John, 3rd Earl of Kent
| John | |
|---|---|
|
Earl of Kent Baron Wake of Liddell |
|
| Successor | Joan of Kent |
| Born | 7 April 1330 Arundel Castle, Sussex, England |
| Died | 26 December 1352 |
| Burial | Church of Greyfriars, Winchester |
| Spouse | Isabella of Julich |
| Father | |
| Mother | Margaret Wake, 3rd Baroness Wake of Liddell |
John (7 April 1330 – 26 December 1352), an English nobleman, was the Earl of Kent (1331–52) and 4th Baron Wake of Liddell (1349–52). Wealthy and descended from royalty, his promising career was cut short by an untimely death at the age of twenty-two.
He was born on 7 April 1330 at Arundel Castle in Sussex, the youngest son and posthumous child of , Earl of Kent, and Margaret Wake. He was thus a grandson of Edward I and cousin of Edward III. John's father was executed for treason on 19 March 1330 by the orders of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March just three weeks before his birth. Upon Edward III taking control of government the attainder of his father was reversed and his elder brother Edmund inherited the earldom. Upon Edmund's death in October 1331, John succeeded to the title as an infant. His heir throughout his life was his elder sister, Joan.
John took part in the campaign that culminated in the battle of Crécy in 1346. He was probably in the retinue of Duke Henry of Lancaster, although he may not have been present at Crécy itself. Contemporary witnesses make no record of his military exploits, if any there were. In 1347 the king granted him his entire inheritance, making him independent of his mother at the age of seventeen. He owned estates, including 43 manors and 30 advowsons, in seventeen counties, as well as various rents and knight's fees in a further six counties. His annual income was over ₤6,000 at a time when ₤1,000 was considered sufficient to maintain the lifestyle of an earl.
On 3 April 1348, John married, by Papal dispensation, Isabella (also known as Elizabeth, born c. 1330, died 6 June 1411), daughter of William V, Duke of Jülich, and Joanna. In 1349 John's uncle, Thomas Wake, 2nd Baron of Liddell, died childless and his estates passed to his sister, John's mother. Margaret died of the plague within a few months and John inherited both her dower lands and Thomas's estate. He took possession in February 1350. John received livery of all his lands from the king on 10 April 1351, having come of age three days earlier.
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