Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Arundell
|
|
|---|---|
| 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour | |
Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour
|
|
| Born | c. 1560 |
| Died | 7 November 1639 (aged 78–79) Wardour Castle, Wiltshire |
| Buried | Tisbury, Wiltshire |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Wriothesley Anne Philipson |
| Issue | Thomas Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Wardour William Arundell Elizabeth Mary Arundell Matthew Arundell Thomas Arundell Frederick Arundell Katherine Arundell Mary Arundell Anne Arundell Frances Arundell Margaret Arundell Clare Arundell |
| Father | Sir Matthew Arundell |
| Mother | Margaret Willoughby |
Thomas Arundell, the 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour (born around 1560, died 7 November 1639), was an important English nobleman. He was the oldest son of Sir Matthew Arundell from Wardour Castle in Wiltshire.
Thomas Arundell became famous for his bravery in battles against the Ottoman Turks. He fought for Emperor Rudolf II and was even given the special title of a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. However, this new title made Queen Elizabeth I unhappy. She didn't recognize it and even sent him to prison for a short time. Later, in 1605, he was given the title of the 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour in England. Around the same time, he was briefly thought to be involved in the Gunpowder Plot.
Contents
Thomas Arundell's Early Life
Thomas Arundell was born around 1560. His father was Sir Matthew Arundell of Wardour Castle. His family, the Arundells, were an old and respected family from Cornwall. His mother was Margaret Willoughby.
His father owned a lot of land and held important jobs in the government. His mother, Margaret, worked for Princess Elizabeth when she was younger. Thomas's grandparents were Sir Thomas Arundell and Margaret Howard. Margaret Howard was the sister of Queen Catherine Howard.
Facing Challenges for His Faith
In 1580, Thomas Arundell was sent to prison. This happened because he was a strong Roman Catholic at a time when England was mostly Protestant.
In 1585, he married Mary Wriothesley. She was the daughter of Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton. Mary's brother was Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. Thomas was very fond of his young brother-in-law. He even wrote to a powerful leader, Lord Burghley, saying how much he cared for the young Earl.
Even though he was Catholic, Thomas Arundell showed his loyalty to England. In 1588, he gave £100 to help fight against the Spanish Armada. This was a huge fleet of ships sent by Spain to attack England.
A Brave Adventure Abroad
By the time Thomas Arundell was in his 30s, he felt a bit lost. He was smart and loved to learn, but he hadn't found a big purpose yet. In 1595, his father agreed to give him money and horses. This allowed Thomas to leave England and join the Imperial army fighting the Turks.
It's said that Queen Elizabeth I herself recommended him to the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. On September 7, 1595, Thomas Arundell showed great courage. He led a charge and captured a Turkish fort at Gran. He replaced the Turkish flag with the Imperial eagle.
For his bravery, Emperor Rudolf II made him a Count of the Holy Roman Empire on December 14, 1595. From then on, he was known as 'the Valiant'.
Trouble Back Home
Against his father's wishes, Thomas left the Emperor's court and sailed back to England. His ship got caught in a terrible storm and was wrecked near Aldeburgh. He lost everything he owned but was lucky to survive.
His new title as a Count caused problems in England. Other nobles were jealous. His own father was also upset because Thomas now had a higher rank than him and even disinherited him for a time.
Queen Elizabeth I was very angry. She threatened to make him give up his title. She even put him in the Fleet Prison, saying, "I would not have a sheep branded with another man's mark." This meant she didn't want an English subject to have a foreign title without her permission. Thomas was held until April 1597. After he was freed, he was not allowed to visit the Queen's court. He tried many times to get back into her good graces, but she still refused.
In 1597, Thomas was briefly arrested again. People suspected him of being a Catholic spy. However, the authorities couldn't find any proof. He was released into his father's care.
New Beginnings and Family Life
Thomas Arundell's father passed away in December 1598. Thomas then inherited his father's lands and titles.
In 1601, his brother-in-law, Southampton, was in trouble for his part in a rebellion. Thomas tried to distance himself from this problem. He wrote a letter saying that Southampton had ignored good advice.
A Dream of a New Colony
In March 1605, Thomas Arundell and Southampton sent Captain George Weymouth on a journey. Their goal was to start a new colony in Virginia. The colonists returned to England in July. Some historians believe that Thomas Arundell was the main person behind this trip. He might have hoped to create a safe place for English Catholics in America.
On May 4, 1605, King James I made him the Baron Arundell of Wardour. This was a very important English title.
Later that year, Thomas Arundell traveled to Europe without the King's permission. This made King James I angry. A few months later, Guy Fawkes, who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot, mentioned Thomas's name while being questioned. For a short time, Thomas was suspected of being part of the plot.
Marriages and Children
In 1607, Thomas Arundell's oldest son, Thomas, married Blanche Somerset. This marriage happened without Thomas Arundell's permission, which caused problems between father and son. Thomas's first wife, Mary, died a few weeks after this marriage.
On July 1, 1608, Thomas Arundell married again. His second wife was Anne Philipson. She passed away in London in 1637 and was buried in Tisbury, Wiltshire.
Thomas Arundell passed away at Wardour Castle on November 7, 1639. He was buried in Tisbury, Wiltshire.
Family and Descendants
Thomas Arundell had children from both his marriages.
From his first marriage to Mary Wriothesley, he had two sons and one daughter:
- Thomas Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Wardour (born around 1586, died 1643), who became the next Baron.
- William Arundell.
- Elizabeth Mary Arundell.
From his second marriage to Anne Philipson, he had several children:
- Matthew (1609–1620).
- Thomas.
- Frederick.
- Katherine.
- Mary, who later married Sir John Somerset. Somerset County in the Province of Maryland was named after her.
- Ann (born 1615, died 1649). She married Cecilius Calvert, who was the second Lord Baltimore. He was given the right to establish the Maryland colony by King Charles I. Anne Arundel County in Maryland is named after her. She had nine children.
- Frances.
- Margaret.
- Clare.
