John Holland, The Duke Of Exeter

John Holland was an English noble, landowner and military commander. His fortunes and misfortunes were tied with those of Richard II (r. 1377-1399).

John Holland inherited his wealth from his father Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent, and had it further increased by marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of John of Gaunt, the son of King Edward III of England (1327-1377). Holland commanded the English army in Spain, where England fought on the side of Portugal against Spain. After his return from Spain in 1387 he was created Earl of Huntingdon and given an immense grant of land. As a valued adviser to Richard II honors heaped on him in quick succession: constable of Conway Castle, governor of Carlisle and in 1397, the dukedom of Exeter.

As was already said, Holland’s fortunes were tied with those of Richard II. After Richard II was overthrown in 1399, he was forced to give up the dukedom and lands granted at the time. In January 1400 he entered into a conspiracy against Henry IV but it was crushed and Holland paid it with his life.

Holland’s wealth was around £50,000, the equivalent of around £18.4bn in 2010’s money.