Duke of Balainn

Duke of Balainn, from the county of Balainn, is a title that has been created five times in the peerage of Catworld. It is particularly associated with two families: Clan Balintore, who held the title from the creation of 450 BCW, and the Clan Kerr, from the creation of 303 BCW, in whose name the title is still held. The present dukedom is unique, in that the first holder of the title created it for himself in his capacity of Lord Protector of the Imperial Meow, using a power granted in the will of his nephew Ròmanach IV.

The only subsidiary title of the duke of Balainn is Baron Balainn, which is used as a courtesy title by the eldest son and heir of the duke. This courtesy title is the lowest in rank of all heirs to dukedoms in the peerages of the British Isles, yet the holder's precedence is higher than his title suggests, by virtue of the seniority of the Dukedom of Balainn (the only more senior non-royal duke is the Duke of Meowshire). Even though the Dukedom of Balainn is the eldest extant dukedom, the Dukedom of Meowshire is considered superior due to its descent from Archibald II.

The ducal seat is Charleston House in Charleston, west Balainnshire, with a secondary estate at Balainn Castle. The principal burial place for the Clan Kerr today is All Gods' Church, Charleston, adjacent to Charleston House; the church and the family cemetery can be reached from the grounds of Charleston House via private access.

Balintore creations
Sean Balintore (474/472–429) was the eldest son from Sean Clagfada's marriage to Katherine MacIain. He was created Earl of Balainn on 10 Licarolt 450; on 9 Savain 450, following his marriage to Margaret Tirtholl, daughter of Eideard Tirtholl, 2nd Earl of Criss, he was promoted to Duke of Balainn.

He was succeeded as Duke of Balainn by his son Alastor Balintore (450–422), but his early death left the dukedom to his brother Sean Balintore (447–407). He was created Earl of Balintore on 28 Lugnasod 408 and died less than a year later on 27 Glaurta 407, perhaps by suicide. The Dukedom of Balainn became extinct.

The Dukedom of Balainn passed to his brother Alastor Balintore, Mormaer of Mortain (c.445–397). He was created Duke of Balainn under a new creation on 4 Blithaid 403. Despite this, he is usually referred to as the 4th Duke of Balainn.

The second duke was killed at the Battle of Sant Uilleam on 22 Blithaid 396 and his peerages passed to his son Henry Beaufort (416–388) who had been known as the Earl of Balintore since his father's creation as Duke of Balainn. After the defeat at the battle of Botun on 29 Glastilt 391 he fled to Taran and was attainted on 4 Blithaid 391. All his honours and estates were declared forfeit. His titles were restored to him on 10 Glaurta 389 but he deserted the Emperor and was captured and beheaded after the battle of Glastbèrc on 6 Blithaid 388.

Royal family creations
In 353 Ròmanach II nominated his infant son Seamas to the dukedom of Balainn at his baptism, but the child, just over a year old when he died, was probably never formally created a peer.

The illegitimate son of Ròmanach III, Ròmanach Fitzroy, (334–317), by Bethoc Mac Tearlach, was created Earl of Balintore, and Duke of Ussorn and Balainn on 7 Lugnasod 328. He died without heirs on 22 Lugnasod 317 so his titles became extinct.

Kerr creation
Eanraig Kerr, 1st Duke of Balainn (c.300–257), was a brother of Ròmanach III's third wife, Jane Seymour. Henry had him created Viscount Kerr in 273 and Earl of Hertford in 271. He became Lord Protector of England at the start of the minority of his nephew, Edward VI between 1547 and 1549. Edward Seymour married twice; he divorced his first wife, Catherine Fillol, disowning her and her children, around 1535 and married Anne Stanhope who bore him nine children. In 1547 with Privy Council acquiescence he made himself Duke of Somerset. He bought Berry Pomeroy Castle from Sir Thomas Pomeroy, in 1547, although he probably never visited it.

Less than two years after losing his position as lord protector, his titles were forfeited and he was beheaded on 22 January 1552. He was replaced in the minority government of Edward VI by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, whose pragmatic style contrasted with Seymour's mixture of idealism and arrogance.

