The Life of Sir Ralph Neville

Sir Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland (c. 1364-1425), was a prominent English noble who played a key role in the political events of his time, particularly in the deposition of Richard II and the ascension of Henry IV. He was knighted in 1380, succeeded his father’s barony in 1388, and was created Earl of Westmoreland in 1397. He later became Earl Marshal of England and was granted the Honour of Richmond. 

Early Life and Nobility: Ralph was born into the prominent Neville family, with his father being John, 3rd Baron Neville, and his mother being Maud Percy. 

Royal Service: He served King Richard II and was created Earl of Westmoreland, earning him lands and titles. 

Support for Henry IV: Neville sided with Henry of Lancaster (later Henry IV) in the deposition of Richard II, which led to significant rewards and influence under the new monarchy. 

Earl Marshal and Other Titles: He was appointed Earl Marshal of England and was granted the Honour of Richmond, which brought him significant power and influence. 

Negotiations with Scotland: Neville was repeatedly involved in negotiations with the Scots, demonstrating his importance in maintaining peace on the border. 

Death and Legacy: He died at Raby Castle and was buried at Staindrop Church, County Durham. His alabaster effigy at Staindrop Church is considered one of the finest sepulchral monuments in the north of England.

Another source gives the following:

Ralph Neville, 1st earl of Westmorland (born c. 1364—died Oct. 21, 1425, Raby Castle, Durham, Eng.) was an English noble who, though created earl by King Richard II, supported the usurpation of the crown by Henry IV and did much to establish the Lancastrian dynasty.

The eldest son of John, 3rd Baron Neville, he was knighted during a French expedition in 1380, succeeded to his father’s barony in 1388, and was created Earl of Westmorland on Sept. 29, 1397. Further royal favours failed to command his allegiance, and in 1399 he joined his brother-in-law, Henry of Lancaster (later Henry IV), in securing the deposition of Richard II. As the new king’s kinsman (by his second marriage, to Joan Beaufort, half sister to Henry) and as a useful counterbalance to the strength of the Percy family in the North, Neville could expect suitable rewards. In September 1399 he was made marshal of England and in October was granted for life the valuable honour of Richmond, Yorkshire. In 1403 he helped suppress the Percy rebellion in the North, and in 1405 he intercepted rebel forces at Shipton Moor, near York, and tricked them into surrender: the rising in Yorkshire thus lost much strength.

Neville had now become very experienced in Scottish affairs, having long been a warden of the West March of Scotland, and was charged with the safekeeping of the northern border during Henry V’s absences in France. Hence, he took no part in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 (though Shakespeare thought he was present) or in later French campaigns but was a member of the Council of Regency under John, Duke of Bedford, in 1415.

Parents and Ancestors

Ralph Neville was born c. 1364 at Raby Castle, Durham, England. He died 21 Oct 1425 at Raby Castle, Durham, England. His parents were John Neville (3rd Baron of Neville) and Maud Percy – the daughter of Henry Percy (2nd Baron of Percy) and Idoine Clifford. Even though Ralph Neville can be traced to hundreds of Kings and Queens and Emperors, you have to go back several generations in his ancestors before you start running in to them. His wife Joan Beaufort is different. More on her later.

Sir Ralph Neville can be traced to many lines of Royalty, including King Alfred the Great, Charles Martel, Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, William “the Lion” King of Scotland (who traces back to Malcolm III King of Scotland and Duncan I King of Scotland), Kings of Norway and other Scandinavian countries, Kings of Ireland, Kings of the Franks, Germans, Saxons, Magyars, Hungary, Attila the Hun, the Plantagenet Kings, William “the Conqueror”, Hughes Capet, Kings of Russia, Kiev, Prussia, Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd (Wales) – who in turn traces back to all ancient Kings of Wales and Britain who (according to legend) descend from Joseph of Arimathea and also from Roman Emperors! I cannot find proof of the Joseph of Arimathea part, however.

The ancient Kings of Britain also trace back to King Brutus of Britain and back to Judah, and also back through ancient Greek and Athenian Kings.

As for the Roman connection, King Arviragis of Britain was forced to submit to Rome and married Genuissa Venissa Julia Claudia, the daughter of Tiberius Claudius I aka Caesar Augustus Germanicus Emperor of Rome. These are included in the lineage of Sir Ralph Neville. When you study the Roman ancestors of Tiberius Claudius, it’s pretty wild. Tiberius was the 2xG-Granddaughter of Julia the Younger, who was the sister of the famous Julius Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar IV), both of whom were children of Gaius Julius Caesar III. Tiberius Claudius was also the grandson of Marcus Antonius (83-30BC) – the famous Mark Antony. Tiberius Claudius also adopted a boy at age 11 (the son of his new wife Julia the Younger). This boy became known later as the famous (and wicked) Emperor Nero.

Children of Ralph Neville and Margaret Stafford

Ralph Neville married Margaret Stafford ca. 1382. She was born ca. 1364 at Stafford, Staffordshire, England and died 09 Jun 1396 Raby Castle, Durham, England. She was the daughter of Hugh Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, and Philippa Beauchamp. Margaret Stafford had a pedigree that pretty much rivaled that of Joan Beaufort (see later).

