Thomas Blount (died 1400) facts for kids

Sir Thomas Blount (died 1400) was a loyal supporter of Richard II of England, a king who ruled England a long time ago.

Early Life and Family Connections

Sir Thomas Blount was the oldest son of another Sir Thomas Blount and his wife, Joan Hakluyt. In 1387, he married a woman who was the widow of a very important financial official. Later, he married again, which helped him gain land in areas like Wiltshire and Hampshire. This also allowed him to become a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1397, working alongside Sir Henry Greene.

Serving King Richard II

Sir Thomas Blount was very close to King Richard II throughout his reign. At the king's coronation, Sir Thomas had a special role: he was the deputy for the king's 'naperer,' which meant he helped manage the king's linen and clothes.

When King Henry IV took the throne from Richard II, Sir Thomas Blount remained loyal to King Richard. He refused to accept Henry IV as the new king.

The Epiphany Rising Plot

After Henry IV became king in October 1399, Sir Thomas Blount joined a group of nobles who wanted to bring Richard II back to power. This group included important figures like John Holland, Thomas Holland, and the Earl of Salisbury.

These plotters met in December 1399 and planned to surprise King Henry IV at a tournament in Windsor. However, King Henry found out about their plan because one of the plotters, the Earl of Rutland, betrayed them.

King Henry quickly gathered an army in London and marched towards the rebels. Sir Thomas Blount and his friends had to retreat. Many of them were captured in Cirencester. Sir Thomas Blount managed to escape to Oxford, but he was eventually caught.

Capture and Execution

Sir Thomas Blount was captured and executed on January 12, 1400, near Oxford. He was put to death for his part in the plot against King Henry IV. Even as he faced his death, Sir Thomas Blount bravely declared his loyalty to King Richard II. He said, "Blessed be the day on which I was born, and blessed be this day, for I shall die in the service of my sovereign lord, the noble King Richard."

After his death, Sir Thomas Blount's large estates (lands and property) were taken by the crown. Some of these lands were later given to a distant relative, Sir Walter Blount.

Sir Thomas Blount's death is even mentioned in Shakespeare's famous play Richard II. In the play, Northumberland tells King Henry about the execution of the plotters, including Blount.

After the Uprising

Sir Thomas's cousin, Nicholas, also helped in the uprising but managed to escape to Italy. He worked for a duke in Milan and fought in battles there. Nicholas returned to England in 1404 and lived secretly until King Henry IV died in 1413. When he came back, he changed his name to Croke. He later married Agnes Heynes, and they became the ancestors of important figures like Sir John Croke and Sir George Croke.