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Ralph Stafford

Type Figure Region England Time 1301–1372 Also known as 1st Earl of Stafford

Ralph Stafford was an English nobleman and military commander, 1st Earl of Stafford and a founding member of the Order of the Garter.

Timeline

  1. 1327–1331Stafford · StaffordshireHe entered court service after Edward III acceded and rose rapidly on the strength of his military ability and loyalty. From 1327 he served as a royal bodyguard, and by around 1331 he was already involved in military preparations against Scotland, becoming an important noble commander in the defense of the northern border.
  2. 1331–1340Berwickshire · NorthumberlandHe was stationed on the Scottish border for long periods between 1331 and 1340 and took part in the siege of Berwick in 1335. Created 1st Earl of Stafford in 1337, he became one of Edward III's core commanders in the north, operating in coordination with the Earl of Lancaster and others.
  3. 1340–1347France · FranceHe accompanied the king on the Brittany expedition in 1340, commanded troops at the Battle of Crécy in 1346, and took part in the siege of Calais in 1347. In 1348 he became a founding member of the Order of the Garter, thereafter continuing to serve as a senior royal military adviser into his later years.

Sources