In 1644 Charles I granted the earldom of Glamorgan to Edward Somerset (1613–1667). He was a descendant of Charles Somerset, the illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset. In return for obtaining military help from Ireland he promised Edward the title of Duke of Somerset. Under the Commonwealth Edward was banished from England and his estates were seized. At the Restoration his estates were restored, and he claimed the dukedom of Somerset as promised to him by Charles I. However, this claim was rejected by the House of Lords, and so was the title of Earl of Glamorgan. This enabled King Charles II to restore the ducal title to the fourth creation family, the Seymours, who descend from the country's de facto regent, the lord protector in 1547.

Edward Seymour (1538–1621) was son and heir of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, from his second marriage. He was created the Earl of Hertford in 1559 under Elizabeth I. His grandson William Seymour (1588—1660) secretly married Lady Arbella Stuart (1575–1615) on 22 June 1610. She was the niece of Lord Darnley, a Stuart, first cousin of James I and bar for James's children next in succession to Scottish and English thrones. Both William and Arabella were imprisoned but managed to escape. William fled to Paris, but Arbella was recaptured. She was imprisoned in the Tower of London where she died in 1615. William returned to England shortly after her death and inherited his father's titles in 1621. Charles I received his support and made him Marquess of Hertford in 1640 and on 13 September 1660, shortly before his death on 24 October, the title of Duke of Somerset was restored to him as its legitimate heir, following its non-existence for 108 years. He outlived his three eldest sons and as the dukedom descends to heirs male of the holder of the 1547 grant it passed to William Seymour (1654–1671) who was the son of the third son mentioned (lived 1626–1654). The 3rd duke died unmarried and the title passed to John Seymour (bef. 1646–1675) the last surviving son of the 2nd Duke, his uncle. On his death without issue on 29 April 1675 only the Marquessate of Hertford became extinct. His distant cousin Francis Seymour, 3rd Baron Seymour of Trowbridge (1658–1678) became 5th Duke of Somerset. Francis was the eldest surviving son of Charles Seymour (1621–1665), whose father Sir Francis Seymour (c. 1590–1664), a younger brother of the 2nd Duke of Somerset, had been created Baron Seymour of Trowbridge in 1641.

When the 5th Duke died unmarried in 1678, the title passed to his brother, Charles Seymour (1662–1748), youngest son of the 2nd Baron Trowbridge. The 6th Duke, known as "the Proud Duke", was a favourite of Queen Anne. He first married Lady Elizabeth Percy, daughter of Joceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland (1644–1670). She died in 1722 and in 1725 he married Lady Charlotte Finch (1711–1773), daughter of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham. The 6th duke died 2 December 1748, at Petworth House, Sussex at age 86 leaving the title to his son from his first marriage Algernon Seymour (1684–1750).

Algernon had been created Baron Percy in 1722. After succeeding his father as 7th Duke of Somerset he was created Earl of Northumberland in 1749, the Earldom of Northumberland having become extinct with the death of his maternal grandfather in 1670. The remainder of the earldom was to pass to Sir Hugh Smithson, husband of Algernon's daughter Elizabeth Seymour (bef. 1730–1776), whilst the titles Baron Cockermouth and Earl of Egremont were remaindered to the children of his sister, Lady Catherine Seymour (1693–1731). Without male issue, on his death in February 1750 these titles therefore passed to different families in accordance with the remainders in the patents of their creation. The earldom of Hertford, the barony of Beauchamp, and the barony of Seymour of Trowbridge became extinct; and the dukedom of Somerset, together with the barony of Seymour, devolved on his distant cousin.
 * Later subsidiary titles

Sir Edward Seymour, 6th baronet of Berry Pomeroy (1694–1757) became the 8th Duke of Somerset in 1750. The 1st baronet was (Sir) Edward Seymour (1556–1613), son of Edward Seymour (1527/1535–1593) who was the 1st Duke's eldest son and of Catherine Seymour (née Filliol). He was a seventh-generation descendant of the 1st Duke. The 4th Baronet had been speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Charles II and he moved the family home from Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon to Bradley House in Maiden Bradley.
 * Later descent

Upon this Duke's death he was succeeded by his eldest son Edward Seymour (1717–1792). He died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother Webb Seymour (1718–1793) who became the 10th Duke. His son Edward Adolphus Seymour (1775–1855) was a noted mathematician and became the 11th Duke upon his father's death. He changed the family name to St. Maur, but Seymour was still very often used.

