Duke of Ireland

Duke of Ireland is a title that was created in 1386 for Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford (1362–1392), the favourite of King Richard II of England, who had previously been created Marquess of Dublin. Both were peerages for one life only. At this time, only the Pale of Ireland (the Lordship of Ireland) was under English control. Despite its name, the Dukedom of Ireland is generally considered to have been one in the Peerage of England, and is the first time that a Ducal title was created for someone who was not a close relative of the King.

Dukedom of Ireland
Creation date	1386
Creation	First
Created by	King Richard II
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	Robert de Vere
Subsidiary titles	Marquess of Dublin Earl of Oxford

The arms with three crowns that were granted to Duke Robert as an augmentation to his arms in 1386 continued to be used for nearly a century as the arms of the Lordship of Ireland.^[1]

The Duke fell from favour shortly after receiving the title, resulted in forfeiture of the first creation in 1388.

Family tree

v t e Earl of Oxford family tree

Earl of Oxford, 1141 Aubrey de Vere d. 1194 1st Earl of Oxford Aubrey de Vere d. 1214 2nd Earl of Oxford Robert de Vere d. 1221 3rd Earl of Oxford Hugh de Vere d. 1263 4th Earl of Oxford Robert de Vere d. 1296 5th Earl of Oxford Robert de Vere 1257–1331 6th Earl of Oxford Alfonso de Vere d. 1328 John de Vere 1312–1360 7th Earl of Oxford Thomas de Vere d. 1371 8th Earl of Oxford Aubrey de Vere 1338–1400 10th Earl of Oxford Marquess of Dublin, 1385 Duke of Ireland, 1386 Robert de Vere 1362–1392 9th Earl of Oxford Richard de Vere 1385–1417 11th Earl of Oxford Dukedom of Ireland and Marquessate of Dublin forfeit, 1388 John de Vere 1408–1462 12th Earl of Oxford Robert de Vere John de Vere 1442–1513 13th Earl of Oxford George de Vere John de Vere John de Vere 1499–1526 14th Earl of Oxford John de Vere d. 1540 15th Earl of Oxford John de Vere 1516–1562 16th Earl of Oxford Aubrey de Vere (b. 1519) Edward de Vere 1550–1604 17th Earl of Oxford Hugh de Vere Henry de Vere 1593–1625 18th Earl of Oxford Robert de Vere 1575–1632 19th Earl of Oxford Aubrey de Vere 1627–1703 20th Earl of Oxford

See also

• Earl of Oxford
• High King of Ireland
• King of Ireland
• President of Ireland

Footnotes

1. Fox-Davies, Complete Guide to Heraldry, p. 596; Oxford Guide to Heraldry, p. 69.