Bastard of Fauconberg
Encyclopedia
Thomas Neville or Thomas, Viscount Fauconberg (died 1471) was a Lancastrian
leader in the Wars of the Roses
.
The illegitimate son of Sir William Neville of Fauconberg, Earl of Kent
, Thomas Neville was more often referred to as (Thomas) The Bastard of Fauconberg (also Falconberg or Falconbridge), Lord Fauconberg or just Thomas the Bastard. The title was descended from Sir William Neville, 1st lord of Fauconberg, who fought with distinction and vaour during the Hundred Years war alongside Lord Talbot and others. Their association with the duke of York, formed the basis for a 'professional army' corps emergent during the Wars of the Roses.
In his youth Thomas was a notable sailor, receiving, in 1454, the freedom of the City of London
for his work in eliminating pirates from the Channel
and the North Sea
.
Originally a Lancastrian, Thomas switched allegiance in 1460 to support the Yorkists
with his cousin Warwick, the Kingmaker
. Fauconberg's support for the Yorkist claimant Edward IV was significant enough that, according to the chronicler Jean de Waurin, Edward honoured him as "a friend and a father" shortly before he was crowned in 1461.
1471 found Fauconberg back at sea for the Lancastrians, to whom he returned, when Warwick switched allegiance. He was in Channel, preventing Edward from receiving reinforcements from Burgundy
.
In May, 1471 Fauconberg was to lead a force from the south while Margaret of Anjou
led one from the west in a two pronged attack on London. To this end, he landed at Sandwich
and sent his ships up the Channel to the Thames Estuary
. He marched through Kent
, received an accession of support from Canterbury
and moved on London. Margaret did not make it to London, being defeated in the Battle of Tewkesbury
on May 4. May 12 found Fauconberg at Southwark
from whence he requested free passage through London. This was refused and the gates were locked against him.
On May 14, Fauconberg assaulted London at Bishopsgate
, Aldgate
and London Bridge
with "shot guns and arrows and fire". While he had some initial success, he was ultimately defeated and forced to retreat across the Thames to his waiting ships. He lost his ships at Sandwich and was ultimately captured and beheaded in September 1471.
Among the occupants of London during the attack was Sir Thomas Malory imprisoned in Newgate Prison
either for Lancastrian sympathies or common crimes. There is a literary parallel between Fauconberg's attack on London, with Edward's queen in the tower, and Mordred's
assault on Arthur's
queen Guinevere
in the tower in Chapter 1 of Book XXI of Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur
.
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...
leader in the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
.
The illegitimate son of Sir William Neville of Fauconberg, Earl of Kent
William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent
William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent KG and jure uxoris 6th Baron Fauconberg, was an English nobleman and soldier.-Early life:...
, Thomas Neville was more often referred to as (Thomas) The Bastard of Fauconberg (also Falconberg or Falconbridge), Lord Fauconberg or just Thomas the Bastard. The title was descended from Sir William Neville, 1st lord of Fauconberg, who fought with distinction and vaour during the Hundred Years war alongside Lord Talbot and others. Their association with the duke of York, formed the basis for a 'professional army' corps emergent during the Wars of the Roses.
In his youth Thomas was a notable sailor, receiving, in 1454, the freedom of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
for his work in eliminating pirates from the Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
Originally a Lancastrian, Thomas switched allegiance in 1460 to support the Yorkists
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
with his cousin Warwick, the Kingmaker
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
. Fauconberg's support for the Yorkist claimant Edward IV was significant enough that, according to the chronicler Jean de Waurin, Edward honoured him as "a friend and a father" shortly before he was crowned in 1461.
1471 found Fauconberg back at sea for the Lancastrians, to whom he returned, when Warwick switched allegiance. He was in Channel, preventing Edward from receiving reinforcements from 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...
.
In May, 1471 Fauconberg was to lead a force from the south while Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI of England. As such, she was Queen consort of England from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471; and Queen consort of France from 1445 to 1453...
led one from the west in a two pronged attack on London. To this end, he landed at Sandwich
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
and sent his ships up the Channel to the Thames Estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
. He marched through Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, received an accession of support from Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and moved on London. Margaret did not make it to London, being defeated in the Battle of Tewkesbury
Battle of Tewkesbury
The Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. The forces loyal to the House of Lancaster were completely defeated by those of the rival House of York under their monarch, King Edward IV...
on May 4. May 12 found Fauconberg at Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
from whence he requested free passage through London. This was refused and the gates were locked against him.
On May 14, Fauconberg assaulted London at Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate
Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall...
, Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
and London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
with "shot guns and arrows and fire". While he had some initial success, he was ultimately defeated and forced to retreat across the Thames to his waiting ships. He lost his ships at Sandwich and was ultimately captured and beheaded in September 1471.
Among the occupants of London during the attack was Sir Thomas Malory imprisoned in Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
either for Lancastrian sympathies or common crimes. There is a literary parallel between Fauconberg's attack on London, with Edward's queen in the tower, and Mordred's
Mordred
Mordred or Modred is a character in the Arthurian legend, known as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. Tradition varies on his relationship to Arthur, but he is best known today as Arthur's illegitimate son by his...
assault on Arthur's
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
queen Guinevere
Guinevere
Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
in the tower in Chapter 1 of Book XXI of Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of Romance tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table...
.