natural son was created Earl of Worcester in 1514.

Earls of Worcester (1514)

(c. 1450–1526), legitimised son of

and Joan Hill :''Other titles (2nd onwards):

Baron Herbert Baron Herbert is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ in 1461 for William Herbert, who was later made Earl of Pembroke. The second Earl of Pembroke surrendered his earldom in return for the earldom of Huntingdon, which be ...

(1461)'' * Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester (c. 1495–1548), only legitimate son of the 1st Earl *

William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester, KG (c. 1526/1527 – 21 February 1589) was an English courtier, nobleman, and politician. He was the eldest son of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester and his second wife Elizabeth Browne. Earl of W ...

(d. 1589), eldest son of the 2nd Earl *

Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester, KG, Earl Marshal (c. 1550 – 3 March 1628) was an English aristocrat. He was an important advisor to King James I (James VI of Scots), serving as Lord Privy Seal. He was the only son of three childre ...

(1553–1628), only son of the 3rd Earl * Henry Somerset, 5th Earl of Worcester (1577–1646) was created Marquess of Worcester in 1643

Marquesses of Worcester (1642)

:''Other titles: Earl of Worcester (1514) and

(1461)'' *

Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

(1577–1646), eldest son of the 4th Earl, was a noted

Cavalier The term Cavalier () was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of King Charles I and his son Charles II of England during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration (1642 – ). ...

Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester (9 March 1602 or 9 March 16033 April 1667), styled Lord Herbert of Raglan from 1628 to 1644, was an English nobleman involved in royalist politics, and an inventor. While Earl of Glamorgan, he was se ...

(1601–1667), eldest son of the 1st Marquess, was an inventor. He has a claim to the invention of the steam engine. *

(1629–1700) was created Duke of Beaufort in 1682, after the Restoration **Henry Somerset, Lord Herbert (b. bef. 1660), eldest son of the 3rd Marquess, died in infancy

Dukes of Beaufort (1682)

:''Other titles: Marquesses of Worcester (1642) and Earl of Worcester (1514)'' :''Other titles (1st–10th Dukes):

(1461)'' *

Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, KG, PC (162921 January 1700) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1667, when he succeeded his father as 3rd Marquess of Worcester. He was styled Lord ...

(1629–1700), eldest son of the 2nd Marquess **Henry Somerset, Lord Herbert (b. before 1660), eldest son of the 1st Duke, died in infancy ** Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (1660–1698), second son of the 1st Duke, predeceased his father *

Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, KG PC (2 April 1684 – 24 May 1714) was an English peer and politician. He was the only son of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, and Rebecca Child. He was styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1698, ...

(1684–1714), only son of Lord Worcester *

Henry Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort Henry Somerset-Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (23 March 1707 – 26 February 1745), born Henry Somerset, was an English nobleman and peer who supported Jacobitism. Life He was the elder son of Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort and his s ...

(1707–1745), eldest son of the 2nd Duke, died without issue *

Charles Noel Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort Charles Noel Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort (12 September 1709 – 28 October 1756) was a British Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1731 until 1745 when he succeeded to the peerage as Duke of Beaufort. Life Somerset was the ...

(1709–1756), second and youngest son of the 2nd Duke :''Other titles (5th–10th Dukes): Baron Botetourt (1305; abeyance ended 1803)'' * Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744–1803), only son of the 4th Duke * Henry Charles Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort (1766–1835), eldest son of the 5th Duke *

Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort Major Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort, KG (5 February 1792 – 17 November 1853), styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1803 and Marquess of Worcester between 1803 and 1835, was a British peer, soldier, and politician. Background Beaufort was th ...

(1792–1853), eldest son of the 6th Duke * Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort (1824–1899), only son of the 7th Duke * Henry Adelbert Wellington FitzRoy Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort (1847–1924), eldest son of the 8th Duke * Henry Hugh Arthur FitzRoy Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort (1900–1984), only son of the 9th Duke, died without issue, at which point his two Baronies fell into abeyance. * David Robert Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort (1928–2017), great-grandson of Rt. Hon. Lord Henry Richard Charles Somerset, second son of the 8th Duke * Henry John FitzRoy Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort (b. 22 May 1952), eldest son of the 11th Duke. The

is the present holder's son, Henry Robert FitzRoy Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (b. 20 January 1989). * ''Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744–1803)'' ** ''Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort (1766–1835)'' *** ''Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort (1792–1853)'' **** ''Henry Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort (1824–1899)'' *****''

Lord Henry Somerset Lord Henry Richard Charles Somerset, PC, DL, JP (7 December 1849 – 10 October 1932) was a British Conservative politician and composer of popular music. He served as Comptroller of the Household under Benjamin Disraeli between 1874 and ...

