Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland

Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland, was an English nobleman and military commander, prominent in the period leading up to the Wars of the Roses. Born to Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy and Elizabeth Mortimer, he was the grandson of the 1st Earl of Northumberland. Following his father and grandfather’s deaths in rebellions against Henry IV, Percy spent his early years in exile in Scotland. He was reconciled with the Crown upon Henry IV’s death, and in 1414, he was created Earl of Northumberland. His tenure was marked by military service, including defense of the Scottish Borders and participation in Henry V’s French campaigns. He was also involved in political affairs and feuded with the Neville family, a dispute that intertwined with national governance conflicts. This feud ultimately led to his death at the First Battle of St Albans in 1455.

His marriage to Eleanor Neville linked him to the influential Beaufort-Neville family. Percy’s later years were less focused on central affairs, but he remained a key figure in northern England until his death. His children included Henry Percy, 3rd Earl, Thomas, Baron Egremont, Lady Katherine Percy, Countess of Kent, Sir Ralph Percy, and William, Bishop of Carlisle. Known for his involvement in the Wars of the Roses, Percy’s life ended at the First Battle of St Albans, and he was buried at St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire.