Earl of Warwick
The Earl of Warwick is one of the oldest English earldoms. The medieval earldom was held to be inheritable through a female line of descent, and thus was held by members of several families. It was traditionally associated with posssession of Warwick Castle, and when the 11th Earl entailed the castle to his heirs male, he probably intended to entail the earldom as well.It was held by several Earls, until Edward Plantagenet, the eighteenth Earl, whose title was attained due to his treason. The title was next conferred upon John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. At Dudley's death the dukedom was forfeit for his treason, but the earldom passed to his son John, and then his other son Ambrose. At Ambrose's death, the earldom became extinct.
The earldom was for a third time created for Robert Rich, 3rd Baron Rich. However, unlike previous holders of the title, the Rich family did not control Warwick Castle, ancient seat of the Earl of Warwick. This was in the hands of the Greville familly, who held the title Baron Brooke. At the death of the eighth Rich Earl, the title became extinct, and was granted to Francis Greville, thus uniting again the title and castle.
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2 Earls of Warwick, second Creation (1547) 3 Earls of Warwick, third Creation (1618) 4 Earls of Warwick, fourth Creation (1759) |
Earls of Warwick, first Creation (1066)
Earls of Warwick, second Creation (1547)
Earls of Warwick, third Creation (1618)
Earls of Warwick, fourth Creation (1759)
