Duke of Kendal

The titles of Earl of Kendal and Duke of Kendal have been created several times, usually for people with some connection to the royal family.

• The first creation was for John, 4th son of King Henry IV, who was created Earl of Kendal, Earl of Richmond and Duke of Bedford in 1414. The titles became extinct at his death.
• The second creation was for John Beaufort, 3rd Earl of Somerset, a grandson of John of Gaunt, who was created Earl of Kendal and Duke of Somerset in 1443. He died the following year, when the titles became extinct.
• The third creation was for Jean de Foix, vicomte de Castillon, who was created Earl of Kendal in 1446. He gave allegiance to the King of France in 1462, and is thereby presumed to have forfeited his English peerage. However, his descendants in France continued to style themselves "comte de Candale" (or Kendal).
• The next Kendal creation was for Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of King Charles I and a Royalist commander in the Civil War, who is sometimes (perhaps erroneously) said to have been created Baron Kendal along with the other titles of Earl of Holdernesse and Duke of Cumberland in 1644. This Kendal title, if it ever existed, became extinct on his death without legitimate issue.
• The first use of Kendal as a ducal title was in 1666, when Charles Stuart, son of the Duke of York, was given the titles of Duke of Kendal, Earl of Wigmore and Baron Holdenby. He died the following year, when these titles became extinct.
• The next creation was for Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Princess (later Queen) Anne, who was created Duke of Cumberland, Earl of Kendal and Baron Wokingham in 1689. He died without surviving issue, and the titles became extinct.
• The next creation was for Ehrengard von der Schulenberg, Duchess of Munster, the mistress of King George I, who was created Duchess of Kendal, Countess of Feversham and Baroness Glastonbury in 1719. These titles were for life only and expired with their first holder.
• The last Kendal creation was for James Lowther, who was created Baron Kendal, Baron Burgh, Baron Lowther, Viscount Lowther, Viscount Lonsdale and Earl of Lonsdale in 1784. These titles became extinct at his death.
• In 1816, at the time of the marriage of Princess Charlotte of Wales (daughter of the Prince Regent) to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, it was announced that the groom was to be created Duke of Kendal. However, in the end this never happened.

Earls of Kendal, First Creation (1414)

• John of Lancaster, 1st Earl of Kendal and Duke of Bedford (1389–1435)

Earls of Kendal, Second Creation (1443)

• John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Kendal and Duke of Somerset (1404–1444)

Earls of Kendal, Third Creation (1446)

• John de Foix, 1st Earl of Kendal (d. 1485) (presumed to have surrendered the peerage 1462, though his descendants in France continued to use the title under the name Candale)
• Gaston II de Foix, 2me comte de Candale (d. 1500)
• Gaston III de Foix, 3me comte de Candale (d. 1536)
• Frederic de Foix, 4me comte de Candale (d. 1571)
• Henri de Foix, 5me comte de Candale (d. 1572)
• Marguerite de Foix, 6me comtesse de Candale (1567–1593), married in 1587 Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, 1er duc d'Epernon (1554–1642)
• Henri de Nogaret de La Valette, 7me comte de Candale (d. 1639) (created duc de Candale in 1621, that title extinct on his death)
• Bernard de Nogaret de La Valette d'Épernon, 8me comte de Candale, 2me duc d'Epernon (1592–1661) (created duc de La Valette in 1622)
• Louis Charles Gaston de Nogaret de La Valette, styled comte de Candale (1627–1658) was ceded his father's dukedom of La Valette in 1649, and was then known as duc de Candale

Barons Kendal, First Creation (1644)

(possible creation)

• Rupert of the Rhine, 1st Baron Kendal and Duke of Cumberland (1619–1682)

Dukes of Kendal, First Creation (1666)

• Charles Stuart, Duke of Kendal (1666–1667)

Earls of Kendal, Fourth Creation (1689)

• George of Denmark, 1st Earl of Kendal and Duke of Cumberland (1653–1708)

Duchess of Kendal, Second Creation (1719)

• Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal and Munster (1667–1743)

Barons Kendal, Second Creation (1784)

• James Lowther, 1st Baron Kendal and Earl of Lonsdale (1726–1802)

See also

• Kendal
• William de Lancaster, Baron of Kendal, died c. 1170
• Wavell Wakefield, 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal, 1898–1983

Sources include:

• Kendal/Candale (Re: Who is heir to the Earldom of Lancaster?), François R. Velde, alt.talk.royalty newsgroup, 16th Oct 2001
• Leopold's title of duke of Kendal, François R. Velde, alt.talk.royalty newsgroup, 18th Oct 2001
• Hereditary Titles