Humphrey Stafford

Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham, 6th Earl of Stafford, and 7th Baron Stafford, was born on August 15, 1402, at Stafford Castle in Staffordshire. He was a notable English nobleman and military commander, known for his roles in the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of the Roses. Stafford’s royal descent came through his mother from King Edward III, his great-grandfather, and from his father, Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford, he inherited the earldom of Stafford at a young age. His marriage to Lady Anne Neville connected him to the influential Neville family and many leading aristocratic houses. He campaigned in France under King Henry V in 1420 and served as a councillor for Henry VI after the former’s death. A peacemaker during the 1430s, Stafford navigated the political tensions between Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and Cardinal Beaufort. He was involved in the arrest of Gloucester in 1447 and later returned to the French campaign. His elevation from Earl to Duke of Buckingham came as a reward for his loyalty and service. Following his mother’s death, Stafford’s wealth and power grew significantly, making him one of England’s most prominent landowners. His territories spanned from East Anglia to the Welsh border. Stafford’s local prominence led to a violent feud with Sir Thomas Malory in the Midlands.

Remaining in England after his service in France, Stafford supported King Henry during Jack Cade’s Rebellion in 1450 and investigated the followers of the King’s cousin, Richard, Duke of York, during his rebellion in 1452. The King’s illness in 1453 led to a breakdown in law and order, and Stafford participated in the First Battle of St Albans in 1455, marking the beginning of the Wars of the Roses. He spent his later years attempting to mediate between the Yorkist and Lancastrian factions. His feud with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, eventually led him to declare for King Henry. Despite the Duke of York’s defeat in 1459, the conflict continued, and Stafford was killed during the Battle of Northampton in 1460 while acting as the King’s personal guard. His death led to the dukedom passing to his five-year-old grandson, Henry. Stafford’s involvement in the Siege of Calais in 1436 is depicted in an illustration presumed to be by John Rouse, showing him alongside the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Warwick.