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Henry GrosmontMember of the English royal family in the 14th century.
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Henry Grosmont
Henry Grosmont was a member of the English royal family in the 14th century. He was the son of Henry, 3rd Earl of Leicester and Lancaster, and Maud Chaworth. Aside from his royal lineage, Henry Grosmont was also a prominent diplomat, politician, and warrior.
Early Life and Career
Little is known about Grosmont's childhood, but he was born around 1310 in Grosmont, Monmouthshire. In his memoirs, he mentioned that he excelled more in combat than academics and only learned how to read at a later age. In 1330, Henry was knighted and represented his father in Parliament. The following year, he participated in a royal tournament in Chippenham.
In 1333, Henry took part in Edward III's Scottish campaign, although it remains unclear if he was involved in the famous Battle of Halidon Hill. In 1336, after serving in the north, he was appointed as a lieutenant. The following year, Edward III granted Grosmont the title of Earl of Derby. With the start of the Hundred Years' War in 1337, Grosmont's attention turned to France. He participated in several diplomatic missions and small military campaigns, including the victorious naval Battle of Sluys in 1340. In the same year, he was taken as a hostage in the Low Countries (modern-day Benelux) due to the king's debts. Grosmont remained in captivity until the next year when he had to pay a significant ransom for his release. Upon his return, he was reinstated as lieutenant in the north and stayed in Roxburgh until 1342. The following year, he engaged in diplomatic missions in the Netherlands, Castile, and Avignon.
Victories and Titles
In 1345, while Grosmont was in France, his father passed away. He became the Earl of Lancaster, the most powerful and wealthy position in the kingdom. After participating in the Battle of Crecy in 1347, the king honored Lancaster by making him a Knight of the Garter in 1348. A few years later, in 1351, the king granted him an even greater honor by elevating him to the title of Duke of Lancaster. This title was unprecedented in England, as there had only been one duke before. Additionally, Lancaster County was given palatinate status, which was a unique privilege in English history, as there were only two other palatinates: Durham and Chester. This was a sign of the king's great favor towards Grosmont, who was not only his cousin but also close in age (Edward was born in 1312). Another factor that may have influenced the king's decision was that Grosmont had no male heirs, meaning all the privileges would have no one to pass on after his death.
Later Years and Death
During the 1350s, Lancaster was engaged in campaigns and attempts to negotiate a truce with the French. In 1350, he participated in the naval Battle of Winchelsea, where he saved the lives of the Black Prince and John of Gaunt. In 1351-52, he embarked on a crusade to Prussia, where he had a disagreement with Otto, Duke of Brunswick. The duel was narrowly avoided due to the resumption of war by French King John II. Grosmont continued his military campaigns in France. After the Siege of Rennes in 1346 and the Battle of Pontvallain in 1358, Lancaster took part in the Reims campaign in 1359-60. He was also involved in the negotiations for the favorable Treaty of Bretigny. Upon his return to England in November 1360, Henry Grosmont fell ill and died at Leicester Castle on March 23. It is possible that he succumbed to the plague, which had struck England that year.
