Earl of Glamorgan
| Dukedom of Beaufort | |
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Quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure three fleurs-de-lys or (for France); 2nd and 3rd, gules three lions passant guardant in pale or (for England), all within a bordure compony argent and azure
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| Creation date | 2 December 1682 |
| Monarch | Charles II |
| Peerage | Peerage of England |
| First holder | Henry Somerset |
| Present holder | Henry John FitzRoy Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort |
| Heir apparent | Henry Robert FitzRoy Somerset, Marquess of Worcester |
| Remainder to | The 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary titles | Marquess of Worcester Earl of Worcester Earl of Glamorgan (courtesy) Viscount Grosmont (courtesy) |
| Seat(s) | Badminton House (since 17th Century) |
| Former seat(s) | Raglan Castle (until 1646) |
| Armorial motto | Mutare vel timere sperno ("I scorn to change or to fear") |
Duke of Beaufort, a title in the Peerage of England, was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, legitimized son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the Roses. The name Beaufort refers to a castle in Champagne, France (now Montmorency-Beaufort). It is the only current dukedom to take its name from a place outside the British Isles.
The Dukes of Beaufort descend in the male line from the House of Plantagenet through John of Gaunt and Edward III. This statement was challenged after the analysis of the Y chromosomal DNA of the remains of Richard III. Most living male heirs of the 5th Duke of Beaufort were found to carry a relatively common Y chromosome type, which is different from the rare lineage found in Richard III remains. The instance of female infidelity could have occurred anywhere in the numerous generations separating Richard III from the 5th Duke of Beaufort .
Beaufort Castle was a possession of John of Gaunt, and the surname Beaufort was given to Gaunt's four legitimised children by his mistress and third wife, Katherine Swynford. This was the foundation of the House of Beaufort, Dukes of Somerset. A descendant of the Beauforts through his mother was Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII of England. Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, KG (c. 1460 – 15 March 1526) was the bastard son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset by his mistress Joan Hill.
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