Duke of Suffolk

Duke of Suffolk was a title that has been created three times in the peerage of England.

Dukedom of Suffolk
Coat of arms Duke of Suffolk[1]
Creation date	(1448-05-12)12 May 1448
Creation	first Creation (1448) second Creation (1514) third Creation (1551)
Created by	Henry VI
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	William de la Pole
Present holder	Extinct
Heir apparent	none
Remainder to	the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Marquess of Dorset Marquess of Suffolk Earl of Suffolk
Extinction date	1554
Motto	Nous Maintiendrons ("We will maintain")[citation needed]

The dukedom was first created for William de la Pole, who had already been elevated to the ranks of earl and marquess, and was a powerful figure under Henry VI.

Wingfield Castle in Suffolk in 1827. It was the seat of Sir John de Wingfield (d. circa 1361), chief administrator to Edward the Black Prince (1330–1376), whose daughter and heiress Catherine Wingfield married Michael de la Pole, seated at Wingfield Castle and in 1385 created Earl of Suffolk.

His descendants quartered the arms of Wingfield: Argent, on a bend gules three wings conjoined in lure of the field

The second creation was for Charles Brandon, a favourite of Henry VIII; his two sons successively inherited the title, but left no more heirs.

The third creation of the dukedom of Suffolk was for Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, in 1551. The duke also held the title Baron Ferrers of Groby (1300). These titles became forfeit when the duke was attainted in 1554.

Duke of Suffolk, first creation

Earl of Suffolk (1385)

Arms of De la Pole: Azure, a fess between three leopard's faces or

• Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk (1330–1389), Lord Chancellor under Richard II, was stripped of his titles by the Merciless Parliament in 1388
• Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (1367–1415), son of the 1st Earl, obtained restoration to his father's title in 1398. They were again briefly forfeit in 1399, but almost immediately restored again in 1399
• Michael de la Pole, 3rd Earl of Suffolk (1394–1415), eldest son of the 2nd Earl, died without sons
• William de la Pole, 4th Earl of Suffolk (1396–1450), second son of the 2nd Earl, was created Marquess of Suffolk in 1444

Marquess of Suffolk (1444)

Subsidiary titles: Earl of Suffolk (1385), Earl of Pembroke (1447)

• William de la Pole, 1st Marquess of Suffolk (1396–1450) was created Duke of Suffolk in 1448

Duke of Suffolk (1448)

Subsidiary titles: Marquess of Suffolk (1444), Earl of Suffolk (1385), Earl of Pembroke (1447)

• William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk (1396–1450), arrested for his failures in France, his honours were forfeit in 1450
• John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (1442–1492), only son of the 1st Duke, was restored to his father's honours in 1463
  • John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln (1462/4–1487), eldest son of the 2nd Duke, predeceased his father without surviving issue
• Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk (1472–1513), younger son of the 2nd Duke, was allowed to succeed as Duke in 1492, but had to surrender that title in 1493. His earldom was forfeit in 1504^{[citation needed]}

Duke of Suffolk, second creation (1514)

Arms of Brandon: Barry of ten argent and gules, a lion rampant or ducally crowned per pale of the first and second

• Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (1484–1545) was a favourite of Henry VIII
  • Henry Brandon (1516–1522) died at the age of six. Eldest son of the above.
  • Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln (1523–1534), second son of the 1st Duke, predeceased his father, without issue. Younger brother of the above.
• Henry Brandon, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (1535–1551), third son of the 1st Duke, died in his youth of sweating sickness. Half-brother of the two Henrys above.
• Charles Brandon, 3rd Duke of Suffolk (1537–1551), fourth son of the 1st Duke, died very shortly after his brother the 2nd Duke also of sweating sickness, and their father's titles became extinct.

Duke of Suffolk, third creation (1551)

Subsidiary titles: Marquess of Dorset (1475), Baron Ferrers of Groby (1300), Baron Harington (1324), Baron Bonville (1449)

• Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 3rd Marquess of Dorset (1517–1554), married to a daughter of the Charles Brandon the previous first Duke of the second creation. He was notable as the father of Lady Jane Grey (de facto Queen of England for nine days). After his attempt to place his daughter on the throne failed, he was pardoned, but after his participation in Wyatt's Rebellion Mary I had him executed for treason in February 1554. His honours were forfeit although, in any case, he had no male issue who would have inherited.

Grey arms

• Arms: Barry of six argent and azure, in chief three torteaux (roundels gules); a label of three points ermine.
• Crest: A unicorn salient, ermine, in front of the sun in splendour.
• Supporters: Dexter: a unicorn; sinister: a bull with a human face.

There were no further creations of the dukedom. The earldom of Suffolk was re-created in 1603 for a cadet branch of the Howard family.