(1849–1932)'' ******''Henry Charles Somers Augustus Somerset (1874–1945)'' *******''Henry Robert Somers FitzRoy de Vere Somerset (1898–1965)'' ******** ''David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort (1928–2017)'' ********* Henry Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort (b. 1952) **********(1). Henry Robert FitzRoy Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (b. 1989) ***********(2). Henry, Earl of Glamorgan (b. 2021) **********(3). Lord Alexander Lorne Somerset (b. 1995) *********(4). Lord Edward Alexander Somerset (b. 1958) *********(5). Lord John Robert Somerset (b. 1964) **********(6). Lyle David Somerset (b. 1991) **''

Lord Charles Somerset Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC (12 December 1767 – 18 February 1831), born in Badminton, England, was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator.Charles Mosley, editor. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volu ...

(1767–1831)'' ***'' Henry Somerset (1794–1862)'' ****''Charles Henry Somerset (1819–1863)'' *****''

Henry Plantagenet Somerset Henry Plantagenet Somerset (19 May 1852 – 11 April 1936) was a pioneer pastoralist and politician in Queensland, Australia. Somerset was a liberal politician who represented the district of Stanley in the Queensland Legislative Assembly fr ...

(1852–1936)'' ******''Charles William Henry Rollo Somerset (1895–1936)'' *******(7). Arthur Henry Somerset (b. 1926) ********(8). Arthur Rollo Henry Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1953) ********(9). John William Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1965) *********(10). Justin Mitchell Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1993) ******''Hereward Henry Plantagenet Somerset (1900–1989)'' *******(11). David Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1926) *******(12). Robert Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1930) ********(13). Robert Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1959) *********(14). Benjamin Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1995) *********(15). Macartney Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1996) *******(16). William Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1934) ********(17). Mark William Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1965) *********(18). Brent Michael John Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1991) ********(19). Steven Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1968) *********(20). Joshua Steven Plantagenet Somerset (b. 2003) *******(21). Charles Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1944) ********(22). Miles Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1979) ********(23). Scott Plantagenet Somerset (b. 1981) ****''Henry George Edward Somerset (1829–1920)'' *****''Charles Wyndham Somerset (1862–1938)'' ******''Alan FitzRoy Somerset (1902–1940)'' *******(24). Robin FitzRoy Somerset (b. 1930) ********(25). Charles Fitzroy Somerset (b. 1981) ****''FitzRoy MacLean Henry Somerset (1839–1907)'' *****''FitzRoy Henry Somerset (1881–1946)'' ******''Raglan Henry Somerset (1903–1981)'' *******''Eugene Somerset (1929–1993)'' ********(26). Charles Somerset (b. 1956) *********(27). Charles Peter Somerset (b. 1981) **********(28). Gabriel Peter Somerset (b. 2016) ********(29). David Somerset (b. 1959) *********(30). Simon Ross Somerset (b. 1985) *******''John FitzRoy Somerset (1933–2003)'' ********(31). Hendry George Somerset (b. 1960) *********(32). Hendry George Somerset (b. 1985) *********(33). Raymond FitzRoy Somerset (b. 1987) *********(34). Shaun Steven Somerset (b. 1990) ***''Poulett George Henry Somerset (1822–1875)'' **'' Lord Robert Somerset (1776–1842)'' **''

Lord Arthur John Henry Somerset Lord Arthur John Henry Somerset (12 February 1780 – 18 April 1816), English politician, was the sixth son of Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort. Early years He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, taking a BA in 1799 and an MA in 1 ...

(1780–1816)'' **'' Lord William Somerset (1784–1851)'' *** ***''Rev. Boscawen Thomas George Henry Somerset (1833–1893)'' ****''William Horace Boscawen Somerset (1880–1946)'' *****''FitzRoy Douglas Boscawen Somerset (1923–2019)'' ******.Rev. Douglas William Boscawen Somerset (b. 1965) **'' FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855)'' ***''line of the Barons Raglan'' Bookplate-Henry Duke of Beaufort.jpg,

Bookplate An ''Ex Libris'' (from ''ex-librīs'', ), also known as a bookplate (or book-plate, as it was commonly styled until the early 20th century), is a printed or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the front endpaper, to indicate ownership. ...

with the arms of the 2nd Duke of Beaufort Bookplate-Elizabeth Duchess of Beaufort.jpg,

with the arms of Elizabeth Somerset, wife of the 5th Duke of Beaufort Bookplate-Henry Somerset Duke of Beaufort.jpg,

with the arms of the 9th Duke of Beaufort

Coat of arms

The heraldic

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The ...

for the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

of the dukedom is: ''Quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure three fleurs-de-lys or'' (for

); ''2nd and 3rd, gules three lions passant guardant in pale or'' (for

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

)'', all within a bordure compony argent and azure''. This can be translated as: a shield divided into quarters, the top left and bottom right quarters are blue with three golden

fleurs-de-lys The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

(for France), and the top right and bottom left quarters are red with three golden lions ''passant'' with their faces toward the viewer, one above the other (for England); the foregoing quarters are within a border around the shield with segments alternating white and blue. In heraldry, a ''bordure compony'' is traditionally used to designate illegitimacy. Since the original Beaufort siblings' father was of the English royal family, the English royal arms are used. At that time, the king of England also claimed the French crown, hence the inclusion of the French royal arms.

Family tree

Ancestral armorial

References

Bibliography

* * * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Beaufort 1682 establishments in England Dukedoms in the Peerage of England History of Worcestershire Noble titles created in 1682