Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley
Encyclopedia
Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley and 6th Baron Sudeley KG
(c. 1394 – 2 May 1473) was an English
baron and aristocrat. He was the Captain of Calais
and Treasurer of England
(from 7 July 1443).
, Gloucestershire
and Alice Beauchamp (d. 1443), daughter of Sir John Beauchamp of Powick
, Worcestershire
.
. She died in 1462, and in the following year he married Alice (d. 1474), daughter of John, Baron Deyncourt, and widow of William, Baron Lovel
of Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire
, who survived him.
to heiress Joan de Sudeley which led to his father suceeding to the title of Lord of Sudeley. The Barony of Sudeley
was conferred upon him by Letters Patent
. The title passed to both his elder brothers, John who died unmarried and childless in 1410 and William, who despite being married, also died childless seven years later. William's widow, Alice, was appointed governess of Henry VI
in 1424.
He is thought to have served with King Henry V of England
in France
as he was awarded grants of land there in 1420-21. He was captain of Arques
and Crotoy in 1423 and took muster in Calais
in 1425.
Along with the title, Ralph inherited Sudeley Castle
, which he rebuilt in the 1440's. Unfortunately he failed to gain royal permission to crenellate it and has to seek Henry VI's pardon. He lost it in 1469 due to his support for the Lancastrian
cause.
was claimed to have invalidated Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, and so legitimized the usurpation of Richard III of England
.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(c. 1394 – 2 May 1473) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
baron and aristocrat. He was the Captain of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
and Treasurer of England
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
(from 7 July 1443).
Family
Ralph Boteler was the youngest surviving son of Thomas Boteler of Sudeley CastleSudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle is a castle located near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England. It dates from the 10th century, but the inhabited portion is chiefly Elizabethan. The castle has a notable garden, which is designed and maintained to a very high standard. The chapel, St. Mary's Sudeley, is the burial...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Alice Beauchamp (d. 1443), daughter of Sir John Beauchamp of Powick
Powick
Powick is a Worcestershire village two miles south of the city of Worcester and four miles north of Great Malvern, close to the River Teme. It is a civil parish of the Malvern Hills District, and it includes the village of Callow End and the hamlets of Bastonford, Clevelode, Colletts Green, and...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
Marriage
Sudeley married twice. About 1418 he married commercial wealth, in the person of Elizabeth, widow of John Hende (d. 1418), late Mayor of LondonMayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. She died in 1462, and in the following year he married Alice (d. 1474), daughter of John, Baron Deyncourt, and widow of William, Baron Lovel
Baron Lovel
There have been four baronies and one viscountcy created in the name of Lovel or Lovell.-Baron Lovel, of Titchmarsh :* John Lovel, 1st Baron Lovel * John Lovel, 2nd Baron Lovel died at Bannockburn...
of Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire
Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire
Titchmarsh is a village and civil parish in East Northamptonshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 543 people....
, who survived him.
Lord Sudeley
The Boteler's elevation to the aristocracy arose from the marriage of Ralph's grandfather, William le Botiler of WemWem
Wem is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It is the administrative centre for the northern area committee of Shropshire Council, which has its headquarters at Edinburgh House in the centre of Wem. Wem railway station is on the Shrewsbury to Crewe railway line...
to heiress Joan de Sudeley which led to his father suceeding to the title of Lord of Sudeley. The Barony of Sudeley
Baron Sudeley
Baron Sudeley is a title that has been created thrice in British history, twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1299 when John de Sudeley was summoned to Parliament as Lord Sudeley. On the death of the...
was conferred upon him by Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
. The title passed to both his elder brothers, John who died unmarried and childless in 1410 and William, who despite being married, also died childless seven years later. William's widow, Alice, was appointed governess of Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
in 1424.
He is thought to have served with King Henry V of England
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as he was awarded grants of land there in 1420-21. He was captain of Arques
Arques
Arques may refer to the following places in France:* Arques, Aude, in the Aude département* Arques, Aveyron, in the Aveyron département* Arques, Pas-de-Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
and Crotoy in 1423 and took muster in Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
in 1425.
Along with the title, Ralph inherited Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle is a castle located near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England. It dates from the 10th century, but the inhabited portion is chiefly Elizabethan. The castle has a notable garden, which is designed and maintained to a very high standard. The chapel, St. Mary's Sudeley, is the burial...
, which he rebuilt in the 1440's. Unfortunately he failed to gain royal permission to crenellate it and has to seek Henry VI's pardon. He lost it in 1469 due to his support for the Lancastrian
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
cause.
Descendants
Sudeley left no surviving male heir from either marriage, for his son Thomas predeceased him, also without a male heir. Thomas' widow Eleanor was the Lady Eleanor Butler (known as the Holy Harlot) whose alleged precontract of marriage to Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
was claimed to have invalidated Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, and so legitimized the usurpation of Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
.