See also

• Earl of Suffolk

References

1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.355

v t e Family tree of the Earls, Marquesses, and Dukes of Suffolk and the Earls of Bindon and Berkshire

Earl of Norfolk (1st creation), before 1069 Ralph the Staller (c. 1011–1068) 1st Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles, ?–1068 Ralph de Gael (c. 1040 – c. 1096) 2nd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles, 1068–1074 Earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk, or of the East Angles (1st creation) extinct, 1382 Earl of suffolk (2nd creation), 1337 Robert Ufford (1298–1369) 1st Earl of Suffolk, 1337–1369 Earl of Suffolk (3rd creation), 1385 Michael de la Pole (1330–1389) 1st Earl of Suffolk, 1385–1388 William Ufford (1330–1382) 2nd Earl of Suffolk, 1369–1382 Earldom of Suffolk (2nd creation) extinct, 1382 Thomas de Mowbray Duke of Norfolk Michael de la Pole (1367–1415) 2nd Earl of Suffolk, 1398–1399, 1399–1415 Marquess of Suffolk, 1444 Earl of Pembroke (6th creation), 1447 Duke of Suffolk (1st creation) 1448 Robert Howard (1385–1436) Margaret de Mowbray (c. 1388–1459) Elizabeth Mowbray Michael de la Pole (1394–1415) 3rd Earl of Suffolk, 1415 William de la Pole (1396–1450) 4th Earl of Suffolk, 1415–1450 1st Marquess of Suffolk, 1444–1450 Earl of Pembroke, 1447–1450 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1448–1450 Earldom (3rd creation), Marquessate, and Dukedom (1st creation) of Suffolk and Earldom of Pembroke (6th creation) forfeit, 1450 John Howard (1425–1485) Duke of Norfolk Cecily Neville Richard Plantagenet Duke of York Earldom (3rd creation), Marquessate, and Dukedom (1st creation) of Suffolk restored, 1463 Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Richard III Duke of Gloucester King of England Edward IV King of England Elizabeth Plantagenet John de la Pole (1442–1492) 2nd Duke of Suffolk, 2nd Marquess of Suffolk, 5th Earl of Suffolk, 1463–1492 Elizabeth Boleyn (c. 1480–1538) Countess of Wiltshire Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Lord Edmund Howard Elizabeth of York Henry VII King of England Edmund de la Pole (1472–1513) 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 3rd Marquess of Suffolk, 1492–1493 6th Earl of Suffolk, 1492–1504 Marquessate and Dukedom (1st creation) of Suffolk surrendered, 1493 Earldom of Suffolk (3rd creation) forfeit, 1504 Marquess of Pembroke, 1532 Duke of Suffolk (2nd creation), 1514 Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 or 1507–1536) Marquess of Pembroke 1532–1536 Henry VIII King of England Mary Tudor Queen of France Charles Brandon (1484–1545) 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1514–1545 Marquessate of Pembroke forfeit, 1536 Duke of Suffolk (3rd creation), 1551 Henry Howard Earl of Surrey Catherine Howard (c. 1524–1542) Henry Grey (1517–1554) 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1551–1554 3rd Marquess of Dorset Frances Grey Dukedom of Suffolk (3rd creation) forfeit, 1554 Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Jane Grey Disputed Queen of England Henry Brandon (1535–1551) 2nd Duke of Suffolk, 1545–1551 Charles Brandon (1537–1551) 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 1551 Dukedom of Suffolk (2nd creation) extinct, 1551 see Dukes of Norfolk family tree Earl of Suffolk (4th creation), 1603 Thomas Howard (1561–1626) 1st Earl of Suffolk, 1603–1626 Earl of Berkshire (2nd creation), 1626 Theophilus Howard (1584–1640) 2nd Earl of Suffolk, 1626–1640 Thomas Howard 1st Earl of Berkshire James Howard (c. 1620–1689) 3rd Earl of Suffolk, 1640–1689 George Howard (1625–1691) 4th Earl of Suffolk, 1689–1691 Henry Howard (1627–1709) 5th Earl of Suffolk, 1691–1709 Charles Howard (1615–1679) 2nd Earl of Berkshire Thomas Howard (1619–1706) 3rd Earl of Berkshire William Howard Philip Howard (1629–1717) Earl of Bindon, 1706 Henry Howard (1670–1718) 1st Earl of Bindon, 1706–1718 6th Earl of Suffolk, 1709–1718 Edward Howard (1672–1731) 8th Earl of Suffolk, 1722–1731 Charles Howard (1685–1733) 9th Earl of Suffolk, 1731–1733 Craven Howard Dorothy Howard Capt. Charles Howard Charles Howard (1693–1722) 2nd Earl of Bindon, 7th Earl of Suffolk, 1718–1722 Henry Howard (1706–1745) 10th Earl of Suffolk, 1733–1745 Henry Bowes Howard (1686–1757) 4th Earl of Berkshire, 1706–1757 11th Earl of Suffolk, 1745–1757 Catherine Graham Capt. Philip Howard Earldom of Bindon extinct, 1722 Henry Howard (1739–1779) 12th Earl of Suffolk, 5th Earl of Berkshire, 1757–1779 Thomas Howard (1721–1783) 14th Earl of Suffolk, 7th Earl of Berkshire, 1779–1783 John Howard (1739–1820) 15th Earl of Suffolk, 8th Earl of Berkshire, 1783–1820 Henry Howard (1779–1779) 13th Earl of Suffolk, 6th Earl of Berkshire, 1779–1779 Thomas Howard (1776–1851) 16th Earl of Suffolk, 9th Earl of Berkshire, 1820–1851 Charles Howard (1804–1876) 17th Earl of Suffolk, 10th Earl of Berkshire, 1851–1876 Henry Howard (1833–1898) 18th Earl of Suffolk, 11th Earl of Berkshire, 1876–1898 Henry Howard (1877–1917) 19th Earl of Suffolk, 12th Earl of Berkshire, 1898–1917 Charles Howard (1906–1941) 20th Earl of Suffolk, 13th Earl of Berkshire, 1917–1941 Michael Howard (1935–2022) 21st Earl of Suffolk, 14th Earl of Berkshire, 1941–2022 Alexander Howard (b. 1974) 22nd Earl of Suffolk, 15th Earl of Berkshire, from 2022 Arthur Howard (b. 2014)