Duke of Beaufort

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The title Duke of Beaufort in the Peerage of England was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the Roses. The name Beaufort refers to a castle in Anjou, France. It is the only current Dukedom to take its name from a place outside the British Isles.

They are descendants of John of Gaunt and Edward lll. Beaufort Castle was a possession of John of Gaunt.

The Duke of Beaufort holds two subsidiary titles: Marquess of Worcester (created 1642) and Earl of Worcester (1514). The title Marquess of Worcester is used as a courtesy title by the Duke's eldest son and heir. The title Earl of Glamorgan is used by the eldest son of the heir-apparent to the Dukedom. Earl of Glamorgan's eldest son is known as Viscount Grosmont. Neither of these latter two titles, however, appears to rest on any actual creation. All subsidiary titles are in the Peerage of England.

For the French title, see Duc de Beaufort.

Field Marshal Lord Raglan, born Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was the son of the 5th Duke.

The family seat is Badminton House near Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire.

Contents 1 Earls of Worcester, First Creation (1138) 2 Earls of Worcester, Second Creation (1375) 3 Earls of Worcester, Third Creation (1420) 4 Earls of Worcester, Fourth Creation (1456/57) 5 Earls of Worcester, Fifth Creation (1514) 6 Marquesses of Worcester (1642) 7 Dukes of Beaufort (1682)

Earls of Worcester, First Creation (1138)

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• Waleran de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Worcester (1104–1166)

Earls of Worcester, Second Creation (1375)

• Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester (1343–1403)

Earls of Worcester, Third Creation (1420)

• Richard de Beauchamp, 1st Earl of Worcester (c. 1397–1422)

Earls of Worcester, Fourth Creation (1456/57)

• John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester (c. 1427–1470)
• Edward Tiptoft, 2nd Earl of Worcester (c. 1469–1485)

Earls of Worcester, Fifth Creation (1514)

• Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester (c. 1450–1526)
• Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester (c. 1495–1548)
• William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester (d. 1589)
• Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester (1553–1628)
• Henry Somerset, 5th Earl of Worcester (1577–1646) (created Marquess of Worcester in 1643)

Marquesses of Worcester (1642)

• Henry Somerset, 1st Marquess of Worcester (1577–1646)
• Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester (1601–1667)
• Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester (1629–1700) (created Duke of Beaufort in 1682)

Dukes of Beaufort (1682)

• Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort (1629–1700)
• Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort (1684–1714)
• Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (1707–1745)
• Charles Noel Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort (1709–1756)
• Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744–1803)
• Henry Charles Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort (1766–1835)
• Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort (1792–1853)
• Henry Charles Fitzroy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort (1824–1899)
• Henry Adelbert Wellington Fitzroy Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort (1847–1924)
• Henry Hugh Arthur Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort (1900–1984)
• David Robert Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort (b. 1928)

Heir Apparent: Henry John FitzRoy Somerset, Marquess of Worcester (b. 1952)

Lord Worcester's Heir Apparent: Robert Somerset, Earl of Glamorgan (b. 1989)