In my research for my book, Brandon Tudor Knight, there was no shortage of incidents and episodes that gave me an insight into his true character. I’d like to choose one involving Duchess Margaret of Savoy that’s well documented and suggests the strength of Brandon’s relationship with the king.
The young Henry VIII wanted to prove to his people that (unlike his father) he was a true warrior king, and—respond to the demands to ‘teach the French a lesson.’ In 1513 he chose Charles Brandon to lead the invading English army of some 30,000 men on an ambitious mission to France.
Brandon’s appointment as High Marshall was quite amazing considering his only previous military experience was a disastrous sea battle in the English Channel. The army had plenty of battle-hardened commanders, so although there were no doubt mutterings behind the king’s back, Henry’s choice shows the degree of trust he had in Brandon’s leadership ability.
The invasion of France went surprisingly well and after a short siege, the city of Tournai surrendered on 24 September 1513. It’s said that when the king was presented with the keys to the city he passed them to Brandon—quite an honour, as Charles had only been knighted in the March of that year.
There were several weeks of celebration after the victory, culminating with a grand banquet as guests of Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy. Margaret was the daughter of Emperor Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emperor, and King Henry’s great rival. Margaret was also wealthy, well-educated, and powerful. Having been widowed twice, she’d sworn never to marry again, but Henry thought she would make the perfect partner for his best friend Charles Brandon.
There are various accounts of the story of how Brandon ‘proposed’ to her, but I like the one attributed in Sarah Bryson’s Charles Brandon The King’s Man, to Margaret herself:
One night at Tournai, after the banquet he [Brandon] put himself upon his knees before me, and in speaking and him playing, he drew from my finger the ring and put it upon his, and since showed it to me; and I took to laugh, and to him said that he was a thief, and that I thought not that the king had with him led thieves out of his country.
I prayed him many times to give it [the ring] to me again for that it was too much known but he understood me not well and kept it until the next day that I spoke to the king, requiring to make him give it to me because it was too much known, I promising one of my bracelets the which I wore, the which I gave him, and then he gave me the said ring.
Brandon didn’t take the hint of course, and later at Lille, it is reported that he once again knelt before the duchess and took another ring from her finger. Again, Margaret had to speak with Henry VIII, this time complaining not about the ring but of Brandon’s conduct, in stepping out of line—far beyond his status.
Henry was enjoying these games of Tudor ‘courtly love’ and, instead of ordering Brandon to return the ring, gave Margaret a more precious one set with diamonds. The incident caused an international scandal and of course infuriated Margaret’s father, Maximilian.
Years later Brandon sent his eldest daughter to the court of Margaret of Savoy—perhaps to learn something of how a woman could exercise power, or possibly in reconciliation for his earlier conduct.
Brandon enjoyed great favour from the king throughout his life, including protection from his many enemies within the English nobility, who called him a ‘stable boy’ (he was once Henry’s Master of the Horse). Thomas Cromwell’s reforms to the royal household created the new position of Lord Great Master to oversee everything and Brandon was the first to hold this post.
He worked for Henry right up to the day he died, when the king said that in all their long friendship Charles Brandon had never knowingly betrayed a friend or taken advantage of an enemy. He is reported to have asked his council, ‘Is there any of you who can say as much?’
The Bradon Trilogy: Book 1
Publication Date: February 1, 2018
From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy, the true story of the Tudor dynasty continues with the daughter of King Henry VII, sister to King Henry VIII. Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her.
Born into great privilege, Mary has beauty and intelligence beyond her years and is the most marriageable princess in Europe. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies. Will she dare risk his anger by marrying for love?
Meticulously researched and based on actual events, this ‘sequel’ follows Mary’s story from book three of the Tudor Trilogy and is set during the reign of King Henry VIII.
The Bradon Trilogy: Book 2
Publication Date: December 3, 2018
From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy, the true story of the Tudor dynasty continues with the daughter of King Henry VII, sister to King Henry VIII. Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her.
Born into great privilege, Mary has beauty and intelligence beyond her years and is the most marriageable princess in Europe. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies. Will she dare risk his anger by marrying for love?
Meticulously researched and based on actual events, this ‘sequel’ follows Mary’s story from book three of the Tudor Trilogy and is set during the reign of King Henry VIII.
The Bradon Trilogy: Book 3
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy, the true story of the Tudor dynasty continues with the daughter of King Henry VII, sister to King Henry VIII. Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her.
Born into great privilege, Mary has beauty and intelligence beyond her years and is the most marriageable princess in Europe. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies. Will she dare risk his anger by marrying for love?
Meticulously researched and based on actual events, this ‘sequel’ follows Mary’s story from book three of the Tudor Trilogy and is set during the reign of King Henry VIII.
During the blog tour, 3 winners will receive a paperback copy of Mary-Tudor Princess or an eBook from the trilogy (winner’s choice).
The giveaway is open internationally and ends on September 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Tony Riches is a full-time writer and lives with his wife in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. After several successful non-fiction books, Tony turned to novel writing and wrote Queen Sacrifice, set in 10th century Wales, followed by The Shell, a thriller set in present day Kenya. A specialist in the history of the early Tudors, he is best known for his Tudor Trilogy. Tony’s other international best sellers include Warwick: The Man Behind the Wars of the Roses and The Secret Diary of Eleanor Cobham.
For more information please visit Tony’s website and his blog The Writing Desk. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.
Monday, September 13
Guest Post at Novels Alive
Review at The Tudor Enthusiast (Mary)
Tuesday, September 14
Review at Rajiv’s Reviews (Mary)
Wednesday, September 15
Review at Michelle the PA Loves to Read (Mary)
Thursday, September 16
Review at Novels Alive (trilogy)
Friday, September 17
Review at Pursuing Stacie (trilogy)
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary (Katherine)
Monday, September 20
Review at The Tudor Enthusiast (Brandon)
Tuesday, September 21
Review at Rajiv’s Reviews (Brandon)
Wednesday, September 22
Review at SJ Through the Looking Glass (Mary)
Thursday, September 23
Feature at Reading is My Remedy
Review at Books, Writings, and More (trilogy)
Friday, September 24
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals (Brandon)
Monday, September 27
Review at The Tudor Enthusiast (Katherine)
Tuesday, September 28
Review at Rajiv’s Reviews (Katherine)
Wednesday, September 29
Guest Post at On the Tudor Trail
Thursday, September 30
Feature at Coffee and Ink
Review at The Enchanted Shelf (trilogy)
Thank you so much for hosting Tony’s post and blog tour!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours
You are most welcome!