Biography of Owen Tudor 1400-1461

25th October 1415At the Battle of Agincourt the English included: Louis Robbessart [aged 25], Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick [aged 33], William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux [aged 26], William Bourchier 1st Count of Eu [aged 41], Thomas Rokeby [aged 35], John Cornwall 1st Baron Fanhope 1st Baron Milbroke [aged 51], Edward Courtenay [aged 30], Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell [aged 12], Thomas Dutton [aged 19], Edmund Ferrers 6th Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 29], Roger Fiennes [aged 31], Henry Fitzhugh 3rd Baron Fitzhugh [aged 57], John Grey [aged 28], John Grey 1st Earl Tankerville [aged 31], William Harrington [aged 42] as the King's Standard Bearer, Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford [aged 37], Piers Legh [aged 26] (wounded), Alfred Longford, Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury [aged 27], Thomas Morley 6th Baron Marshal 5th Baron Morley [aged 22], John Rodney, Richard Scrope 3rd Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 22], Robert Strelley [aged 18], James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet [aged 17], Robert Umfraville [aged 52], Thomas West 2nd Baron West [aged 35], Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 30]. Thomas Erpingham [aged 60] commanded the archers. Thomas Rempston [aged 26] was present. Thomas Strickland [aged 48] carried the Banner of St George.

Thomas Tunstall [aged 57] was killed.

The Welsh included: William ap Thomas "Blue Knight of Gwent" Herbert [aged 35], Walter Sais [aged 95], Roger Vaughan [aged 70] and his son Roger Vaughan [aged 5]. Owen Tudor [aged 15] is believed to have been present as a squire.

On 2nd June 1420 Henry V [aged 33] and [his future wife] Catherine of Valois [aged 18] were married at Troyes Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 51] and [his future mother-in-law] Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France [aged 50]. He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

On 11th June 1430 [his son] Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond was born to Owen Tudor [aged 30] and [his wife] Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 28] at Much Hadham Palace, Hertfordshire (which belonged to the Bishops of London). There was speculation [Source Unknown?] that the biological father was Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 24] with whom Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England was rumoured to have had an affair. Interesting, perhaps, that he was named Edmund rather than Owen. Interesting that he took the Royal Arms of England differenced. Also interesting that his younger brother was named Jasper; a Persian name meaning 'Keeper of the Treasure' or 'bringer of treasure' that was unknown in England before his birth. He married 1st November 1455 his half fourth cousin once removed Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond, daughter of John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset, and had issue.

On 3rd January 1437 Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 35] died at Bermondsey Abbey [Map]. She had been married aged eighteen to King Henry V of England for two years three months. Their son was King Henry VI of England and II of France [aged 15].

After Henry V died she disappears somewhat from the records other than for Parliament to legislate against her marrying without permission, which she then duly did, to Owen Tudor [aged 37], and had two sons, the elder of which was father to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Her children Edmund [aged 6] and Jasper [aged 5] were subsequently placed in the care of Abbess Katherine Pole, then Abbess of Barking. Katherine's brother William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk [aged 40] had the wardship of Edmund's future wife Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond.

On 2nd February 1461 following the battle Owen Tudor [aged 61] was beheaded in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. He was buried thereafter in Greyfriars Church, Hereford in a tomb paid for by his son [his illegitimate son] David Owen [aged 2]. Somewhat curious that his other son Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 29] didn't contribute although the political situation may have made it difficult to do so.

Memorial to Owen Tudor in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. Somewhat incongruously between a toddlers merry-go-round and a baked potato stall on the day of our visit.

Chronicle of Gregory. 2nd February 1461. Alle so Edwarde Erle of Marche [aged 18], the Duke of Yorke is son and heyre, hadde a gre jornaye at Mortymer is Crosse in Walys the secunde day of Februar nexte soo folowynge, and there he put to flyght the Erle of Penbroke [aged 29], the Erle of Wylteschyre [aged 40]. And there he toke and slowe of knyghtys and squyers, and of the,^a to the nomber of iij M¹ [3000]., &c.

Ande in that jornay was Owyn Tetyr [aged 61] take and brought unto Herforde este, an he was be heddyde at the market place [Map], and his hedde sette a-pone the hygheyste gryce of the market crosse, and a madde woman kembyd his here and wysche a way the blode of his face, and she gate candellys and sette a-boute him brennynge, moo then a C [Note. One hundred]. Thys Owyne Tytyr was fadyr unto the Erle of Penbroke, and hadde weddyd Quene Kateryn, Kyng Harry the VI [aged 39]. is modyr, wenyng and trustyng all eway that he shulde not be hedyd tylle he sawe the axe and the blocke, and whenn that he was in his dobelet he trustyd on pardon and grace tylle the coler of his redde vellvet dobbelet was ryppyd of. Then he said, "That hede shalle ly on the stocke that was wonte to ly on Quene Kateryns lappe," and put his herte and mynde holy unto God, and full mekely toke his dethe.

Alle soo the same day that the Erle of Marche shulde take his jornaye towarde Mortymer is Crosse fro Herforde este [Map]^b, he mousterd his many without the towne wallys in a mersche that is callyd Wyg mersche. And ovyr him men say^c iij [3] sonnys schynyng.

Note a. So in MS.

Note b. Haverfordwest. [Note. While the note suggests Haverfordwest we believe this is a reference to Hereford?]

Note c. And over him men say three suns shining. A reference to the Parhelion which occurred on the morning of the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. The duke of Yorke, called erle of Marche, somwhat spurred and quickened with these noueltyes, retired backe, & mett with his enemies in a faire playne, nere to Mortimers crosse, not farre from Herford east, on Candelmas day [2nd February 1461] in the mornyng, at whiche tyme the sunne (as some write) appered to the erle of March, like. iii. sunnes [See Parhelion], and sodainly ioined all together in one, and that upon the sight therof, he toke suche courage, that he fiercely set on his enemies, & then shortly discomfited: for which cause, men imagined, that he gaue the sunne in his full brightnes for his cognisaunce or badge. Of his enemies were lefte dead on the ground, iii. M. &. viii. C [3,800]: The erles of [his son] Penbroke [aged 29] and Wilshyre fled, and syr Owen Tewtber [aged 61], father to the sayd erle of Penbroke, which Owen had marled kyng Henries mother (as you have heard before) with Dauid floyde, Morgan ap reuther, & divers other were taken and behedded at the citie of Herford.