CLARENCE, Dukes of, a title of English dukes whose origin and early history is identical with that of the family of Clare, earls of Glou cester, who are sometimes called earls of Clare," of which "Clarence" is a later form.
The 1st Duke of Clarence was LIONEL OF b. Antwerp, 29 Nov. 1338; d. Alba, 7 Oct. 1368. He was the third son of Edward III, who received the title through his wife, Elizabeth, a direct descendant of the Clares, who brought lands called the "Honour of Clare) as part of her dowry. He took possession of her large Irish inheritance and was created Earl of Ulster. Although made governor of Ireland, his authority was ineffective and he returned in disgust to England. After the death of Eliza beth he was married to Violante of Pavia and died during the wedding festivities. Chaucer was at one time a page in the household of Lionel. His only chiloi, Philippa, married the 3d Earl of March, by which union Clarence became the ancestor of Edward IV.
The next was THOMAS, DUKE OF CLARENCE: b. 1388; d. 1421. He was lieutenant of Ireland (1401-13) ; commanded the English fleet (1405) ; opposed his elder brother who was af terward Henry V; was for a short time at the head of the government, leading an unsuccess ful expedition into France in 1412. When his brother became king, Thomas became a mem ber of the royal council. He was present at Harfleur and led the assault on Caen in the expedition into Normandy. He was killed at Beauge whilst attacking the French and their Scottish allies. He left no legitimate issue and the title again became extinct. It was resumed by GEORGE, DUKE OF CLARENCE, English prince: b. Dublin, 21 Oct. 1449; d. London, 18 Feb. 1478. He is chiefly celebrated for his tragical end, and for the use made of his name and history by Shakespeare. He was the son of Richard, Duke of York, and brother of Edward IV, king of England, and on his brother's accession to the crown in 1461 he was, as the reward of his assistance, created Duke of Clarence, and in 1462 lord-lieutenant of Ireland. When the Earl
of Warwick deserted the cause of Edward, Clarence entered into alliance with him, married his daughter in 1469, retired with him to France and afterward landed with him at Dartmouth in September 1470, and in a Parliament held at Westminster by the Lancastrians had the crown settled on him, failing the issue of Henry VI. Clarence had already meditated a double treach ery before leaving France, and at Coventry, on 30 March 1471, he left the party he had espoused on the field of an imminent battle and joined his brother Edward. After Warwick's death Clar ence seized his estates and was created Earl of Warwick and Salisbury in his wife's name. Clarence's wife having died in 1476, he offered himself, on the death of Charles the Bold, to Mary, heiress of the estates of Burgundy, but the Icing opposed his suit, which hardly needed his opposition to cause it to miscarry. Some of his servants were about the same time hur riedly put to death on an accusation of magic. Clarence appeared in the council to complain of the injustice of their sentence. For this inter ference with justice he was committed to the Tower. A parliament was summoned which condetnned him to death, and he was found dead in the Tower. He was survived by two children, Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, and Edward, Earl of Warwick. Consult Stubbs, W., (Constitutional History' (Vol. III, Oxford 1895) ; Ramsay, J. H, (Lancaster and York' (Oxford 1892); Oman, C. W. C., (Warwick the Kingmaker> (London 1891). On the title gen erally see Cokayne, G. E, (Complete Peerage' (1887-98).