Person:John of Lancaster (1)

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford KG (20 June 138914 September 1435) was a medieval English prince, general and statesman who commanded England's armies in France during a critical phase of the Hundred Years' War. Bedford was the third son of King Henry IV of England, brother to Henry V, and acted as regent of France for his nephew Henry VI. Despite his military and administrative talent, the situation in France had severely deteriorated by the time of his death.

Bedford was a capable administrator and soldier, and his effective management of the war brought the English to the height of their power in France. However, difficulties mounted after the arrival of Joan of Arc, and his efforts were further thwarted by political divisions at home and the wavering of England's key ally, Duke Philip of Burgundy and his faction, the Burgundians. In the last years of Bedford's life, the conflict devolved into a war of attrition, and he became increasingly unable to gather the necessary funds to prosecute the conflict.

Bedford died during the congress of Arras in 1435, just as Burgundy was preparing to abandon the English cause and conclude a separate peace with Charles VII of France.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
2.   JOHN of Lancaster (20 Jun 1389-Rouen 15 Sep 1435, bur Rouen Cathedral)., in Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families.
3.   John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Nichols, John. A collection of all the wills, now known to be extant, of the kings and queens of England, princes and princessess of Wales, and every branch of the blood royal: from the reign of William the Conqueror to that of Henry the Seventh, exclusive, with explanatory notes and a glossary. (London: J. Nichols, 1780)
   pages 270 to 277.

   The will may be read here (in Latin).