Death of Jasper Tudor, 21 December 1495
Jasper Tudor Duke of Bedford died on 21st December 1495.
Jasper Tudor was the uncle of Henry Tudor, King Henry VII. He played a pivotal role in securing the crown for Henry and had been an active commander in the Lancastrian army throughout the Wars of the Roses.
At the beginning of the Wars of the Roses, Jasper Tudor was the Earl of Pembroke. When his brother died, he took in Margaret Beaufort and his infant nephew, Henry, and cared for them.
With the onset of hostilities, Jasper fought for the Lancastrians, supporting his half-brother, King Henry VI. Following the defeat at the Battle of Towton, Jasper oversaw resistance to the Yorkists in Wales. He and his retainers withdrew to the north of Wales, mounting attacks from Snowdonia. At the Battle of Twt Hill Jasper’s force was defeated, leading to his exile in Ireland.
Exile did not prevent him from continuing to have an active role in the Wars. Harlech held firm for the Lancastrian cause, and Jasper arranged for its regular resupply by sea, enabling harassment of the Yorkists.
When Henry VI was reinstated to his throne, Jasper returned and briefly held his Earldom again. The royal army including Prince Edward and accompanied by Queen Margaret was on route to merge forces with his Welsh contingent when they were defeated at Tewkesbury.
The Lancastrian line eliminated; Jasper headed once more into exile. He became involved in the planning and execution of his nephew, Henry Tudor’s invasion. On the Bosworth campaign, he commanded one of the battles, helping Henry Tudor defeat Richard III.
Jasper’s loyalty to his nephew was rewarded, and in the formative years of the Tudor era, he was one of Henry’s most trusted counsellors and elevated to the rank of Duke of Bedford.
Recommended Links on Jasper Tudor
Jasper Tudor, the ‘Good Duke’ – by Nathen Amin
TUDOR, JASPER (c. 1431 – 1495), earl of Pembroke – Dictionary of Welsh Biography
Biography: Jasper Tudor – Adventures of a Tudor Nerd
Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford and Earl of Pembroke – Freelance History Writer
Featured Image
Jasper Tudor, from a stained glass window in Cardiff Castle portraying himself and Catherine Woodville.