The New International Encyclopædia/Suffolk, Earls and Dukes of

SUFFOLK, Earls and Dukes of. Dignities held by several noted English families. The title Earl of Suffolk was conferred on Robert de Ufford (1298-1369), who held high office under Edward III. He was made admiral of the northern fleet in 1344, fought at Crécy and Poitiers and was repeatedly intrusted with diplomatic missions. He was succeeded by his son William de Ufford, who was one of the most popular statesmen of the later part of Edward III.'s reign, took a share in the suppression of the peasant revolt of 1381, and died in 1382, leaving no male heirs. A new line of Suffolk was founded by Michael de la Pole (1335?-89), who fought in the French wars, became in 1376 admiral of the northern fleet, negotiated the marriage of the young Richard II. with Anne of Bohemia, and in 1383 was made chancellor. By marriage he acquired extensive possessions in Suffolk and these were added to by royal grants. In 1385 he was created Earl of Suffolk. His rapid elevation and the great influence which he exercised over the King aroused the hostility of the nobles and in 1386 he was dismissed from office on the demand of Parliament, which proceeded to impeach him of treason and malfeasance. The King's favor could not protect him and in 1387 he fled the country. In his absence he was condemned to be hanged. He died at Paris. His son Michael de la Pole (1361-1415) was restored to his father's dignities in 1397 and fell at Harfleur in 1415. He was followed by his eldest son, who was killed soon after at Agincourt, being succeeded by his younger brother William de la Pole (1396-1450), best known of all that have borne the title. He served in the French wars under Henry V., the Duke of Bedford, and the Earl of Salisbury, upon whose death in 1428 he became head of the English forces in France. He failed to capture Orleans, which was relieved by Joan of Arc in 1429, and in the same year was taken prisoner. Ransomed at a heavy cost he took little part in military affairs, but for twenty years played a most important role in the government. As a member of the King's council he sought to bring about peace with France and was one of the English representatives at the abortive congress of Arras in 1435. The death of the Duke of Bedford in the same year left him one of the two most powerful men in the kingdom, his great rival being Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, uncle of the young Henry VI. In 1448 Suffolk was at the head of an embassy which arranged a truce with France and brought about the marriage of Henry VI. with Margaret of Anjou. This alliance gained him tremendous though temporary popularity. The government fell entirely into his hands and after the death of Gloucester in 1447 he was master in the kingdom. He became in rapid succession chamberlain, lord warden of the Cinque Ports, admiral, governor of Calais, and Duke of Suffolk. He was hated, however, by a large faction of the nobility, at whose head stood Richard, Duke of York. He lost his popularity owing to the surrender of Anjou and Maine, to which he had assented as one of the conditions of the King's marriage, and the feeling of hostility was intensified by the renewal of war with France in 1449, in the course of which Normandy was lost to the English. Popular opinion accused him also of having encompassed the death of the good Duke Humphrey. In 1450 the Commons accused him of having betrayed the King to the French and brought articles of impeachment against him. The King whose favor he never lost sentenced Suffolk to five years' exile. On May 1, 1450, the Duke set sail for France, but the ship on which he embarked was intercepted by a royal man-of-war, Suffolk was compelled to go on board, and on the following day was taken into a small boat and beheaded. His body was cast upon the beach at Dover. The sanguinary deed was probably due to Richard of York, his mortal enemy.—John de la Pole (1442-91) second Duke of Suffolk, only son of the preceding, regained the ducal title in 1455. He joined the York party, married a sister of Edward IV., and was in favor under the rulers of that family and under Henry VII. His eldest son John took part in Lambert Simnel's rebellion and fell at Stoke in 1487. He was attainted and the greater portion of the family estates was lost.—Edmund de la Pole, a younger brother, received a part of the confiscated estates with the title of earl. He plotted to seize the throne with the aid of German troops but the plan miscarried and he fell into the hands of Henry VII., who, however, spared his life and sent him to the Tower. He was beheaded with his brother Richard in 1513, and left no male issue. The title Duke of Suffolk was subsequently borne by Charles Brandon (died 1545), the favorite of Henry VIII. and husband of his sister Mary Tudor. He was succeeded by his two young sons, who died in 1551, on the same day.—Henry Grey, third Marquis of Dorset, who had married a daughter of Charles Brandon, was next made Duke of Suffolk. He was the father of the unhappy Lady Jane Grey (q.v.). In 1553 he attempted to raise the north, was betrayed and beheaded. In 1603 Thomas Howard, second son of Thomas, fourth Duke of Norfolk, was created Earl of Suffolk. His second son was created Earl of Berkshire in 1626 and in 1645 the two titles merged. The present bearer of the title is Henry, 19th Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, born in 1877.