Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Encyclopedia
Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (1367 – 17 September 1415) was an English nobleman who supported Henry IV
against Richard II
. He died during the Siege of Harfleur
in 1415.
He was a son of Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk
and Katherine Wingfield, daughter of Sir John Wingfield
.
His father fled abroad amid accusations of treason during the Merciless Parliament
in 1388, and forfeited the title of Earl of Suffolk and the family estates. Over the next decade, Michael made vigorous attempts to recover these lands, and obtained most of them piecemeal between 1389 and 1392, following his father's death. However, his close association with the Lords Appellant
, particularly the Earl of Warwick
and the Duke of Gloucester
prejudiced Richard II
against him. He finally obtained the restoration of the earldom in January 1398.
While he obeyed the summons of the Duke of York
to defend the kingdom against Henry Bolingbroke
in July 1399, he did not object to the disbandment of York's army and consented to the deposition of Richard II. While the first Parliament of Henry IV technically upheld the forfeitures of the Merciless Parliament, Henry IV immediately restored de la Pole's estates and title in recognition of his support. However, he would spend the remainder of his life trying to obtain possession of the remaining estates which had not been restored.
He played a relatively small role in national politics, although he regularly attended Parliament. He took part in the campaign in Scotland in 1400, in naval operations around 1405, and was the senior English diplomat at the Council of Pisa
(1409). Suffolk was also a lieutenant of the Duke of Clarence
during his campaign of 1412–1413. However, most of his energies were spent on re-establishing de la Pole influence in East Anglia
. He was a justice of the peace
in Norfolk
and Suffolk
from 1399, and assembled a considerable following among the local gentry. He completed his father's building plans at Wingfield, Suffolk
and enlarged the local church.
Suffolk brought 40 men-at-arms and 120 archers
with him on the 1415 campaign of Henry V
. He died of dysentery
before Harfleur
, and was succeeded by his eldest son Michael, who was also present there.
Michael married Katherine de Stafford
, daughter of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford
. They were parents to at least eight children:
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
against Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
. He died during the Siege of Harfleur
Siege of Harfleur
The siege of Harfleur, Normandy, France began 18 August 1415 and ended on 22 September when Harfleur surrendered to the English.-Background:Henry V invaded France following the failure of negotiations with the French...
in 1415.
He was a son of Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk
Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk
Michael de la Pole, 1st Baron de la Pole, later 1st Earl of Suffolk was an English financier and Lord Chancellor of England.- Life :...
and Katherine Wingfield, daughter of Sir John Wingfield
John de Wingfield
Sir John de Wingfield was chief administrator to Edward the Black Prince. He and both his brothers fought at Crecy in 1346. He fought in the Normandy campaign from 1347-48. He was appointed 'governor of the prince's business' to Edward the Black Prince round about 1351...
.
His father fled abroad amid accusations of treason during the Merciless Parliament
Merciless Parliament
The Merciless Parliament, a term coined by Augustinian chronicler Henry Knighton, refers to the English parliamentary session of February through June 1388, at which many members of Richard II's Court were convicted of treason. The session was preceded by a period in which Richard's power was...
in 1388, and forfeited the title of Earl of Suffolk and the family estates. Over the next decade, Michael made vigorous attempts to recover these lands, and obtained most of them piecemeal between 1389 and 1392, following his father's death. However, his close association with the Lords Appellant
Lords Appellant
The Lords Appellant were a group of nobles in the reign of King Richard II who sought to impeach some five of the King's favourites in order to restrain what was seen as tyrannical and capricious rule. The word appellant simply means '[one who is] appealing [in a legal sense]'...
, particularly the Earl of Warwick
Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick
Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, KG was an English medieval nobleman, and one of the primary opponents of Richard II.- Birth and Marriage:...
and the Duke of Gloucester
Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester
Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Buckingham, 1st Earl of Essex, Duke of Aumale, KG was the thirteenth and youngest child of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault...
prejudiced Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
against him. He finally obtained the restoration of the earldom in January 1398.
While he obeyed the summons of the Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, 1st Earl of Cambridge, KG was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of the five sons who lived to adulthood, of this Royal couple. Like so many medieval princes, Edmund gained his identifying nickname from his...
to defend the kingdom against Henry Bolingbroke
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
in July 1399, he did not object to the disbandment of York's army and consented to the deposition of Richard II. While the first Parliament of Henry IV technically upheld the forfeitures of the Merciless Parliament, Henry IV immediately restored de la Pole's estates and title in recognition of his support. However, he would spend the remainder of his life trying to obtain possession of the remaining estates which had not been restored.
