John Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Stafford
|
|
|---|---|
| Earl of Wiltshire | |
Arms of Sir John Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, KG
|
|
| Born | 24 November 1427 |
| Died | 8 May 1473 |
| Spouse(s) | Constance Green |
| Issue | Edward Stafford, 2nd Earl of Wiltshire |
| Father | Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham |
| Mother | Lady Anne Neville |
John Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire (born November 24, 1427 – died May 8, 1473) was an important English nobleman. He was the youngest son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham, a very powerful figure. John Stafford was given special honors during his life, like being made a Knight of the Order of the Bath in 1461. Later, he also became a Knight of the Garter, which is one of the highest honors in England.
Contents
John Stafford's Important Roles
Fighting for the King
John Stafford was a loyal supporter of the Yorkist side during a time of conflict in England. He fought in the Battle of Hexham in 1464. This battle was a key event during the Wars of the Roses, a series of wars fought over who should be king of England.
Royal Appointments
In 1469, John Stafford was given a big job: he became the Steward of the Duchy of Cornwall for life. A steward is like a manager who looks after important lands and money for the royal family.
On January 5, 1470, King Edward IV made him the Earl of Wiltshire. An Earl is a high-ranking noble title, showing great trust and importance. For a short time, he faced some challenges from Warwick's government. He was even prevented from attending Parliament in November 1470.
Rewarded Loyalty
Because of his strong loyalty to King Edward IV, John Stafford received more important roles. He was made the Chief Butler of England. This was a high ceremonial position in the royal household.
He was also given the power, along with Lord Mountjoy, to offer forgiveness to rebels. This meant he could help people who had fought against the king to make peace. This offer was for those who surrendered by June 7 of that year. In 1472, he received the very special honor of becoming a Knight of the Garter.
Working as a Diplomat
John Stafford also served as a diplomat for England. A diplomat is someone who represents their country and works with other countries. He worked with the Earl of Northumberland to talk with ambassadors from James III of Scotland. Their job was to solve problems and disagreements between England and Scotland.
John Stafford's Family Life
John Stafford married a woman named Constance Green. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Green from Drayton House in Northamptonshire. John and Constance had one child together, a son named Edward.
When John Stafford passed away, his son Edward became the 2nd Earl of Wiltshire. However, Edward was still a child at the time. This meant that the King became his guardian. The money from Edward's family lands was managed by the Crown until he was old enough to take care of it himself.
