Cousins Edward le Despenser | ||
Parents Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, Maud Chaworth Grandparents Edmund Crouchback, Blanche of Artois, Isabella de Beauchamp, Patrick de Chaworth, Lord of Kidwelly Uncles Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, Hugh Despenser the Younger Great-grandparents Henry III of England, Eleanor of Provence Similar Henry - 3rd Earl of Lancaster, Maud Chaworth, Edmund Crouchback, Blanche of Artois, Thomas - 2nd Earl of Lancaster | ||
Blanche of Lancaster, Baroness Wake of Liddell (c. 1305-c. 1380) was an English noblewoman. She was the eldest daughter of Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster and Maud Chaworth. Blanche was named after her grandmother, Blanche of Artois, who had ruled Navarre as regent.
Life
Sometime before 9 October 1316, she married Thomas Wake, 2nd Baron Wake of Liddell, who had been under guardianship of her father. The marriage remained childless.
The Bishop of Ely burned down some of her houses after her husband's death in 1349 and she took legal action against him. The bishop was rebuked by Edward III for this and was ordered to pay damages, but after that the bishop had her servant William Holm murdered. Edward then confiscated his possessions and made him ask for forgiveness.
After her brother Henry died, she was one of the executors of his will. In April 1372, custody of brothers John and Thomas was granted to her, as sister of their grandmother, Joan of Lancaster. She lived on to see the start of the reign of king Edward's grandson, Richard II.