Thomas Percy

Notes:

Died:
executed

Family/Spouse: Eleanor Harbottle. Eleanor (daughter of Guiscard Harbottle and Jane (Joan) Willoughby) was born in 1504 in Beamish, Durham, England; died on 18 May 1566 in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland was born in 1528 in Petworth, Sussex, England; died on 22 Aug 1572 in York, Yorkshire, England.
2. Joan Percy was born about 1521 in Petworth, Sussex, England; died on 22 Aug 1572 in Southminster, Essex, England.
3. Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland was born about 1532 in Petworth, Sussex, England; died on 21 Jun 1585 in Tower of London, London, Middlesex, England.
4. Guiscard Percy was born in 1526 in Petworth, Sussex, England.
5. Mary Percy was born in 1532 in Petworth, Sussex, England; died in 1598 in Riding, Northumberland, , England.
6. Catherine Percy was born about 1534 in Petworth, Sussex, England.
7. Richard Percy

Notes:

Edward IV of England made him a Knight Bachelor in 1481. In 1495 he was made a Knight of the Garter. He fought against the Cornish rebels at Blackheath, London in 1497. He was appointed warden-general of the eastern marches in 1503.

He served in the War of the League of Cambrai (1508–1516) with a great retinue of his own. He notably served under Henry VIII of England at the Battle of the Spurs, 16 August 1513. The battle was a decisive victory over the forces of Jacques de la Palice, general of Francis I of France.

He was appointed a member of the Council of the North in 1522.

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Henry married Catherine Spencer about 1501. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His father was first cousin to (among others) Edward IV of England, Margaret of Burgundy, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard III of England. Percy himself was second cousin to (among others) Elizabeth of York, Edward V of England, Richard, Duke of York, Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, Edward, Earl of Warwick and Edward of Middleham. Both Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel were his alleged second cousins. Percy was however the only one of the Percy family to appear to take the side of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses.

His father was loyal to the House of Lancaster. He was killed in the Battle of Towton on 29 March 1461. The earldom of Northumberland was forfeited by the victorious Yorkists. The adolescent Percy was imprisoned in the Fleet Prison. He was transported to the Tower of London in 1464.

In 1465, John Neville was named Earl of Northumberland in his place. Percy eventually swore fealty to Edward IV and was released in 1469. He petitioned for the return of his paternal titles and estates to him. He gained support by Edward IV himself. John Neville had to quit his title and was instead named Marquess of Montagu in 1470. However the restoration of said title to Percy was delayed by the Parliament of England until 1473.

For the following twelve years, Percy held many of the important government posts in Northern England which were traditional in his family. He commanded the Yorkist reserve at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. Percy never committed his forces to the battle. His inactivity played an important part in the defeat and death of Richard III. Historians suspect him of treason in favour of victor Henry VII of England. Although an alternative theory exists, that his forces, placed behind those of King Richards, were in no position to take part in the battle before Richard was killed.

If the first theory is true, then Henry himself was either unaware or not appreciative of his treasonous intentions. Percy was arrested along with Ralph Neville, 3rd Earl of Westmorland and Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. He was imprisoned for several months but swore allegiance to the new King. Henry VII released him on terms of good behavior. Percy was allowed to retain his titles and lands as well as returning to his old posts.

In April, 1489, Percy held temporary residence in his estates of Yorkshire. Henry VII had recently allied himself to Anne of Brittany against Charles VIII of France. Taxes rose to finance the military action. Sir John Egremont of Yorkshire led a riot in protestation of the high taxation. Percy was targeted by the rioters and killed on 28 April.

Yorkshire was formerly a stronghold of support of Richard III. Percy was presumably killed in vengeance for Richard.

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Henry married Maud Herbert before 1476. Maud (daughter of 1st Earl of Pembroke William Herbert and Anne Devereaux) was born in 1448 in Ragland, Monmouthshire, Wales; died on 27 Jul 1485 in Beverley Minster, Beverley, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Eleanor Beaufort. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His maternal uncles included Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury. His maternal aunts included Cecily Neville. Percy was first cousin to (among others) Edward IV of England, Margaret of Burgundy, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard III of England. He was thus closely related to the House of York.

Percy however followed his father in swearing allegiance to the House of Lancaster. On December 30, 1460, Percy is known to have fought on the Lancastrian side at the Battle of Wakefield. He commanded the Lancastrian van at the Battle of Towton, where he was killed.

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Henry married Eleanor Poynings on 25 Jun 1435. Eleanor (daughter of Baron Poynings Richard Poynings and Eleanor Berkeley) was born about 1422 in Beverton, Gloucestershire, England; died in Feb 1484 in Raby Castle, Staindrop, Durham, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Anne Devereaux. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

As a young man he became a commander in the English army in France. After his re-capture of Harfleur he was named a Knight of the Garter in 1436. After subsequent success he was created Earl of Dorset (1442) and the next year Marquess of Dorset. The year after that (1444) he succeeded his brother John as 4th Earl of Somerset in 1444. During the five year truce from 1444 to 1449, Somerset was Lieutenant of France. In 1448 he was created Duke of Somerset. Somerset found military success elusive after hostilities began again in 1449. By the summer of 1450 the bulk of the English possessions in northern France were in French hands. This loss lead to the fall of the king's chief minister, William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Somerset returned to England, where he took Suffolk's place as the king's counselor. A handsome and urbane courtier, his affair with King Henry V's widow, Queen, Katherine of France in 1427 created a political scandal. The focus of the war with the French now turned to Gascony, in the south of France. Here the English were no more successful, losing all by 1453. Soon afterwards the king went insane, Somerset's rival Richard, Duke of York was named Lord Protector, and Somerset was imprisoned in the Tower of London. His life was probably saved only by the king's recovery. Henry VI had Somerset released and returned to his position at court. The Duke of York was determined to depose Somerset by one means or another, and thus in May 1455 Richard, Duke of York raised an army and confronted Somerset and the king. Somerset was killed in the resulting engagement, known as the First Battle of St Albans. It was the beginning of the Wars of the Roses, which would go on to claim many of Somerset's sons and relatives. He was succeeded as duke by his son Henry. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edmund married Eleanor Beauchamp in 1431/1435. Eleanor (daughter of 13th Earl of Warwick Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl of Warwick and Elizabeth de Berkeley) was born in Sep 1407 in Walthamstow, Essex, England; died on 6 Mar 1466 in Baynards Castle, Middlesex, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]