Duke of York
- For the nursery rhyme see The Grand Old Duke of York.
The title Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. Since the second creation (1474), not one of the holders of the title has ever transmitted it: they either died without male heirs or became King themselves.
The current Duke of York is The Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II. Andrew currently has no male heirs; thus, the most likely candidate for the next creation is Prince Harry of Wales, being the second son of Charles, Prince of Wales.
The wife of the Duke of York is known as the Duchess of York.
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In medieval times, York was the main town of Northern England, and Yorkshire was England's largest shire.
In the interval between the fall of Jorvik under Eirik Bloodaxe, last King of Jorvik, and the first creation of the Dukedom of York, there were a few Earls of York.
The title Duke of York was first created in the Peerage of England for Edmund of Langley, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, and an important character in Shakespeare's Richard II. His son Edward, who inherited the title, was killed at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The title passed to his nephew Richard, the son of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge (who had been executed for plotting against King Henry V). The younger Richard managed to obtain a restoration of the title, but when his eldest son, who inherited the title, became King in 1461 as Edward IV, the title merged into the Crown.
The title was next created for Richard of Shrewsbury, second son of King Edward IV. Richard was one of the Princes in the Tower, and, as he died without heirs, the title became extinct at his death.
The next creation was for Henry Tudor, second son of King Henry VII. When his elder brother Arthur, Prince of Wales, died in 1502, Henry became heir to the throne. When Henry ultimately became King Henry VIII, his titles merged into the crown.
The title was created for the fourth time for Charles Stuart, second son of King James I. When his elder brother, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, died in 1612, Charles became heir. He was created Prince of Wales in 1616 and eventually became King Charles I in 1625 when the title again merged into the Crown.
The fifth creation was in favour of James Stuart, the second son of Charles I. The city and state of New York in what is now the United States of America were named for this particular Duke of York. When his elder brother, King Charles II, died without heirs, James succeeded to the throne as King James II, and the title once again merged into the Crown.
In the early 18th century, the Jacobite claimant to the throne, James Francis Edward Stuart, son of James II, granted the title "Duke of York" (in the Jacobite Peerage) to his own second son, Henry. James Francis Edward Stuart was known to those who rejected his claims as "The Old Pretender"; his elder son Charles was called "The Young Pretender", and "Bonnie Prince Charlie", and the younger son, Henry, who became a Roman Catholic cardinal, was known as the Cardinal Duke of York. To the Jacobites, they were Kings James III, Charles III, and Henry IX, respectively. (From the Jacobite perspective, this creation of the title merged into the Crown with Charles's death without legitimate issue, and Henry's succession to his rights.)
During the 18th century the Dukedom of York and Albany was created a number of times in the Peerage of Great Britain. The title was first held by Duke Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Bishop of Osnabrück, the youngest brother of King George I. He died without heirs. The second creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Edward Augustus, younger brother of King George III, who also died without heirs, having never married. The third and last creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Frederick Augustus, the second son of King George III. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army for many years, and was the original "Grand old Duke of York" in the popular rhyme. He too died without heirs.
The sixth creation of the Dukedom of York was for Prince George of Wales, second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII. He was created Duke of York following the death of his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. The title merged with the crown when George succeeded his father as King George V.
The seventh creation was for Prince Albert, second son of King George V, and younger brother of the future King Edward VIII. Albert came unexpectedly to the throne when his brother abdicated, and took the name George VI, the Dukedom then merging into the crown.
The most recent creation was for Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II. As of the present day, he only has two daughters. Thus, if he has no future sons, which seems likely, the title will become extinct at his death. If the tradition of awarding the title to the second son of the monarch were to continue, the title would then be awarded to Prince Harry, the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, the current heir apparent to the throne. Titles are traditionally given on marriage and if Harry's marriage predated Andrew's death, another title would presumably be awarded instead (following the precedent of the Earldom of Wessex being awarded to the current Duke of York's brother, Prince Edward, with the promise of the Dukedom of Edinburgh being granted to him at a later date, Prince Harry may be created an Earl with the expectation of being created Duke of York on his uncle's death).
Aside from the first creation, every time the Dukedom of York has been created it has had only one occupant, that person either inheriting the throne or dying without male heirs. This has fuelled the rumour that there is a curse on the title.
[edit] First creation, 1385-1415, 1415-1461
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmund of Langley House of York (founder) 1385–1402 |
 |
5 June 1341 Kings Langley son of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault |
Isabella of Castile 1372 3 children Joan de Holland no children |
1 August 1402 |
| Edward of Norwich House of York 1402–1415 |
 |
1373 Norwich son of Edmund of Langley and Isabella of Castile |
Philippa de Mohun no children |
25 October 1415 Agincourt aged 42 |
| Richard Plantagenet House of York 1415–1460 |
 |
21 September 1411 son of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge and Anne de Mortimer |
Cecily Neville 1437 13 children |
30 December 1460 Wakefield aged 49 |
| Edward Plantagenet House of York 1460–1461 |
 |
28 April 1442 Rouen son of Richard Plantagenet and Cecily Neville |
Elizabeth Woodville 1 May 1464 10 children |
9 April 1483 Westminster aged 40 |
Edward Plantagenet became king Edward IV of England in 1461, as thus the title Duke of York was merged with the Crown of England.
