Otho Holand

Who was Otho Holand?

Sir Otho Holand was an English soldier and a founder Knight of the Garter. He was alternatively called Otes or Eton Holand or Holland.

He was born in Brackley, Northamptonshire the son of Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand and Maud la Zouch of Upholland, Lancashire. One of his brothers was Thomas Holland, who became the 1st Earl of Kent and was also invested a founder Knight of the Garter. Otho's father was illegally beheaded by Lancastrians when Otho was 12 years old.

Otho joined his brother Thomas in Edward III's military expedition to Normandy in 1346 and fought at the Battle of Caen. There the Constable of France surrendered himself to his brother who sold him to the King. Back in England the Constable was given to Otho to guard until he could ransomed but Otho allowed his prisoner too much freedom and was heavily censured as a result.

In 1348 he was invested, along with his brother Thomas, as a founder knight of the new Order of the Garter and allocated stall 23 at the home of the order in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. In 1355 he again joined his brother Thomas on a campaign in France, but was taken prisoner in Dauphiny and ransomed. He was made Governor of the Channel Islands in 1359.