Holland, Thomas

Epithet: of Ruddenham, county Norfolk

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000703.0x000162

Epithet: of Berrow

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000703.0x000161

Epithet: of Egerton MS 2722

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000703.0x000157

Epithet: of Quiddenham, county Norfolk

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000703.0x000158

Thomas Holland (c.1374-1400), sixth earl of Kent and duke of Surrey. He was the son of Richard II's half-brother Thomas Holland, and became a loyal follower and favourite of Richard II. He was involved with his uncle John Holland, earl of Huntingdon, in political intrigues against the appellant earls of Gloucester and Warwick and encouraged the execution of another uncle, the earl of Arundel. He was elevated to duke of Surrey in 1397 and marshal of England the following year. He benefited from the huge estates which had been confiscated, including Warwick Castle and lands of the duke of Norfolk. He went to Ireland with the king in 1394 and was appointed as king's lieutenant of Ireland in 1398, with lands and sweeping powers to subdue the country. He was there with Richard II again in 1399 but returned to try to negotiate with Henry Bolingbroke, earl of Hereford, who had returned from exile to claim the throne of England. After the deposition of Richard he was imprisoned and stripped of his dukedom, as was his uncle. They were released only to lead an abortive attempt to capture Henry and his sons, chased to Cirencester and killed by the townsmen. He was buried at the Carthusian priory, Mount Grace, that he had founded on his estate in Cleveland.

From the guide to the Charter of Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey, 24 July 1398, (University of St Andrews)