Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset
Encyclopedia
Thomas Grey, 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and 1st Marquess of Dorset, KG
(c.1455 – 20 September 1501), was an English nobleman, courtier and a man of mediocre abilities pushed into prominence by his mother Elizabeth Woodville
's second marriage to the king, Edward IV
.
and Elizabeth Woodville, who later became Queen consort to Edward IV
.
His one full brother, Sir Richard Grey
(c.1458-1483), was arrested by Richard, Duke of Gloucester
, as he moved to take the throne on the death of King Edward IV. Gloucester's forces later executed Richard Grey at Pontefract Castle
.
The Grey brothers had ten half-siblings by their mother's marriage to King Edward.
On the death of his stepfather, Edward IV, and his 12 year old half-brother's, Edward V
's, accession to the throne on 9 April 1483 Grey proved unable to maintain his family's position. It was not possible to arrange a Yorkist regency. Internal fighting, particularly the long established battle for ascendancy in Leicestershire between the Grey and Hastings families, now on the national stage, allowed Gloucester
to seize power and usurp the throne. On 25 June an assembly of parliament declared Richard to be the legitimate king. Later in the summer, learning of the apparent murder of both his young half-brothers
, Grey joined the Duke of Buckingham's rebellion against Richard III. When the rebellion failed he fled to Brittany to join Henry Tudor
, the future Henry VII, who pledged to marry Grey's half-sister Elizabeth and heal the Yorkist Lancastrian division.
However, just before Henry's successful invasion of England in August 1485, Grey learned his mother had come to terms with Richard III, and was persuaded to desert Henry Tudor. He was intercepted at Compiègne on his way to England and played no part in the overthrow of Richard III. Grey was instead left at Paris, as security for the repayment of a loan made to Henry Tudor by the French government, unable to return home until Henry VII was safely installed as king of England.
Thereafter Henry VII took good care to keep his Queen's brother under control and Grey was not permitted to recover his former influence. Thomas Grey was confined in the Tower in 1487 during Lambert Simnel
's rising and not released until after the battle of Stoke
. Though he accompanied the King on his expedition to France in 1492 he was obliged to commit himself in writing to ensure he did not commit treason. He was permitted to assist in suppression of the Cornish rising
in 1497.
Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset, died in London on 30 August 1501, aged about 45, and was buried in the collegiate church of Astley, Warwickshire
. His wife survived him and married Henry Stafford
, later earl of Wiltshire.
and Anne of York
. His Mother in Law was the second child and eldest surviving daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
and Cecily Neville
, thus sister to his mother's second husband king Edward IV.
After Anne died young without issue, Thomas married on 18 July 1474, Cecily Bonville, 7th Baroness Harington of Aldingham and 2nd Baroness Bonville, the wealthiest heiress in England. Cecily was born on or around 30 June 1460, and was the daughter and heiress of William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington
by his wife Katherine Neville
.
Grey's new mother-in-law, since 1462 the wife of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
, a close associate of Edward IV, was a daughter of Alice Montagu, 5th Countess of Salisbury
by her consort Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
(jure uxoris
).
The maternal uncles of Cecily Bonville included Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
, John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
and George Neville, Archbishop of York
and Chancellor of England.
’s play Richard III
.
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.1455 – 20 September 1501), was an English nobleman, courtier and a man of mediocre abilities pushed into prominence by his mother Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
's second marriage to the 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...
.
Family
Thomas was born about 1455, the elder son of Sir John GreyJohn Grey of Groby
Sir John Grey, of Groby, Leicestershire was a Lancastrian knight, the great-great-grandfather of Lady Jane Grey.-Titles:...
and Elizabeth Woodville, who later became Queen consort to 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...
.
His one full brother, Sir Richard Grey
Richard Grey
Sir Richard Grey was an English knight and the half-brother of King Edward V of England.Grey was the younger son of Sir John Grey of Groby and Elizabeth Woodville, later Queen Consort of King Edward IV...
(c.1458-1483), was arrested by Richard, Duke of Gloucester
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...
, as he moved to take the throne on the death of King Edward IV. Gloucester's forces later executed Richard Grey 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:...
.
The Grey brothers had ten half-siblings by their mother's marriage to King Edward.
Career
His mother endeavoured to improve his estates by the conventional means of their class and time, through his marriages and purchase of custodies and wardships.On the death of his stepfather, Edward IV, and his 12 year old half-brother's, 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...
's, accession to the throne on 9 April 1483 Grey proved unable to maintain his family's position. It was not possible to arrange a Yorkist regency. Internal fighting, particularly the long established battle for ascendancy in Leicestershire between the Grey and Hastings families, now on the national stage, allowed Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
to seize power and usurp the throne. On 25 June an assembly of parliament declared Richard to be the legitimate king. Later in the summer, learning of the apparent murder of both his young half-brothers
Princes in the Tower
The Princes in the Tower is a term which refers to Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville alive at the time of their father's death...
