Bedford, John of Lancaster, Duke of 1389-1435
English soldier, statesman and prince

The third son of Henry IV, he was made Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed and Warden of the East Marches (1403). His brother, Henry V, created him Duke of Bedford (1414), and during the war with France he was appointed Lieutenant of the Kingdom. After Henry's death (1422), Bedford became Guardian of England and virtual Regent of France during the minority of his nephew, Henry VI. In the Hundred Years War, helped by alliance with Burgundy, he defeated the French in several battles including Cravant (1423) and Verneuil (1424), but in 1428-29 he failed to capture Orleans. He had Joan of Arc burned at the stake in Rouen (1431), and had Henry VI crowned King of France (1431), but in 1435 a treaty was negotiated between Charles VII and the Duke of Burgundy, which, together with English insolvency, was to ruin English interests in France. Yet, single-minded, consistent and clear-sighted, at his death he presided over more French territory than Henry V had possessed.