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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1999-01 > 0915238395


From: Kay Robinson< >
Subject: Re: Duchy of Lancaster [was Re: Humphrey de Bohun VI]
Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 00:53:15 GMT


On 1 Jan 1999 19:08:52 GMT and using an environmentally safe writing
implement carefully wrote:

>James C. Woodard wrote:

>> William Addams Reitwiesner wrote in message
>> <>...
>> >"James C. Woodard" <> wrote:
>> >
>> >>Comments interspersed in quoted material.
>> >>
>> >>William L. Stone <> wrote in message
>> >><>...
>>
>> >
>> >Hereford: The husband of Humphrey's younger daughter Mary (i.e., Henry,
>> >Earl of Derby) was created Duke of Hereford in 1397. He then succeeded his
>> >father as Duke of Lancaster in early 1399 and ascended the Throne as Henry
>> >IV later in 1399, at which point all of his peerages (including Hereford)
>> >merged in the Crown. CP VI:477.
>> >

>I'm afraid that I can't quite figure out who wrote what in the intellectual
>tennis ball partially quoted above.

>However. Am I wrong to think that the Dukedom of Lancaster did *not* merge with
>the crown when Henry IV seized the throne? Certainly the vast land holdings
>stayed separate (and are still separate) from the crown lands, and the sovereign
>does not surrender the income of those lands at his/her accession. The
>Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who administers the duchy, is a member of
>the Cabinet.

>I also believe the Queen is Duke--not Duchess--of Lancaster. I would be grateful
>for an explanation of that, if it is true. I imagine there's an ancient and
>typically English fiddle around inconvenient logic behind the reason.

>Thanks,

>John Steele Gordon

AFAIK the first born child is the Duke of Lancaster, Charles being
that at present as well as Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester and PoW.
This has been tradition since the Wars of the Roses ended and the
Lancastrian's came to power, the Duchy of York being given to the
second son. A permanent reminder that the House of York comes second
to the House of Lancaster.

Kay

--------------------------------------------
A good end cannot sanctify evil, nor must
we ever do evil that good may come of it.
Force may subdue, but Love gains, and he
that forgives first wins the laurel.

William Penn 1644-1718
-----------------------------------------
Kay Robinson <>
Give all you can, Take only what you need

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