Thomas Vaughan (soldier)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Vaughan was a Welsh
medieval soldier
and diplomat
, an adherent of Jasper Tudor and King Henry VI of England
. Despite this, he was a Yorkist by inclination, as were so many Welshmen of the time, and became ambassador
to the courts of Burgundy
and France
on behalf of the Yorkist King Edward IV
. He was knight
ed in 1475, on the day King Edward's eldest son was invested as Prince of Wales
, having acted for some years as Chamberlain
to the young prince.
Vaughan was the son of Robert and Margaret Vaughan of Monmouth
. In 1446 he was appointed to the offices of Steward
, Receiver
, and Master of the Game
in Herefordshire
and Ewyas
, and Steward, Constable
, Porter
, and Receiver of Abergavenny
. In 1450, he became Master of the King's Ordnance. Despite his early association with Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, Vaughan was accused of plotting against King Henry VI of England
as early as 1459. Somehow he regained the king's favour, and in 1460 was appointed Keeper of Henry VI's "great Wardrobe"
.
After the defeat of Henry VI by the Yorkists, Vaughan, along with Philip Malpas and William Hatclyf, attempted to take the king's treasure
by ship to Ireland
. They fell into the hands of French
pirates and were ransomed by Edward IV, to whom Vaughan was afterwards loyal. In 1465 he became Treasurer of the King's Chamber and Master of the King's Jewels
, and was involved in diplomatic missions to Burgundy
, including the marriage negotiations for the king's sister, Margaret.
Following the sudden deposition of the prince as King Edward V
, Vaughan was arrested and executed by the future King Richard III
. The execution is believed to have taken place some time between June 13th and June 25th at Pontefract Castle
in West Yorkshire.
He was married to Eleanor FitzAlan
, the widow of Sir Thomas Browne
, who likewise was executed in 1460.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
medieval soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, an adherent of Jasper Tudor and King Henry VI of England
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...
. Despite this, he was a Yorkist by inclination, as were so many Welshmen of the time, and became ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the courts of Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
and 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...
on behalf of the Yorkist King Edward IV
Edward 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...
. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1475, on the day King Edward's eldest son was invested as Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, having acted for some years as Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
to the young prince.
Vaughan was the son of Robert and Margaret Vaughan of Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
. In 1446 he was appointed to the offices of Steward
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
, Receiver
Receiver
-Technology:* The listening device part of a telephone** The handset that sometimes contains the above device** The headset that can also contain the above device.* Audio-Visual receiver* Digital media receiver...
, and Master of the Game
Master of the Game
Master of the Game is a novel by Sidney Sheldon, first published in hardback format in 1982. Spanning six generations in the lives of the fictional MacGregor/Blackwell family, the critically acclaimed novel debuted at number one on the New York Times Bestseller List...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county 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 Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and Ewyas
Vale of Ewyas
The Vale of Ewyas is the steeply-sided and secluded valley of the Afon Honddu, in the Black Mountains of south Wales and within the Brecon Beacons National Park. As well as its outstanding beauty, it is known for the ruins of Llanthony Priory, and for several noteworthy churches such as those at...
, and Steward, Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
, Porter
Groom Porter
The Groom-Porter was an office at the royal court of the kings of England, who had 'the Inspection of the King's Lodgings, and takes care that they are provided with Tables, Chairs, Firing, &c. As also to provide Cards, Dice, &c. when there is playing at Court: To decide Disputes which arise in...
, and Receiver of Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
. In 1450, he became Master of the King's Ordnance. Despite his early association with Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, Vaughan was accused of plotting against King Henry VI of England
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...
as early as 1459. Somehow he regained the king's favour, and in 1460 was appointed Keeper of Henry VI's "great Wardrobe"
Wardrobe (government)
The wardrobe, along with the chamber, made up the personal part of medieval English government known as the king's household. Its chief officer went under the title of Master or Keeper of the Great Wardrobe. As a result, the wardrobe often appropriated large funds from the exchequer, the main...
.
After the defeat of Henry VI by the Yorkists, Vaughan, along with Philip Malpas and William Hatclyf, attempted to take the king's treasure
Treasure
Treasure is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered...
by ship to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. They fell into the hands of French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
pirates and were ransomed by Edward IV, to whom Vaughan was afterwards loyal. In 1465 he became Treasurer of the King's Chamber and Master of the King's Jewels
Master of the Jewel Office
The Master of the Jewel Office is a position in the British Royal Household. The holders are responsible for running the Jewel Office, which holds the Sovereign's jewellry.-Masters of the Jewel Office:*1445–1448: John Merston*1465–1483: Thomas Vaughan...
, and was involved in diplomatic missions to Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
, including the marriage negotiations for the king's sister, Margaret.
Following the sudden deposition of the prince as King Edward V
Edward V of England
Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III...
, Vaughan was arrested and executed by the future King Richard III
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...
. The execution is believed to have taken place some time between June 13th and June 25th at Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle is a castle in the town of Pontefract, in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It was the site of the demise of Richard II of England, and later the place of a series of famous sieges during the English Civil War-History:...
in West Yorkshire.
He was married to Eleanor FitzAlan
Eleanor FitzAlan
Eleanor Fitzalan is an alleged daughter of Richard FitzAlan, 8th Earl of Arundel and his wife Alice of Saluzzo. She became the wife of Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy. Their son was Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy....
, the widow of Sir Thomas Browne
Thomas Browne (High Sheriff of Kent)
-Career:Sworn to the peace in Kent in 1434. He was Justice of Peace for Kent from 1436 to 24 Dec. 1450. He was Member of Parliament between 1439 and 1444 for Dover. He was High Sheriff of Kent in 1443-4, and then MP between 1445 and 1446 for Kent. He was present at Parliament in 1447 and 1449 as...
, who likewise was executed in 1460.