Edmund, 1st Earl of Kent

Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent, was the second son of Edward I and his second wife Margaret of France and was half brother to Edward III. He was executed for treason in March 1330 outside Winchester castle and was buried in a church there until the following year when his body was moved to Westminster Abbey (by Papal Mandate applied for by his widow and young son Edmund). But William Camden, in his guidebook of 1600, does not mention the burial so a location is not known.

He was created Earl of Kent by Edward II in 1321 and among other offices was Constable of Dover Castle, Warden of the Cinque Ports and keeper of Tonbridge Castle. He fought in Wales and in the Scottish campaign and in France was lieutenant of Gascony on behalf of the King. His wife was Margaret, sister of Lord Wake and widow of John Comyn and their sons were Edmund and John (both died young). Believing erroneously that Edward II was still alive and held captive (he had actually been murdered) his plot to release him led to his indictment before Parliament.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

Occupation

Soldier

Edmund, 1st Earl of Kent
May God grant cross

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