Constance of York, Countess of Gloucester

Constance of York, Countess of Gloucester, was the sole offspring of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, and Isabella of Castile. Her maternal grandparents were King Peter of Castile and his mistress, María de Padilla. Born around 1375, she married Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester, who was later involved in the Epiphany Rising against King Henry IV and was executed in 1400. Constance was implicated in a separate plot to abduct Edmund Mortimer from Windsor Castle in 1405, which led to the temporary imprisonment of her brother, Edward.

Following her husband’s death, Constance received a life interest in most of his lands and custody of their son. She later had an illegitimate daughter with Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent. Constance died in 1416 and was buried at Reading Abbey in 1420.