The title Duke of Exeter was created several times in England in the later Middle Ages.
Exeter is the main town of
Devon. It was first created for
John Holland, the half-brother of King
Richard II in 1397. That title was rescinded upon
Henry IV's accession to the throne two years later. The title was then granted to the former's half-brother,
Thomas Beaufort, 1st Earl of Dorset by his nephew
Henry V. Following Beaufort's death without heirs in 1426, the title was restored to the Holland family, which held it until the 3rd Duke was attainted in 1461 as a
Lancastrian, dying in 1475.
Arms: The arms of England (quarterly: first and fourth, azure, three fleurs-de-lis; second and third, gules, three lions passant
or), within a border
gobony azure and ermine.[1]
Crest: A
portcullis or, nailed azure, chains of the first.
Dukes of Exeter, third creation (1444)
Sometimes numbered 2nd and 3rd dukes in reference to the 1397 creation
John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, 1st in this creation (1395–1447), son of the 1st Duke of the 1397 creation, was restored to his father's honours after service to his cousin, the
Lancastrian king,
Henry V