Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland

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Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (c. 1364October 21, 1425) was born in Raby Castle, County Durham, England, and was created 1st Earl of Westmoreland in 1397. He had become the fifth Baron Neville de Raby in 1388. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1402, taking the place left vacant by the death of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York. Neville was a supporter of King Henry IV of England.

He was the son of John de Neville and Maud Percy. His first wife (1382) was Margaret Stafford, daughter of Sir Hugh Stafford and Philippa de Beauchamp. On November 29, 1396, he married as his second wife Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Katherine de Roet (better known as Katherine Swynford). Her paternal grandparents were Edward III of England and his Queen consort Philippa of Hainault

Family and children

He had nine children by Margaret Stafford:

He had fourteen children by Joan Beaufort:

The character of Westmoreland in William Shakespeare's play Henry V is based on de Neville. It has been claimed by Brenda James and Professor William Rubinstein that de Neville's great-great-grandson, Sir Henry Neville wrote the works of William Shakespeare

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