, Grey joined the Duke of Buckingham's rebellion against Richard III. When the rebellion failed he fled to Brittany to join Henry Tudor
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, the future Henry VII, who pledged to marry Grey's half-sister Elizabeth and heal the Yorkist Lancastrian division.
However, just before Henry's successful invasion of England in August 1485, Grey learned his mother had come to terms with Richard III, and was persuaded to desert Henry Tudor. He was intercepted at Compiègne on his way to England and played no part in the overthrow of Richard III. Grey was instead left at Paris, as security for the repayment of a loan made to Henry Tudor by the French government, unable to return home until Henry VII was safely installed as king of England.
Thereafter Henry VII took good care to keep his Queen's brother under control and Grey was not permitted to recover his former influence. Thomas Grey was confined in the Tower in 1487 during Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel was a pretender to the throne of England. His claim to be the Earl of Warwick in 1487 threatened the newly established reign of King Henry VII .-Early life:...
's rising and not released until after the battle of Stoke
Battle of Stoke Field
The Battle of Stoke Field may be considered the last battle of the Wars of the Roses, since it was to be the last engagement in which a Lancastrian king faced an army of Yorkist supporters, under the pretender Lambert Simnel...
. Though he accompanied the King on his expedition to France in 1492 he was obliged to commit himself in writing to ensure he did not commit treason. He was permitted to assist in suppression of the Cornish rising
Cornish Rebellion of 1497
The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 was a popular uprising by the people of Cornwall in the far southwest of Britain. Its primary cause was a response of people to the raising of war taxes by King Henry VII on the impoverished Cornish, to raise money for a campaign against Scotland motivated by brief...
in 1497.
Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset, died in London on 30 August 1501, aged about 45, and was buried in the collegiate church of Astley, Warwickshire
Astley, Warwickshire
Astley is a village and parish within the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 219.Astley is Knebly in George Eliot's Mr Gilfil's Love Story. Eliot's parents were married in the church....
. His wife survived him and married Henry Stafford
Henry Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire
Henry Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire was an English nobleman.Henry, born in Brecknock Castle, Wales, was the younger son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and of Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham and Bedford, and thus a nephew of King Edward IV of England...
, later earl of Wiltshire.
Marriages
His mother sought to make provision for him by marriage to a wealthy heiress. Thomas first married, at Greenwich in October 1466, Anne Holland (c.1455-c.1474), the only daughter of Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of ExeterHenry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter
Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter was a Lancastrian leader during the English Wars of the Roses. He was the only son of John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter and his first wife Lady Anne Stafford. His maternal grandparents were Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford and Anne of Gloucester.He inherited...
and Anne of York
Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter
-External links:* A Medieval Re-enactment Society based in London, featuring members of the Neville/Plantagenet family....
. His Mother in Law was the second child and eldest surviving daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
Richard Plantagenêt, 3rd Duke of York, 6th Earl of March, 4th Earl of Cambridge, and 7th Earl of Ulster, conventionally called Richard of York was a leading English magnate, great-grandson of King Edward III...
and Cecily Neville
Cecily Neville
Cecily Neville, Duchess of York was the wife of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and the mother of two Kings of England: Edward IV and Richard III....
, thus sister to his mother's second husband king Edward IV.
After Anne died young without issue, Thomas married on 18 July 1474, Cecily Bonville, 7th Baroness Harington of Aldingham and 2nd Baroness Bonville, the wealthiest heiress in England. Cecily was born on or around 30 June 1460, and was the daughter and heiress of William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington
William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington
William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington was an English nobleman who was a loyal adherent of the House of York during the dynastic conflict in England in the 15th century known as the Wars of the Roses...
by his wife Katherine Neville
Katherine Neville, Baroness Hastings
Katherine Neville, Baroness Hastings , was a noblewoman and a member of the powerful Neville family of northern England...
.
Grey's new mother-in-law, since 1462 the wife of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings KG was an English nobleman. A follower of the House of York, he became a close friend and the most important courtier of King Edward IV, whom he served as Lord Chamberlain...
, a close associate of Edward IV, was a daughter of Alice Montagu, 5th Countess of Salisbury
Alice Neville, 5th Countess of Salisbury
Alice Montacute was an English noblewoman and the suo jure 5th Countess of Salisbury, 6th Baroness Monthermer, and 7th and 4th Baroness Montacute having succeeded to the titles in 1428...
by her consort Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, jure uxoris 5th Earl of Salisbury and 7th and 4th Baron Montacute, KG, PC was a Yorkist leader during the early parts of the Wars of the Roses.-Background:...
(jure uxoris
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
).
