John la Zouche, 7th Baron Zouche, 8th Baron St Maur facts for kids
John la Zouche, 7th Baron Zouche, 8th Baron St Maur (born 1459 – died 1526) was an English nobleman and politician who supported the Yorkist side during the Wars of the Roses. He was known for being very loyal to King Richard III. John la Zouche fought alongside Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, where King Richard was killed. After the battle, the new Tudor dynasty took over, and John la Zouche lost his lands and titles. However, he eventually regained royal favor, partly because of a family connection to the new King's mother.
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Who Was John la Zouche?
John la Zouche was the son of William la Zouche, who was the 6th Baron Zouche. His mother was Katherine Lenthall. John's father had also inherited the title of Baron St Maur through his own mother, Alice St Maur.
After Alice St Maur passed away, John's grandfather, the 5th Baron Zouche, married Elizabeth St. John. Elizabeth's half-sister was Margaret Beaufort. Margaret Beaufort was the mother of the future King Henry VII. This family connection later became very important for John la Zouche.
John's mother likely died soon after he was born. His father passed away when John was only nine years old. John's stepmother, Katherine Plumpton, later married Sir Gilbert Debenham. Sir Gilbert was a powerful landowner in Suffolk and had a lot of influence with King Edward IV.
Other family ties also connected John la Zouche to the House of York. Elizabeth, Lady Zouche, who was the 5th Baron's second wife, married again to John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton. He was a strong supporter of King Richard III. John's sister, Margaret, married Sir William Catesby, who was a key figure in Richard's government.
Serving King Richard III
During King Richard III's short time on the throne, John la Zouche became an important political leader. His family had a lot of influence in Northamptonshire, which was helpful to the King. Richard III often relied on noble families from Yorkshire for support.
John la Zouche also tried to increase his own influence in Cornwall and Devon. His wife's family, the Dynhams, owned a lot of land there. They had also gained significant political power under King Edward IV.
John la Zouche's political career ended at the Battle of Bosworth. He was very loyal to King Richard III and fought for him in the battle. He was captured by the winning Tudor army during or soon after the fight. Unlike his brother-in-law, Sir William Catesby, who was executed right away, John la Zouche's life was spared.
Losing His Lands and Titles
After the battle, King Henry VII's first Parliament decided to punish John la Zouche. This punishment was called an attainder. It meant he lost all his lands and titles.
In July 1486, he received a pardon and a small yearly payment. However, his attainder was not fully reversed until 1489. Even then, he was only allowed to inherit property that his grandfather had received through his second marriage.
Some people believe that King Henry VII treated John la Zouche very harshly. This might have been because John had been so powerful under King Richard III. King Henry VII was known for punishing noble families with big financial penalties. He did this to keep them under control. Many nobles felt watched, fearful, and suspicious during his reign.
John la Zouche tried to gain the King's favor by serving in a military campaign in France in 1492. But it didn't help his situation. His financial problems continued. He was even considered too poor to keep his status as a nobleman and was simply called a knight.
Getting Back His Titles
John la Zouche finally got all his titles and honors back in 1495. He owed a lot of thanks to a powerful court official named Sir Reginald Bray. John had to pay a high price for Bray's help, selling him several estates for less than they were worth.
A surprising helper was Margaret Beaufort, the King's mother. She always showed kindness to her extended family. Even though Lord Zouche was only the grandson of her sister's husband from a previous marriage, he benefited from her generosity. She likely used her influence to help reverse his attainder. She also made sure Lady Zouche received a pension and even had some of the Zouche children raised in her own home.
By the year 1500, John la Zouche was in good standing at the King's court. He traveled with the King to meet Archduke Philip of Austria in Calais. The next year, he was one of the nobles who welcomed Catherine of Aragon when she arrived in Amesbury. His later years were peaceful. He passed away at Castle Cary in March 1526.
His Family
John la Zouche married Joan Dinham. She was the daughter of Sir John Dinham of Hartland and Nutwell in Devon. Joan was one of four sisters who inherited from their brother, John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham.
John and Joan had at least six children, including:
- John Zouche, 8th Baron Zouche (died 1551), who was their oldest son and inherited his father's titles.
- William Zouche of Bulwick, Northamptonshire. His daughter, Frances Zouche, married William Saunders. They were ancestors of the Dukes of Buckingham.
- Jane Zouche, who married Sir Edward Hungerford. She was chosen to attend Catherine of Aragon in 1501. She was the mother of Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury.
- Katherine Zouche, who married John Carew and later Sir Robert Brandon. Sir Robert was an uncle of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk.
