Louis of Gruuthuse Earl of Winchester died on 24 November 1492.
Louis of Gruuthuse is an unusual English noble. He was not English. Nor was he resident in England. Indeed, Gruuthuse never really did anything of note concerning affairs on English soil or in terms of his title. So, who was he, and how did he become the Earl of Winchester?
In times of conflict, it was typical of the victors to reward their supporters. Most common were those who had fought, provided retainers and men at arms, finance or managed the administrative side of the conflict.
Yet Louis of Gruuthuse was none of those.
He was Flemish. Louis fought in the army of Burgundy in continental wars against Ghent. A regular at the Burgundian court, he was created a Knight of the Golden Fleece. He was later appointed as the lieutenantgeneral of The Hague, with administrative control over Zeeland, Frisia and Holland.
A patron of the arts, Gruuthuse was one of the foremost collectors of the era’s illuminated manuscripts and commissioned several books.
Hardly the type of background to earn somebody an English Earldom.
There are two reasons why he was created the Earl of Winchester. First, and less significant to his earldom, was the fact that he had aided in the negotiating of the marriage of Margaret of York to Charles the Bold of Burgundy. More pertinent is the second reason. When Edward IV and other leading Yorkists were forced into exile, Louis arranged their accommodation and ensured their safety. Once Burgundy chose to support an invasion, he oversaw the administrative side of the plans.
Put simply, without Louis of Gruuthuse’s assistance, Edward may
not have regained his throne.
Featured Image
Portret van Lodewijk van Gruuthuse (Meester van de Vorstenportretten, circa 1472 – circa 1482); collection: Musea Brugge – Groeningemuseum. Via Wikipedia.
