Thomas Brandon (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Brandon, KG
(died 1510) was an English soldier, courtier and diplomat.
family, the son of William Brandon (Marshal of Marshalsea)
and Elizabeth Wingfield, and uncle to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
. His brother William was killed at the battle of Bosworth defending the standard of the future Henry VII. A contemporary manuscript speaks of Sir Thomas as having ‘greatly favoured and followed the party of Henry, earl of Richmond.’
He was appointed to the embassy charged with concluding peace with France in 1492, and again in 1500 he formed one of the suite which accompanied Henry VII to Calais
to meet the Archduke Philip of Austria. In 1503, together with Nicholas West
, he was given the mission of concluding a treaty with the Emperor Maximilian
at Antwerp. The main object of this treaty was to induce Maximilian to withdraw his support from Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk
, and banish him and the other English rebels from his dominions. Other points touched upon were the treatment of Milan
and the question of Maximilian receiving the Order of the Garter
. Maximilian was indecisive and allowed the English ambassadors to leave.
On his return to England, Brandon was given offices, includig master of the king's horse. He was noted for his prowess as a knight and skill in military affairs. In the records of a tournament held in 1494 to celebrate the creation of the Prince Henry
as Knight of the Bath and Duke of York
, Brandon is mentioned as having distinguished himself. He was made a Knight of the Garter.
In October 1507 he was sent to meet Balthasar de Castiglione, ambassador for the Duke of Urbino, who came to England to receive the Garter for his master. Brandon died on 29 January 1510.
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...
(died 1510) was an English soldier, courtier and diplomat.
Life
He was from a LancastrianLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
family, the son of William Brandon (Marshal of Marshalsea)
William Brandon (Marshal of Marshalsea)
Sir William Brandon of Wangford, Suffolk and of Soham Court, Suffolk was an English knight.-Life:While still an Esquire, in 1479, in the eighth year of reign of Edward IV, he became Knight Marshal of Marshalsea prison...
and Elizabeth Wingfield, and uncle to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG was the son of Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Through his third wife Mary Tudor he was brother-in-law to Henry VIII. His father was the standard-bearer of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and was slain by Richard III in person at...
. His brother William was killed at the battle of Bosworth defending the standard of the future Henry VII. A contemporary manuscript speaks of Sir Thomas as having ‘greatly favoured and followed the party of Henry, earl of Richmond.’
He was appointed to the embassy charged with concluding peace with France in 1492, and again in 1500 he formed one of the suite which accompanied Henry VII to 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....
to meet the Archduke Philip of Austria. In 1503, together with Nicholas West
Nicholas West
Nicholas West , English bishop and diplomatist, was born at Putney, and educated at Eton and at King's College, Cambridge, of which he became a fellow in 1486....
, he was given the mission of concluding a treaty with the Emperor Maximilian
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
at Antwerp. The main object of this treaty was to induce Maximilian to withdraw his support from Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk
Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk
Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 6th Earl of Suffolk , Duke of Suffolk, was a son of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk and his wife Elizabeth of York.-Family:...
, and banish him and the other English rebels from his dominions. Other points touched upon were the treatment of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and the question of Maximilian receiving the Order of the Garter
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...
. Maximilian was indecisive and allowed the English ambassadors to leave.
On his return to England, Brandon was given offices, includig master of the king's horse. He was noted for his prowess as a knight and skill in military affairs. In the records of a tournament held in 1494 to celebrate the creation of the Prince Henry
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
as Knight of the Bath and Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
, Brandon is mentioned as having distinguished himself. He was made a Knight of the Garter.
In October 1507 he was sent to meet Balthasar de Castiglione, ambassador for the Duke of Urbino, who came to England to receive the Garter for his master. Brandon died on 29 January 1510.