Thomas Bardolf, 5th Baron Bardolf facts for kids

Thomas Bardolf, 5th Baron Bardolf (born 22 December 1369 – died 19 February 1408) was an important English nobleman. He was the lord of several areas, including Wormegay in Norfolk, Shelford and Stoke Bardolph in Nottinghamshire, and Hallaton in Leicestershire. People at the time thought he was a very important person.

Thomas Bardolf supported a rebellion led by Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, against King Henry IV of England. This happened after Percy's son, Harry Hotspur, died. Thomas Bardolf himself died from injuries he received in a battle called the Battle of Bramham Moor.

Early Life and Family

Thomas was the oldest son of William Bardolf, 4th Baron Bardolf and his wife Agnes de Poynings. When his father passed away, Thomas became the 5th Baron Bardolf. He was called to join the Parliament of England many times between 1390 and 1404.

He married a woman named Avicia (also known as Amice). She was the daughter of Ralph de Cromwell, 2nd Baron Cromwell, who was also a baron. Thomas and Avicia had two daughters, Anne and Joan.

Joining the Rebellion

Thomas Bardolf joined Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, and other nobles in a fight against King Henry IV. The King's army was very strong, so Thomas had to escape to France for a while.

About three years later, he came back to England. He again joined forces with the Earl of Northumberland, Thomas Mowbray, and Richard le Scrope, who was the Archbishop of York. However, they were defeated again in Yorkshire by the King's forces, led by John of Lancaster and the Earl of Westmorland. The King ordered Mowbray and Scrope to be executed in York.

Final Battle and Death

In 1408, the rebels fought their last big battle at Bramham Moor. The King's forces won completely. The Earl of Northumberland was killed in this battle. Lord Bardolf was badly hurt and died from his wounds soon after.

Because he had rebelled against the King, Thomas Bardolf's titles and lands were taken away by the Crown. This meant his daughters could not inherit them right away.

After His Death

After Lord Bardolf died, his body was treated in a way that was common for rebels at the time. His widow, Avicia, later received permission from the King to gather his remains and give him a proper burial.

His lands were divided among several people, including Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter (the King's half-brother), Sir George de Dunbar, and Joan of Navarre, Queen of England. However, Thomas Bardolf's daughters, Anne (with her husband Sir William Clifford) and Joan (with her husband Sir William Phelip), asked the King for their share. The King agreed that after the Queen's death, their husbands would receive parts of the lands.

Also, in 1407, a court decision returned some land in Ruskynton to Avicia, Thomas Bardolf's wife. This land had been taken by George de Dunbar, but the court ruled it should go back to her.

Coat of Arms

Thomas Bardolf's coat of arms was a blue shield with three gold cinquefoil flowers on it. A cinquefoil is a flower with five petals.