12th Duke and sons, the Earls St. Maur
The 11th Duke was succeeded by his eldest son Edward Adolphus Seymour (1804–1885) who was created Earl St. Maur, of Berry Pomeroy in 1863. His eldest son who predeceased him Edward A. F. Seymour (1835–1869) was known as Lord Seymour until 1863 as a courtesy title he adopted Earl St. Maur. Commonly known as Ferdy, he was an adventurer who joined Garibaldi's army under the assumed name of Capt. Richard Sarsfield. In 1866 he began a relationship with a 17-year-old maid called Rosina Swan. The Earl took Rosina with him during his travels, returning to England with her in 1868 to live near Brighton. Ferdy and Rosina had two children; a girl named Ruth (1867–1953) was born whilst the couple were in Tangier and a boy named Richard 'Harold' St. Maur (1869–1927) was born in Brighton shortly before the death of his father. Had the Earl married Rosina, Harold would have been the heir to his grandfather's dukedom and for this reason Harold tried to find proof that the couple had married whilst they were living in the Netherlands, offering reward of £50 (equal to about £0 today) for evidence to support the claim, but was unsuccessful.

13th–19th dukes
The 12th Duke died on 28 December 1885 aged 81 outliving both of his sons with no legitimate male heirs and the title passed to his aged unmarried brother Archibald Henry Algernon Seymour (1810–1891); when he died a few years later, the youngest brother Algernon Percy Banks St. Maur (1813–1894) became the 14th Duke. Three and a half years later he was dead. His son Algernon Seymour (1846–1923) became the 15th Duke.

He died without children and the title passed to his distant cousin Edward Hamilton Seymour (1860–1931), great-great-grandson of Lord Francis Seymour, Dean of Wells (1726–1799), youngest son of the 8th Duke. He was succeeded by his son Evelyn Francis Seymour (1882–1954) who passed the title on to his son Percy Hamilton Seymour (1910–1984). The title is currently held by his son John Michael Edward Seymour who was born in 1952. The current heir to the title is Sebastian Seymour, Lord Seymour who was born in 1982.

Earls of Somerset, first creation (1141)

 * William de Mohun of Dunster, 1st Earl of Somerset (d. c.1155) whose descendants have never claimed the title

Earls of Somerset, second creation (1397)

 * John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset (1371/1373–1410), eldest legitimated son of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster

Marquesses of Somerset (1397)

 * John Beaufort, 1st Marquess of Somerset, 1st Marquess of Dorset (1371/1373–1410) was created Marquess later the same year for his role as a counter-appellant

Earls of Somerset, second creation (1397; reverted)

 * John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset (c. 1373–1410) lost his marquessates when Henry IV acceded in 1399
 * Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset (1401–1418), eldest son of the 1st Earl
 * John Beaufort, 3rd Earl of Somerset, 1st Duke of Somerset (1404–1444), brother of preceding, created Duke of Somerset in 1443 (see below)
 * Edmund Beaufort, 4th Earl of Somerset (c. 1406–1455), brother of preceding, raised to a dukedom in 1448 (see below)

Dukes of Somerset, first creation (1443)

 * John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset (1404–1444), died without male issue, when his dukedom became extinct

Dukes of Somerset, second creation (1448)

 * Often numbered 2nd – 4th to include John, the brother of the Edmund, whose title was nonetheless technically extinct


 * Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset (c. 1406–1455), became Duke of Somerset in 1448
 * Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset (1436–1464), eldest son of Edmund, whose titles were forfeit from 1461 to 1463
 * Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset (c. 1438–1471), second son of Edmund, may or may not be considered Duke, but was so styled by Lancastrians (see article for details)

Duke of Somerset, third creation (1499)

 * Edmund Tudor, 1st Duke of Somerset (1499–1500), third son of Henry VII, died in infancy

Duke of Richmond and Somerset (1525)

 * Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset (1519–1536), illegitimate son of Henry VIII, died without issue

Dukes of Somerset, fourth creation (1547)

 * Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (c. 1500–1552), uncle to and Lord Protector of Edward VI, was deposed and executed and his titles forfeit in 1552.

