Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu facts for kids

Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu (also known as Montague or Montacute), was an English nobleman. He was born around 1492 and passed away in January 1539. He was the only person to hold the title of Baron Montagu after it was created in 1514. Henry Pole was also one of the relatives of King Henry VIII of England who faced serious charges and lost his life during the king's reign.

Henry Pole's Family Connections

Henry Pole was the oldest son of Sir Richard Pole and Lady Margaret Plantagenet. His mother, Margaret, was a very important person. She was the daughter of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence. George was the brother of two famous kings, Edward IV and Richard III. This meant Henry Pole was related to the royal family through his mother.

His grandmother, Isabel Neville, was the daughter of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick. Warwick was one of the most powerful men in England at that time.

Life as a Nobleman

King Henry VIII made Henry Pole a knight in 1513. A knight was a respected title given to important men. In 1514, Henry Pole was called to the Parliament as Baron Montagu. This meant he had an important role in the government.

He also managed lands for Tewkesbury Abbey starting in 1526. From 1530, he worked as a justice of the peace in several areas. This job meant he helped keep law and order. In May 1536, Henry was one of the noblemen who helped with the trial of Anne Boleyn.

Arrest and Execution

On November 4, 1538, Henry Pole was arrested. His wife's uncle, Edward Neville, and other family members were also arrested. King Henry VIII accused them of treason, which means being disloyal to the king.

Henry's brother, Reginald, was living outside England at this time. He had disagreed with King Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

Henry Pole was sent to the Tower of London. On December 2, 1538, his title and honors were taken away. Edward Neville was executed on December 8, 1538. Another cousin, Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, was executed on December 9, 1538. On January 9, 1539, Henry Pole and the others who were arrested were also executed. Only his brother Geoffrey Pole was spared.

Ten days after Henry Pole's arrest, his mother was also arrested. She was questioned for many hours but did not reveal anything. On May 27, 1541, his 67-year-old mother was also executed at the Tower of London.

Henry Pole's young son, also named Henry, was put in the Tower of London at the same time as his father. He stayed there until his death, possibly from a lack of care, in 1542 or later.

Henry Pole's Marriage and Children

Henry Pole married Jane Neville around 1510 or before May 1520. Jane was the daughter of George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny.

They had several children:

• Catherine Pole (born after 1511 or in 1519 – died September 23, 1576) married Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon. They had eleven children together.
• Thomas Pole (born after 1519 or in 1520) married Elizabeth Wingfield. They did not have any children.
• Henry Pole (born after 1520 or in 1521 – died after September 1542) married Margaret Neville. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London from a young age until his death.
• Winifred Pole (born after 1521 or in 1525) married two times.
  • Her first husband was Sir Thomas Hastings (1515–1558). He was the brother of her sister Catherine's husband. They did not have any children.
  • Her second husband was Sir Thomas Barrington (died 1586). With him, Winifred had three children: Sir Francis Barrington, 1st Baronet, John Barrington, and Catherine Barrington. Catherine married William Bourchier in 1584.