Synopsis: John Wenlock, first Lord Wenlock, was a leading diplomat, courtier and soldier during the Wars of the Roses whose remarkable career offers us a fascinating insight into one of the most turbulent periods in English medieval history. And yet he has hitherto been overshadowed by his more illustrious contemporaries. Alexander Brondarbit’s meticulously researched and perceptive biography is overdue. It establishes Wenlock as a major figure in his own right and records in vivid detail how this shrewd nobleman found his way through the brutal conflicts of his times.
Wenlock served in Henry V’s military campaigns in France in the 1420s before moving on to a career in the royal households of Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou and Edward IV. As a diplomat, he led multiple embassies to Burgundy and France and, in addition to the kings he served, he was closely connected with other notable figures of the age such as Richard Neville, earl of Warwick. But Wenlock’s speciality was on the battlefield – he took part in many raids, skirmishes and sieges and in three major battles including the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 where he lost his life.
Using primary sources as well as contemporary assessments in chronicles and letters, Alexander Brondarbit gives a nuanced description of the main episodes in Wenlock’s long career and throws new light on the motivation of a man who has been labelled a ‘Prince of Turncoats’ because of his frequent changes of allegiance.
I am always on the look out for books putting the spotlight onto some of the lesser know, though oft times more interesting, historical personages; so was rather keen to have a read of this book on John Wenlock.
Brondarbit says of Wenlock that his "... career was long, complex and colourful as he engaged in military venture and political intrigue ..." Brondarbit's book is "... meant to reassess one of the more maligned aristocrats ... and present a more nuanced picture of his life .. to understand rather than to rehabilitate ..."
There was much social and economic change in England at this time - the plague increased the standard of living for many people, and saw the demand for skilled labour. Warfare also saw its fair share of change, especially under the young Prince Hal - later Henry V - whose victories in France are still remembered to this day. However, it was not all clear sailing for the English in France - the tide was turning against them as France found inspiration in a peasant girl named Joan. On the political front, King Richard II had been deposed around the time of Wenlock's birth with the assumption of Henry IV onto the throne of England and thus the first of the Lancastrian line till his own death saw the succession of his son, Henry, who would himself be succeeded by his infant son, Henry VI. So you could say that by the time of his very early 20s, Wenlock had lived under four Kings of England! And it was this minority that gave rise to the future political turmoil that would lead into events colloquially known as The Wars of the Roses.
As a second son, Wenlock would be forced to seek advancement elsewhere. Like many young man of his age, he became a soldier in France in 1421 under Sir John Cornwall (himself a retainer of John of Gaunt, the King's grand uncle). This would be his first foray on the Lancastrian side as well as his first stakeholder in Lancastrian Normandy. Following the death of his brother tin 1429, Wenlock returned to England to assume his brother's estates before returning to France. From 1432, Wenlock makes regular appearances in government commissions and parliament; married; increased his land holdings; and in 1441, he entered into the King's household.
This period was the minority of Henry VI, which was considered to be remarkably successful! Fifteen years later not only was Henry still on the throne (he was crowned king of England in 1429, king of France in 1431), but his kingdom was not unduly lawless, the crown was solvent, and a substantial part of Henry V's conquests in France remained in Lancastrian hands.
Wenlock himself was back in France on behalf of the King. Brondarbit describes him as " ... apolitical pragmatist ..[who saw].. war as a means of establishing himself..." especially if it "... dovetailed with Wenlock's own personal aspirations ...". It would be around this time that Wenlock established a (political) relationship with one William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and a favourite of King Henry VI. As an ambassador of the English Court, Wenlock was sent on a diplomatic mission - the marriage negotiations of Henry VI to Margaret of Anjou, which upon her arrival in England, saw Wenlock move into the Queen's household (c.1445) where he gained favour, was knighted (1448) and appointed as her Chamberlain. More diplomatic missions were undertaken over the next decade or so. All in all not bad for a second son whose prospects were considered not that promising.
It has been speculated that at some point on one of his embassies, Wenlock came into the orbit of Richard, Duke of York and his brother-in-law, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. There had been growing disenchantment with the current political scene - William de la Pole would bare the brunt of this opposition. He was seen as the man behind the scenes in the removal of powerful political figures (notably Humphrey of Gloucester, the King's uncle, and Cardinal Beaufort); for the growing losses in France (for which the Queen was also blamed); and for the growing mis-administration of government. Suffolk would be removed from power and exiled (though was murdered in the process). The government had huge debts as a result of the ongoing war in France, and as a result, it borrowed heavily from the nobility - often with the promise of repayment or rewards in lieu of payment, both of which was tardy in arriving. In this Wenlock was not alone - and like many others, Wenlock began to place his own survival and self interest ahead of his loyalty to the King.
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York was - with some considerable military muscle - on the rise, By 1453 he was not only declared the heir of Henry VI but also protector of the realm. This was also the time the King suffered a catastrophic mental breakdown, rendering him incapable of governing. Suffice to say, that Wenlock drifted into the orbit of York, and became one of the most notable contributors to his cause, as was well-rewarded for his service. His actual reasons are far from clear - they were - like the man - complex, political, personal. He would suffer the ignominy of exile and attainder for his support, those rose again with the ascension of the Sunne in Splendour - Edward.
Wenlock always seemed to move within royal circles, beginning on the periphery and moving ever closer under the Yorkists. His rise naturally coincided with increased personal wealth and prestige. However, as we review his associations, we see that they were not necessarily on the side of the reigning monarch - for example he stood with York against Henry VI and Warwick against Edward IV. This close association with Warwick continued and saw him rebel against Edward IV (who fled into exile in Burgundy) and give his support to the Readeption of Henry VI (1470). Like many others Wenlock and Warwick believed that Edward had wronged those who gave him their initial support, and the influence of the "upstart" Woodvilles with their advantageous (if not at times unseemly) political marriages and insatiable greed.
Wenlock's final battle was at Tewkesbury in May 1471 - he was in the company of Queen Margaret of Anjou and the young Prince Edward. The Yorkists completely defeated their rivals, the Lancastrians. The Lancastrian heir to the throne, Edward, Prince of Wales, and many prominent Lancastrian nobles were killed during the battle or executed. Wenlock was one of them. Brondarbit writes that, in Wenlock's case - and maybe that of many others - ".... the accumulation of influence, wealth and status over the course of nearly five decades of public service was swiftly reversed by a single battle ..." Indeed, his Baronage died with him on the battlefield for there was no heir to follow him.
In "Soldier, Rebel, Traitor: John, Lord Wenlock and the Wars of the Roses", Brondarbit does his due diligence in bringing to the fore, the life of a man so remarkable, and yet unremarked. So unremarked he was that I could not find another single tome on the man - well, maybe one - "The Mystery of Lord Wenlock and His Glastonbury Treasure" by Adrian Fray (which I have not read). But no real biography with any substance. Brondarbit's book amply and ably fills that vacuum, and is one I would gladly find space for on my "Wars of the Roses" shelves of my personal library.
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