Biography of Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk 1404-1475

Paternal Family Tree: Chaucer

1449 Warwick "Kingmaker" Becomes Earl of Warwick

Before 1404 [her father] Thomas Chaucer (age 36) and [her mother] Maud Burghesh (age 24) were married.

In 1404 Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk was born to Thomas Chaucer (age 37) and Maud Burghesh (age 25).

Before 1407 [her future husband] Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 18) and Eleanor Holland (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent (age 56). He the son of John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and [her future mother-in-law] Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury (age 42). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

After 1421 Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 32) and Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Salisbury. He the son of John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury (age 57).

Before 1423 Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 22) and [her step-daughter] Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury (age 15) were married. She the daughter of [her husband] Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 34) and Eleanor Holland. He the son of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 58) and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland (age 43). They were half fourth cousins. He a great grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Siege of Orléans

On 3rd November 1428 [her husband] Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 40) died from wounds received at the Siege of Orléans. His daughter [her step-daughter] Alice (age 21) succeeded 5th Countess Salisbury, 4th Baroness Montagu, 7th Baroness Montagu, 6th Baroness Monthermer. Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 28) by marriage Earl Salisbury.

On 11th November 1430 William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 34) and Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 26) were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. He the son of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England.

In 1432 Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 28) was appointed Lady of the Garter.

On 18th November 1434 [her father] Thomas Chaucer (age 67) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Ewelme [Map].

On 27th April 1437 [her mother] Maud Burghesh (age 58) died at Ewelme, Oxfordshire. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Ewelme [Map].

On 27th September 1442 [her son] John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk was born to [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 45) and Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 38).

In 1444 [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 47) was created 1st Marquess Suffolk. Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 40) by marriage Marchioness Suffolk.

In 1447 [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 50) was created 1st Earl Pembroke. Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 43) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

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The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

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In 1448 [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 51) was created 1st Duke Suffolk by King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 26). Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 44) by marriage Duchess Suffolk.

Warwick "Kingmaker" Becomes Earl of Warwick

                    On 3rd June 1449 Anne Beauchamp 15th Countess Warwick (age 5) died at Ewelme, Oxfordshire aged four whilst in the care of Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 45). She was buried at Reading Abbey, Berkshire [Map]. Baron Burghesh abeyant between her three-half aunts and her full aunt Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess Warwick (age 22). It isn't clear why the barony was not subject to the same legal dispute that the Earldom of Warwick was subject to - see following.
                
                    After a prolonged legal dispute between her three half-aunts, Margaret Beauchamp Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 45), Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 40), Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Latimer (age 32) and her full aunt Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess Warwick, the courts decided her full aunt Anne Beauchamp should succeed. Anne Beauchamp  succeeded 16th Countess Warwick. Her husband Richard Neville (age 20) by marriage Earl Warwick; the first step on his journey to becoming Kingmaker.
                
                    The decision of the court was not subscribed to by Edmund Beaufort Earl Somerset (age 43) who was married to Anne's half-sister Eleanor; he wanted his share of the considerable Beauchamp inheritance.

Around 1450 Thomas Stonor (age 26) and [her illegitimate step-daughter] Jane Pole (age 20) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 53).

Around January 1450 [her son] John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 7) and [her daughter-in-law] Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 6) were married. The date subject to debate. Papal dispensation was granted on 18 August 1450. Margaret never recognised this marriage, and considered her next husband her first; as confirmed by her 1472 will. She the daughter of John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 40). He the son of [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 53) and Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 46). They were half third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Murder of William de la Pole

On 1st May 1450 [her husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 53) was beheaded at sea whilst travelling into exile his ship having been intercepted by the Nicholas of the Tower, or by Admiral Nicholas of the Tower. His son [her son] John (age 7) succeeded 2nd Marquess Suffolk, 5th Earl Suffolk, 5th Baron Pole. [her daughter-in-law] Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 6) by marriage Marchioness Suffolk. Earl Pembroke forfeit.

In February 1453 [her son] John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 10) and [her daughter-in-law] Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 9) marriage annulled.

Before February 1458 [her son] John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 15) and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth York Duchess Suffolk (age 13) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Suffolk. She the daughter of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 46) and Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 42). He the son of [her former husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk and Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 54). They were half third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1472 Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England (age 41) was placed in the custody of Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 68) with whom she remained until she was ransomed in 1475.

On 20th May 1475 Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 71) died. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Ewelme [Map].

                    After 20th May 1475. St Mary's Church, Ewelme [Map]. Monument to Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (deceased). Wrist Garter. The effigy was, apparently, viewed to determine how a lady should wear the garter at the re-commencement of Lady of the Garter appointments in 1901 after a gap of several hundred years. A particularly fine Cadaver Underneath the chest on which Alice's effigy lies. Full-length in a shroud. Chest with Angels with Rounded Wings holding Shields.
                
                    Detail of the South Side of the Monument to Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk.
                
                    1 Roet Arms impaled Chaucer Modern Arms. Alice's paternal grandparents.
                
                    2 De La Pole Arms impaled Stafford Arms. Her third husbands parents Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.
                
                    3 Montacute and Monthermer Arms impaled Francis? Possibly Alice's second husband's parents John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and [her former mother-in-law] Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury.
                
                    4 De La Pole Arms quartered Chaucer Modern Arms.
                
                    5 Roet Arms quartered Chaucer Modern Arms.
                
                    6 Chaucer Modern Arms.
                
                    7 De La Pole Arms.
                
                    8 De La Pole Arms impaled England Henry IV Arms signifying Alice's son [her son] John's marriage to [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth of York sister of King Edward IV of England.
                
                    Detail of the North Side of the monument to Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk. Arms from left to right ...
                
                    1 De La Pole Arms quartered Chaucer Modern Arms impaled Unknown.
                
                    2 De La Pole Arms impaled Chaucer Modern Arms. Her third husband [her former husband] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk.
                
                    3 De La Pole Arms quarted Chaucer Modern Arms. Alice's son John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk by her second husband William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk.
                
                    4 Chaucer Modern Arms.
                
                    5 Montacute and Monthermer Arms quartering impaled Chaucer. Alice's second husband [her former husband] Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury.
                
                    6 Roet Arms. Alice's paternal grandmother [her grandmother] Philippa Roet.
                
                    7 England Henry IV Arms impaling Roet Arms probably signifying John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster, Katherine being the sister of Alice's paternal grandmother Philippa Roet who married [her grandfather] Geoffrey Chaucer.
                
                    8 Roet Arms impaling Chaucer Modern Arms. Her paternal grandparents Geoffrey Chaucer and Philippa Roet.
                
Philippa Roet: 
          Around 1346 she was born to Giles "Payne" Roet.
         
          Before 1367 Geoffrey Chaucer and she were married at St Mary de Castro Leicester, Leicestershire [Map].
         
          Excerpta Historica Page 152. Philippa, his eldest daughter, is stated to have been the maid of honour to Philippa Queen of Edward the Third who by the name of "Philippa Pycard" obtained a grant of one hundred shillings per annum on the 20th January 1370, and married Geoffrey Chaucer, to whom, in consequence, it is supposed, of this connexion, the Duke of Lancaster granted the Castle of Dodington. Of John of Gaunt's connexion with Chaucer, however, no proof has been found; and the circumstance of the lady assigned to him for his wife being styled "Philippa Pycard," instead of Roelt, renders the assertion, that she was the sister of the Duchess of Lancaster, extremely doubtful.
         
          Around 1387 Philippa Roet died.