John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk

Sir John de Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, 9th Baron Segrave, 8th Baron Mowbray KG, Earl Marshal (1392 – 19 October 1432) was an English nobleman. He was a younger son of the first Duke of Norfolk, but inherited his father's earldom of Norfolk (but not the dukedom) when his elder brother rebelled against King Henry IV and was executed before reaching the age of inheritance. This, and the fact that his mother lived to an old age and held a third of his estates in dower, meant that until the last few years of his life he was, although an important political figure, poorly-off financially.

Probably due to the need to augment his income, he took the still-popular path for young members of the English nobility by taking part in the Hundred Years' War in France. His first campaign was in 1415 with Henry V, and although he took part in some of the great expeditions, he, like so many of his comrades, fell badly ill with dysentery and had to return to England. For this reason, he missed the Battle of Agincourt. Foreign service occupied most of Mowbray's career, but often cost him more than he gained from any spoils. Hence it was not until his mother died in 1425 that his fortunes changed for the better; not only did he inherit her large share of his father's estates, he also received promotion from earl of Norfolk to Duke of Norfolk. This followed a bitter dispute, while he was still earl, with Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, as to whom held precedence within the English peerage; the question was never resolved, but avoided by making Mowbray a duke.

When Henry V died in 1422, he remained a leading commander of the new boy-king (Henry VI)'s armed forces in France. He continued campaining there for the next five years, and, when parliament decided it was time to crown the new young king- in both Westminster Abbey and in France- Mowbray acted as both royal bodyguard and councillor. He also took part in Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester's personal campaign in Hainaut, in the duchy of Burgundy, which appears for once to have been profitable to him.

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