Edmund Plantagenet, 1st Earl of Lancaster 1267-1298 Born 1245 and known as "Crouchback", Edmund was the second son of King Henry III of England, by whom he was created Earl of Lancaster in 1267. Thomas Plantagenet, 2nd Earl of Lancaster 1298-1322 Born around 1277-80, Thomas was the eldest son of Edmund Crouchback. He was executed at Pontefract, Yorkshire, on 22nd March 1322 by order of his cousin, King Edward II. Henry Plantagenet, 3rd Earl of Lancaster 1326-1345 Brother of the 2nd Earl, he was born c.1281 at Grosmont Castle, Monmouthshire, and succeeded to the Earldom four years after his brother's execution for treason. Henry Plantagenet, 4th Earl and 1st Duke of Lancaster 1345-1361 Son of the 3rd Earl, Henry the 4th Earl was created 1st Duke of Lancaster on 6th March 1351. He died at Leicester Castle of the Black Death (Bubonic plague). As he had no sons, the title passed to the husband of his younger daughter, Blanche of Lancaster (born 1345). Blanche was first wife of John of Gaunt. She died 1369 at Bolingbroke Castle, Lincs., also of the Black Death. John Plantagenet, better known as John of Gaunt, 5th Earl and 2nd Duke of Lancaster 1361-1399 Born 1340 in Ghent, Flanders, John of Gaunt was the 4th son of King Edward III. On Gaunt's death the Dukedom passed to his son Harry of Hereford - later King Henry IV after the abdication of his cousin Richard II in 1399. Since that time the title Duke of Lancaster has always been held by the Sovereign. In Lancashire when the Loyal Toast is made to the Sovereign, it is always followed by a response to the Duke of Lancaster in recognizance of the special nature of the Dukedom. Site designed by & copyright of Yobunny 2002