Norfolk, Earls And Dukes Of
NORFOLK, EARLS AND DUKES OF. The 1st earl of Norfolk was RALPH DE GUADER, a follower of William the Conqueror, who forfeited the earldom when he revolted against William in 1075; the 2nd was HUGH BIGOD (d. 1177), one of Stephen's supporters, to whom the earldom was granted by this king before 1141. Hugh's grandson, HUGH (d. 1225), the 3rd earl of this line, married Matilda, daughter of William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, and from the Marshals their son ROGER (d. 1270), the 4th earl, inherited the office of marshal of England. This powerful family of Bigod retained the earldom until ROGER, the 5th earl, died childless in December 1306.
The next earl of Norfolk was THOMAS OF BROTHERTON (1300- 1338), a younger son of Edward I., to whom the earldom was granted in 1312 by his half-brother, Edward II. In addition to the estates which had formerly belonged to the Bigods Thomas received the office of marshal. He joined Queen Isabella when she landed in England in 1326, and was one of the group of nobles who brought about the deposition of Edward II. He died in August 1338, leaving no son. The survivor of his two daughters, Margaret (c. 1320-1400), who was countess of Norfolk in her own right, married John de Segrave, 3rd Lord Segrave (d. 1353), and their only child Elizabeth (d. c. 1375) became the wife of John de Mowbray, 4th Lord Mowbray (d. 1368), and the mother of two sons John and Thomas. In 1397 the countess Margaret was created duchess of Norfolk, and at the same time her grandson Thomas Mowbray was made duke of Norfolk.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
