Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester

Who was Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester?

Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Pembroke, KG, was "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of King Henry IV of England by his first wife, Mary de Bohun, brother to King Henry V of England, and uncle to the latter's son, King Henry VI of England.

Humphrey was the exemplar of the romantic chivalric persona. Mettled and courageous, he was a foil for the beautiful Princess Jacqueline, his wife. His learned, widely read, scholarly approach to the early renaissance cultural expansion demonstrated the quintessential well-rounded princely character. He was a paragon for Eton College, an exemplar for Oxford, accomplished, diplomatic, with political cunning. Unlike his brothers, he was not naturally brave, but opinionated, fervent and judgmental. He exaggerated his own achievements, but idolized his brother Henry V.

The youngest in a powerful triumvirate of brothers, they were very close companions. On 20 March 1413, Henry and Humphrey had been at their dying father's bedside. Thomas, John and Humphrey had all been knighted in 1399. They joined the Order of the Garter together in 1400.

The place of his birth is unknown, but he was named after his maternal grandfather, Humphrey de Bohun, 7th Earl of Hereford.