Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk

Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, was an English nobleman who supported Henry IV against Richard II during the late 14th-century conflicts. Born to Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk, and Katherine Wingfield, he witnessed his father’s exile and the loss of titles and estates during the Merciless Parliament in 1388. Following his father’s death, he worked to regain the family lands and was successful in piecemeal fashion between 1389 and 1392. His association with the Lords Appellant hampered his relationship with Richard II, but he regained the earldom in January 1398.

De la Pole’s political involvement was moderate, yet he was present in Parliament regularly. His military engagements included the Scottish campaign of 1400, naval operations around 1405, and diplomacy at the Council of Pisa in 1409. Focusing on East Anglia, he served as a justice of the peace and fostered local alliances. He participated in Henry V’s French campaign in 1415 with a contingent of soldiers but succumbed to dysentery during the Siege of Harfleur. His wife, Katherine de Stafford, bore him at least eight children.