He played a relatively small role in national politics, although he regularly attended Parliament. He took part in the campaign in Scotland in 1400, in naval operations around 1405, and was the senior English diplomat at the Council of Pisa
Council of Pisa
The Council of Pisa was an unrecognized ecumenical council of the Catholic Church held in 1409 that attempted to end the Western Schism by deposing Benedict XIII and Gregory XII...
(1409). Suffolk was also a lieutenant of the Duke of Clarence
Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence
Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence, KG , also known as Thomas Plantagenet, was the second son of King Henry IV of England and his first wife, Mary de Bohun. He was born before 25 November 1387 as on that date his father's accounts note a payment made to a woman described as his nurse...
during his campaign of 1412–1413. However, most of his energies were spent on re-establishing de la Pole influence in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. He was a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
from 1399, and assembled a considerable following among the local gentry. He completed his father's building plans at Wingfield, Suffolk
Wingfield, Suffolk
Wingfield is a village in the English county of Suffolk. It is found east of Diss, signposted off B1118, near Eye.Wingfield Castle, which is now a private house, was for many centuries the home of the Wingfield family and their heirs, the De La Poles, Earls and Dukes of Suffolk...
and enlarged the local church.
Suffolk brought 40 men-at-arms and 120 archers
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
with him on the 1415 campaign of Henry V
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
. He died of dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
before Harfleur
Harfleur
-Population:-Places of interest:* The church of St-Martin, dating from the fourteenth century.* The seventeenth century Hôtel de Ville .* Medieval ramparts * The fifteenth century museums of fishing and of archaeology and history....
, and was succeeded by his eldest son Michael, who was also present there.
Issue
Katherine de Stafford
Katherine de Stafford, Countess of Suffolk was a daughter of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford and his wife Philippa de Beauchamp...
, daughter of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford
Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford
Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, KG was the eldest son of Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford and Margaret de Audley.Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Audley circa 1358...
. They were parents to at least eight children:
- Michael de la Pole, 3rd Earl of SuffolkMichael de la Pole, 3rd Earl of SuffolkMichael de la Pole, 3rd Earl of Suffolk was an English nobleman, the eldest son of Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk and Katherine de Stafford....
(1394-1415) - William de la Pole, 1st Duke of SuffolkWilliam de la Pole, 1st Duke of SuffolkWilliam de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, KG , nicknamed Jack Napes , was an important English soldier and commander in the Hundred Years' War, and later Lord Chamberlain of England.He also appears prominently in William Shakespeare's Henry VI, part 1 and Henry VI, part 2 and other...
(1396-1450) - Sir Alexander de la Pole (d. 1429), killed at the Battle of JargeauBattle of JargeauThe Battle of Jargeau took place on June 11 - 12, 1429. It was Joan of Arc's first offensive battle. Shortly after relieving the siege at Orléans, French forces recaptured the neighboring district along the Loire river...
- Sir John de la Pole (d. 1429), died a prisoner in France.Father of Margaret de la PoleMargaret de la PoleMargaret de la Pole , Countess of Kendal . Paternal grandmother of Anne of Foix-Candale, queen of Hungary and Bohemia.-Life:...
- Sir Thomas de la Pole (aft. 1397-1433), died in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
while a hostage for his brother William. He had a daughter Katherine de la Pole (1416-1488, buried in Rowley Abbey, OxfordshireOxfordshireOxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
), second wife of Sir Miles StapletonMiles StapletonSir Miles Stapleton, KG was Lord of the Manor of Ingham, Norfolk and de jure Baron Ingham of Ingham, Norfolk, and Lord of the Manor of Bedale, Yorkshire.-Family:... - Katherine de la PoleKatherine de la PoleKatherine de la Pole was the oldest daughter of Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk and Katherine de Stafford.She became abbess of Barking Abbey. In this capacity, she took care of Edmund and Jasper Tudor, the two eldest sons of Catherine of Valois by her second husband Owen Tudor...
, abbess at BarkingBarking AbbeyThe ruined remains of Barking Abbey are situated in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England, and now form a public open space.- History :... - Isabel de la Pole (d. 1466), married Thomas de Morley, 5th Baron MorleyThomas de Morley, 5th Baron MorleyThomas de Morley, 5th Baron Morley was a baron in the Peerage of England, Lord of Morley, Hingham, Hockering, &c., in Norfolk, de jure Lord Marshall, hereditary Marshal of Ireland, and a Privy Councillor. He was the son of Sir Robert de Morley, Knt...
- Elizabeth de la Pole, married first Edward Burnell, son of Hugh Burnell, 2nd Baron Burnell, second Sir Thomas Kerdeston