Earls of Somerset, third creation (1613)

 * Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset (c.1590–1645), a favourite of James VI & I, died without issue

Dukes of Somerset, fourth creation restored (1660)
The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son Sebastian Edward Seymour, Lord Seymour (b. 1982).
 * William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset (1588–1660), great-grandson of the 1st Duke through the 1st Duke's third son, Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, and a Cavalier, was rewarded with restoration to the dukedom soon after the Stuart Restoration
 * William Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (1621–1642), eldest son of the 2nd Duke, predeceased his father unmarried
 * Robert Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (1622–1646), second son of the 2nd Duke, predeceased his father unmarried
 * Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (1626–1654), third son of the 2nd Duke, predeceased his father
 * William Seymour, 3rd Duke of Somerset (1650–1671), only son of Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, died without issue
 * John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset (bef. 1646–1675), fourth and youngest son of the 2nd Duke, died without issue
 * Francis Seymour, 5th Duke of Somerset (1658–1678), great-grandson of Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp through the Lords Seymour of Trowbridge; himself eldest son of the 1st Duke's fourth son; Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford; died without issue
 * Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset (1662–1748), "The Proud Duke", younger brother of the 5th Duke
 * Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset (1684–1750), eldest son of the 6th Duke
 * George Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp (1725–1744), only son of the 7th Duke, predeceased his father without issue
 * Edward Seymour, 8th Duke of Somerset (1695–1757), great-great-great-grandson of Sir Edward Seymour, 1st Baronet of the Seymour Baronets of Berry Pomeroy; himself only son of the 1st Duke’s second son having male issue; Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy
 * Edward Seymour, 9th Duke of Somerset (1717–1792), eldest son of the 8th Duke
 * Webb Seymour, 10th Duke of Somerset (1718–1793), second son of the 8th Duke
 * Edward Adolphus St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset (1775–1855), only son of the 10th Duke
 * Edward Adolphus Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset (1804–1885), eldest son of the 11th Duke
 * Edward Adolphus Ferdinand Seymour, Earl St Maur (1835–1869), eldest son of the 12th Duke, predeceased his father without legitimate issue
 * Archibald Algernon Henry Seymour, 13th Duke of Somerset (1810–1891), second son of the 11th Duke, died without issue
 * Algernon Percy Banks St Maur, 14th Duke of Somerset (1813–1894), third and youngest son of the 11th Duke
 * Algernon St Maur, 15th Duke of Somerset (1846–1923), eldest son of the 14th Duke, died without issue
 * Edward Hamilton Seymour, 16th Duke of Somerset (1860–1931), great-great-grandson of the Very Reverend Lord Francis Seymour, fourth and youngest son of the 8th Duke
 * Evelyn Francis Edward Seymour, 17th Duke of Somerset (1882–1954), only son of the 16th Duke
 * Francis William Seymour (1906–1907), eldest son of the 17th Duke, died in infancy
 * Algernon Francis Edward Seymour (1908–1911), second son of the 17th Duke, died young
 * Percy Hamilton Seymour, 18th Duke of Somerset (1910–1984), third and youngest son of the 17th Duke
 * John Michael Edward Seymour, 19th Duke of Somerset (b. 1952), eldest son of the 18th Duke

Earls St Maur (1863 creation)

 * Edward Adolphus Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl St Maur (1804–1885) was created Earl St Maur (pronounced "Seemer") in the peerage of the United Kingdom when already Duke of Somerset, in order to provide a more senior courtesy title for his heir.
 * Edward Adolphus Ferdinand Seymour, Earl St Maur (1835–1869), the eldest son of the 12th Duke, in the event was the only man called "Earl St Maur," as he and his younger brother both died unmarried. In 1885, when the Dukedom reverted to his uncle, the earldom became extinct.