The maternal uncles of Cecily Bonville included Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
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...
, John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu KG was a Yorkist leader in the Wars of the Roses, best-known for eliminating Lancastrian resistance in the north of England during the early part of the reign of Edward IV of England....
and George Neville, Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and Chancellor of England.
Children
He and his second wife Cecily Bonville had seven sons and seven daughters, including:- Edward Grey, married Anne Jerningham but died young leaving no children.
- Anthony Grey, believed to have died young.
- Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of DorsetThomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of DorsetThomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, KG, KB was an English peer, courtier, soldier and landowner, the grandfather of Lady Jane Grey, briefly Queen of England.-Early life:...
(22 June 1477 – 22 June 1530), father of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of SuffolkHenry Grey, 1st Duke of SuffolkHenry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, KG was an English nobleman of the Tudor period and the father of Lady Jane Grey.-Henry VIII's reign:...
and grandfather of Lady Jane GreyLady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
. - Richard Grey, married Florence Pudsey.
- John Grey, married Anne daughter of William Barlow but left no children.
- Leonard Grey, Viscount GraneyLeonard Grey, 1st Viscount GraneLeonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane , known as Lord Leonard Grey prior to 1536, served as Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1536 to 1540....
(c. 1479 – 28 July 1541), served as Lord Lieutenant of IrelandLord Lieutenant of IrelandThe Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
but was executed. - George Grey, in holy orders.
- Cecily Grey (d. 28 April 1554), married John Sutton, 3rd Baron DudleyJohn Sutton, 3rd Baron DudleyJohn Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley , commonly known as Lord Quondam, was the eldest son and heir of Sir Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley and his wife Lady Cicely Sutton, a descendant of Edward III of England....
. - Bridget Grey, believed to have died young.
- Dorothy Grey (1480–1552), married first Robert Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby de BrokeRobert Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby de BrokeRobert Willoughby, 2nd Baron Willoughby de Broke, de jure 10th Baron Latimer, KB , 2nd Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 10th Baron Latimer....
and secondly William Blount, 4th Baron MountjoyWilliam Blount, 4th Baron MountjoySir William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy KG was an English scholar and patron of learning.William Blount was born circa 1478 in Barton Blount, Derbyshire, the eldest son of John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy and Lora Berkeley...
. - Elizabeth GreyElizabeth Grey, Countess of KildareElizabeth Grey, Countess of Kildare , was an English noblewoman, and the second wife of Irish peer Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare...
, married Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of KildareGerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of KildareGerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare , also known in Irish as Gearóid Óg , was a figure in Irish History. In 1513 he inherited the title of Earl of Kildare and position of Lord Deputy of Ireland from his father.-Family:...
. - Margaret Grey, married Richard Wake of Blisworth.
- Eleanor Grey, living 24 Feb. 1501/2, married Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, Cornwall, and had Sir Thomas Arundell of Lanherne.
- Mary Grey (1493 – 22 February 1538), married Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount HerefordWalter Devereux, 1st Viscount HerefordWalter Devereux, 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created 1st Viscount Hereford was an English Peer.-Family:...
.
Titles
- Lord Astley, 1461- , inherited on the death of his father
- Earl of HuntingdonEarl of HuntingdonEarl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The title is associated with the ruling house of Scotland, and latterly with the Hastings family.-Early history:...
, 1471–1475, created for him but after acquiring the next it was surrendered to the King so the King might be able to give it to the Earl of Pembroke whose title the King wanted for his own son - Lord Harington and Bonville in right of his (second) wife, 1474, his wife being unable to sit in ParliamentParliament of EnglandThe Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
- Marquess of DorsetMarquess of DorsetThe title Marquess of Dorset has been created three times in the Peerage of England. It was first created in 1397 for John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, but he lost the title two years later. It was then created in 1442 for Edmund Beaufort, 1st Earl of Dorset, who was created Duke of Somerset...
, 1475- , created for Thomas Grey 14 May 1475 (Whitsunday) in place of the re-possessed earldom of Huntingdon - Lord Ferrers of GrobyBaron Ferrers of GrobyThe peerage title Baron Ferrers of Groby was created in the Peerage of England in 1300 when William Ferrers, 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby was summoned to parliament. He was a grandson of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. In 1475 the eighth baron was created the Marquess of Dorset, with which...
, 1483- , inherited on the death of his grandmother Grey born Elizabeth Ferrers and Lady Bourchier after his grandfather's death - AttaintedAttainderIn English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
1484 following the bid to oust Richard IIIRichard III of EnglandRichard 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... - After reversal of his attainder by Henry VIIHenry VII of EnglandHenry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, styled himself marquess of Dorset, lord Ferrers of Groby, Bonville, and Harington
Ancestry
Depictions in fiction
He is depicted in William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
’s play Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
.