[edit] Second creation, 1474-1483
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard of Shrewsbury House of York 1474–1483 |
 |
17 August 1473 Shrewsbury son of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville |
Anne de Mowbray, 8th Countess of Norfolk 15 January 1478 no children |
unknown |
How Richard of Shrewsbury died is a controversial, frequently debated topic and there is no solid evidence for his date, age or place of death, though he was incarcerated in the Tower of London along with his brother, becoming popularly known as one of the Princes in the Tower.
[edit] Third creation, 1494-1509
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Tudor House of Tudor 1494–1509 |
 |
28 June 1491 Greenwich Palace son of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York |
Catherine of Aragon 11 June 1509 1 child Anne Boleyn |
28 January 1547 Whitehall Palace aged 55 |
Henry Tudor became king Henry VIII of England in 1509, as thus the title Duke of York was merged with the Crown of England.
[edit] Fourth creation, 1605-1625
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Stuart ("Saint Charles the Martyr") House of Stuart 1605–1625 |
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19 November 1600 Dunfermline Palace son of James I of England and Anne of Denmark |
Henrietta Maria of France 13 June 1625 9 children |
30 January 1649 Whitehall Palace aged 48 |
Charles Stuart became king Charles I of England in 1625, as thus the title Duke of York was merged with the Crown of England.
[edit] Fifth creation, (1633) 1644-1685
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Stuart House of Stuart 1633/1644–1685 |
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14 October 1633 St. James's Palace son of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France |
Anne Hyde 3 September 1660 8 children Mary of Modena |
Styled Duke of York from birth. James Stuart became king James II of England in 1685, as thus the title Duke of York was merged with the Crown of England.
[edit] First creation, 1716-1728
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Ernest Augustus House of Hanover 1716–1728 |
 |
7 September 1674 Osnabrück son of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Sophia of the Palatinate |
never married | 14 August 1728 Osnabrück aged 53 |
Prince Ernest also held the title Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück. He was the younger brother of George I of Great Britain and died sine prole.
[edit] Second creation, 1760-1767
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward House of Hanover 1760–1767 |
 |
25 March 1739 Norfolk House son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha |
never married | 17 September 1767 Prince's Palace of Monaco aged 28 |
Prince Edward was the younger brother of George III of the United Kingdom, Edward died while still in his 20s after coming down with illness, he died sine prole.
[edit] Third creation, 1784-1827
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Frederick House of Hanover 1784–1827 |
 |
16 August 1763 St. James's Palace son of George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
Frederica Charlotte of Prussia 29 September 1791 No children |
5 January 1827 Rutland House aged 63 |
Prince Frederick separated from his only wife Frederica Charlotte with whom he had no children, but was rumoured to have fathered several illegitimate children, however none of these received the title Duke of York.
[edit] Sixth creation, 1892-1910
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George House of Windsor 1892–1910 |
 |
3 June 1865 Marlborough House son of Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Alexandra of Denmark |
Mary of Teck 6 July 1893 6 children |
20 January 1936 Sandringham House aged 70 |
Prince George became king George V of the United Kingdom in 1910, as thus the title Duke of York was merged with the Crown of the United Kingdom.
[edit] Seventh creation, 1920-1936
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Albert House of Windsor 1920–1936 |
 |
14 December 1895 Sandringham House son of George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck |
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon 26 April 1923 2 children |
6 February 1952 Sandringham House aged 56 |
Prince Albert became king George VI of the United Kingdom in 1936, as thus the title Duke of York was merged with the Crown of the United Kingdom.
[edit] Eighth creation, 1986-Present
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Andrew House of Windsor 1986–present |
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19 February 1960 Buckingham Palace son of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh |
Sarah Ferguson 23 July 1986-May 30, 1996 (divorce) 2 children |
current holder |
- Duke of Albany
- Earl of Inverness, a subsidiary title of the current creation
- Henry Benedict Stuart, created Duke of York by the titular King James III in 1725. Recognised as Duke of York by the Papacy, Modena, France, and Spain. Died without issue in 1807.
Places named after Dukes of York:
- Duke of York Archipelago, Canada
- Duke of York Bay, Canada
- Duke of York Island, Antarctica
- Duke of York Island, Papua New Guinea
- Duke of York Islands
- Duke of York's Royal Military School
- New York (both the US state and city)
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