Theodore Paleologus (Junior) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Theodore Paleologus
Tombstone of Theodore Junior in Westminster Abbey
Born	April 1609 Tattershall, Lincolnshire, England
Died	April/May 1644 (aged 35) Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Buried	Westminster Abbey, London, England
Noble family	Paleologus
Father	Theodore Paleologus
Mother	Mary Balls
Occupation	Soldier, Roundhead

Theodore Paleologus (born April 1609 – died April/May 1644) was an English soldier. People often call him Theodore Junior or Theodore II to tell him apart from his father, who had the same name. He was the second son of Theodore Paleologus, a soldier from the 16th and 17th centuries. Theodore Junior was the oldest son in his family to live to adulthood. His family believed they were descendants of the Palaiologos dynasty, who were the last emperors of the Byzantine Empire.

Just like his father, Theodore Junior became a professional soldier. He first served in the army during the Bishops' Wars in 1640. When the English Civil War began in 1642, Theodore chose to fight for the Roundheads. These were the Parliamentarians who supported the English Parliament. This was interesting because his two brothers and his friend Richard Grenville were Cavaliers, meaning they supported the King. Theodore died in 1644, likely from a sickness called camp fever during the Siege of Oxford. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. His grave was one of the few Parliamentarian graves that stayed untouched after the English monarchy was brought back in 1660.

Theodore's Early Life and Family History

Theodore Paleologus was the oldest son of his father, also named Theodore, and his mother, Mary Balls. He was born in April 1609 and was baptized on April 30th of that year. Theodore's family claimed to be the last living members of the Palaiologos dynasty. This powerful family ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1259 to 1453. They said they were related to Thomas Palaiologos, who was the brother of Constantine XI Palaiologos, the very last Byzantine emperor.

As a child, Theodore Junior lived with his family in Tattershall, a town in Lincolnshire, England. His father worked there as the Master of the Horse for Earl Henry Clinton. This job meant he was in charge of the Earl's horses and stables. When Earl Clinton died in 1616, Theodore's father left Lincolnshire. It's not clear where the children went after that. It was common for young people back then to live and work in the homes of wealthier families. It's also possible they stayed with their mother's relatives, the Balls family.

Growing Up and Becoming a Soldier

By 1619, Theodore Junior's parents were living in Plymouth. Records show that Theodore Junior was also in Plymouth by 1623. By the time he was nineteen, around 1628, Theodore Junior had left his family to start his own life.

In 1631, the same year his mother passed away, Theodore was mentioned in a legal case. He was a witness in a lawsuit against Richard Grenville. Theodore was friends with Grenville. Court papers described him as "Theodore Palaeologus of Tavistock, gent," and said he was 21. He gave evidence that he was there when Sir Richard paid money to get back some jewelry his wife had pawned. Theodore said he had known Grenville since 1623. Since he was 14 in 1623, it's likely he served in the Grenville household during his teenage years.

Theodore's Military Career

Theodore is next mentioned in 1640 when he was 31 years old. He was a lieutenant in the army led by Algernon Percy, the Earl of Northumberland. This army was fighting against the Scots in the Bishops' Wars. These wars were conflicts between England and Scotland, mainly over religious differences. Theodore would have met Grenville again in this army, as both were lieutenants. The campaign against the Scots ended in defeat. Theodore was then listed as being in the regiment of Jacob Astley in Yorkshire that same year.

In 1642, the English Civil War began. This was a major conflict in England where people had to choose sides. They either fought for the King (called Cavaliers or Royalists) or for Parliament (called Roundheads or Parliamentarians). Even though his friend Grenville and both of Theodore's brothers, John Theodore and Ferdinand, were Cavaliers, Theodore chose to support the Parliamentarians.

By June 1642, Theodore's name was on the Reformado List. This was a list of officers who worked for Parliament and were paid half their salary even when they weren't actively fighting. Soon after, a "Theo Paholigus" (a misspelled version of his name) was listed as a captain lieutenant. This was a military rank, and he served in a foot regiment (a group of soldiers who fight on foot) that was formed in Oxford. This regiment was led by Oliver St John, 5th Baron St John of Bletso.

Theodore's Death and Burial

Theodore did not survive the English Civil War. He died in 1644 when he was 35 years old. By then, he had reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, which is a high position in the army. We don't know the exact reason, time, or place of his death. However, by looking at where his company was, historians believe he likely died from camp fever. This was a common illness in army camps, often caused by poor hygiene and crowded conditions. He probably got sick during the early stages of the long Siege of Oxford. A siege is when an army surrounds a city or fort to try and take control of it.

Theodore was buried in St. Michael's Chapel inside Westminster Abbey on May 3, 1644. Westminster Abbey is a very famous and important church in London, often used for royal events and the burial of important people. His honorable burial was probably not because of his family's claim to be imperial descendants. Instead, it was likely because of his service to the Parliamentarian cause and possibly because his commanders had influence.

Theodore's Lasting Legacy

After the English monarchy was brought back in 1660, King Charles II ordered that many Parliamentarian graves in Westminster Abbey be dug up. The bodies were then treated disrespectfully, with some even having their heads put on spikes. Theodore's grave was one of only seven Parliamentarian graves that were not disturbed. It's not known if this was because he was a simple soldier or if his grave didn't have a marker at the time. The current marker for his grave was placed there much later, in the 19th century, by Arthur Penrhyn Stanley.

In a book about Westminster Abbey from 2004, historian Richard Jenkyns wrote something interesting. He said that people who like "Romantic fantasy" might enjoy the idea that the Abbey holds the grave of a rightful Emperor of Byzantium. This is because the Palaiologos family were the last Byzantine dynasty, and a stone on the floor in the north part of the church says 'Theodorus Palaeologus 1644'.