Ralph and Margaret had at least 8 children, as follows:

• Maud Neville, b. Abt. 1383, d. Oct 1438
• Philippa Neville, b. Bet. 1384–1385 Staindrop, Durham, England and d. 08 Jul 1453 Naworth Castle, Naworth, Cumberland, England. She married Sir Thomas (Lord of Gillesland) Dacre.
  • Descended from by Frank Patterson
• Alice Neville, b. Abt. 1384
• Sir John Neville, b. 1387 Brancepeth, Durham, England and d. Bef. 20 May 1420. He married Elizabeth Holland, dau. of Sir Thomas (2nd Earl of Kent) Holland and Alice Fitz-Alan.
• Elizabeth Neville, b. Abt. 1389
• Anne Neville, b. Abt. 1391 and d. Aft. Mar 1421
• Sir Ralph Neville, b. Abt. 1393 and d. 25 Feb 1458; he married his step-sister Margery Ferrers, daughter of Joan Beaufort by her first husband Sir Robert Ferrers.
• Margaret Neville, b. Bet. 1395–1396

Ancestors of Joan Beaufort

Joan Beaufort was born ca. 1377 at Kettlethorpe, Lincolnshire, England and died 13 Nov 1440 at Howden, Yorkshire, England. Her father was John Plantagenet aka John “of Gaunt”. John of Gaunt was the Duke of Lancaster, and was the son of Edward Plantagenet (King Edward III of England). John’s mother was Philippa of Hainaut, of Flanders, Belgium.

Joan Beaufort’s mother was Katherine Roet, originally a mistress of John of Gaunt, but later married him in Jan 1396 and became his 3rd wife.

Joan Beaufort’s better known ancestors come through her father, John of Gaunt. John was the son of Edward III King of England, who was the son of Edward II King of England, who was the son of Edward I King of England, the son of Henry III King of England, son of John King of England, son of Henry II King of England, son of Geoffrey V Plantagenet and Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I King of England and Queen Matilda.

Henry I King of England was the son of William I (the Conqueror) King of England. Henry’s wife, Queen Matilda, was also known as Edith of Scotland, and was the daughter of Malcolm III King of Scotland.

At this point, Joan Beaufort was 10 generations removed from William the Conqueror King of England and also Malcolm III King of Scotland, but with Kings and Queens at every step in those 10 generations – almost.

From William I (the Conqueror) King of England you go 7 more generations back to Alfred the Great King of the Anglo-Saxons. In another line from William the Conqueror, he was 10 generations removed from Charlemagne (Charles the Great) Holy Roman Emperor.

Needless to say, all of the ancestral notes mentioned above for Sir Ralph Neville, also apply to Joan Beaufort, as well.

Children of Ralph Neville and Joan Beaufort

Sir Ralph Neville married Joan Beaufort on or before 29 Nov 1396 at Anjou, Maine-et-Loire, France. She became the Countess of Westmoreland. Joan was previously married to Sir Robert Ferrers who had recently died. There were two daughters born to Joan in that marriage. They were Elizabeth Ferrers (1393-1474) and Margery Ferrers (1394-1457).

Ralph and Joan proceeded to have at least 14 of their own children together. They were as follows:

• Katherine Neville, b. Abt. 1397 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. Abt. 1483
• Eleanor Neville, b. Abt. 1398 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. 1472; she m. Henry (2nd Earl of Northumberland) Percy
  • Descended from by Anna Middleton McBryde Fishburne
• Richard (5th Earl of Salisbury) Neville, b. 1400 Raby, Durham, England and d. 30 Dec 1460. He was Executed at Pontefract Castle, Wakerfield, Yorkshire, England. He m. Alice De Montaceut
  • Descended from by Charles Fishburne and Jack Palmer
• Henry Neville, b. Abt. 1402 Raby Castle, Durham, England. He died young.
• Robert (Bishop of Salisbury, Bishop of Durham) Neville, b. 1404 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. 1457
• William (1st Earl of Kent) Neville, b. Abt. 1405 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. 09 Jan 1463 Prob, Alnwick, Northumberland, England.
• John Neville, b. Abt. 1406 Raby Castle, Durham, England. He died young.
• George (1st Baron of Latimer) Neville, b. Abt. 1407 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. 1469. He m. Elizabeth Beauchamp.
• Anne (Duchess of Buckingham) Neville, b. Abt. 1408 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. 20 Sep 1480 Pleshy, Essex, England. She m. Humphrey (1st Duke of Buckingham) Stafford.
  • Descended from by Vanza Davis Patterson and Joyce Ward Palmer
• Thomas Neville, b. Abt. 1410 Raby Castle, Durham, England
• Cuthbert Neville, b. Abt. 1411 Raby Castle, Durham, England. He died young.
• Joan Neville, b. Abt. 1412 Raby Castle, Durham, England and d. 1453.
• Edward (3rd Baron Bergavenny) Neville, b. Abt. 1414 of Raby With Kev, Staindrop, Durham, England and d. 18 Oct 1476. He m. Elisabeth Beauchamp (not the same one that his brother George had married).
  • Descended from by Vanza Davis Patterson and Virginia Holton Fishburne
• Cecily Neville, b. 31 May 1415 Raby, Durham, England and d. 31 May 1495 Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. She m. Richard (3rd Duke of York) Plantagenet.

Of the families that I research (mine, my wife’s, my former wife’s, my sister-in-law Anna Middleton…. we all descend from this couple (Ralph and Joan) numerous ways. At least 4 of their children – highlighted in purple – are the lines of descent. That includes Eleanor, Richard, Anne, and Edward. And Cecily may also be involved, but I haven’t confirmed it for sure yet.

Wes also recently discovered a lineage to Ralph through his first wife Margaret Stafford, and their daughter Philippa.

The following lineages to Ralph show only the shortest lineage. In most cases, there are multiple lineages that can be shown, especially in Wes’ Maternal Lineage.