Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron Clifford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford
Arms of Clifford: Chequy or and azure, a fess gules
Born	25 March 1414
Died	22 May 1455 First Battle of Saint Albans
Noble family	Clifford
Spouse(s)	Joan Dacre
Issue	John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford Sir Roger Clifford Sir Robert Clifford Sir Thomas Clifford Elizabeth Clifford Maud Clifford Anne Clifford Joan Clifford Margaret Clifford
Father	John Clifford, 7th Baron de Clifford
Mother	Elizabeth Percy

Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford (born March 25, 1414 – died May 22, 1455) was an important English nobleman. He was also known as the 8th Lord of Skipton. Thomas was the older son of John, 7th Baron de Clifford, and Elizabeth Percy. His mother was the daughter of the famous knight Henry "Hotspur" Percy.

About Thomas Clifford's Family

Thomas Clifford was born on March 25, 1414. His father was John, Lord de Clifford. His mother was Elizabeth Percy. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry 'Hotspur' Percy. The Clifford family was very powerful and lived at Skipton Castle for many years.

Thomas had a younger brother named Henry. He also had two sisters, Mary and Blanche. The Clifford family lived at Skipton Castle from 1310 to 1676.

Thomas Clifford's Life and Work

Thomas was only seven years old when his father died in 1422. His father was killed during a battle called the Siege of Meaux in France. Because his father died, Thomas became the new Baron de Clifford. He also took on the important role of High Sheriff of Westmorland. This job was like a chief law enforcement officer for the area.

In 1435, Thomas Clifford went to France to fight in a war. He served alongside the Duke of Bedford. Around 1439, he led English soldiers to defend a town called Pontoise against the French King Charles VII of France.

Later, in 1450 or 1451, he was sent to Scotland. His job was to represent the King of England to King James II of Scotland.

Thomas Clifford died fighting in a major conflict in England. He was on the side of the Lancaster family. This battle was the First Battle of St Albans on May 22, 1455. It was the first big battle in the Wars of the Roses. These wars were a series of fights between two powerful families in England. Thomas was buried at St Alban's Abbey. After his death, his older son, John, became the 9th Baron de Clifford.

Marriage and Children

After March 1424, Thomas Clifford married Joan Dacre. She was the daughter of Thomas, 6th Baron Dacre of Gilsland. Thomas and Joan had a large family with four sons and five daughters.

• John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford: He married Margaret Bromflete. They had two sons, Henry Clifford, 10th Baron de Clifford, and Richard. They also had a daughter, Elizabeth. John was killed in a fight at Ferrybridge in 1461. This happened just before the Battle of Towton.
• Sir Roger Clifford: He married Joan Courtenay. Sir Roger was killed in 1485.
• Sir Robert Clifford: He married Elizabeth Barley. Sir Robert was a supporter of Perkin Warbeck. Perkin Warbeck claimed to be a prince and wanted to be king.
• Sir Thomas Clifford
• Elizabeth Clifford: She married Sir William Plumpton. After he died, she married John Hamerton.
• Maud Clifford: She married Sir John Harrington. After he died, she married Sir Edmund Sutton.
• Anne Clifford: She married Sir Richard Tempest. Later, she married William Conyers.
• Joan Clifford: She married Sir Richard Musgrave.
• Margaret Clifford: She married Robert Carre in 1467.

Thomas Clifford in Shakespeare's Plays

The famous writer Shakespeare wrote about the Wars of the Roses. In his play Henry VI, Part 3, he mentions Thomas Clifford's son, John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford. According to the play, John Clifford was involved in the death of young Edmund, Earl of Rutland. Edmund was the son of Richard, 3rd Duke of York. The play says John cut off Edmund's head after the Battle of Wakefield. He then sent it to King Henry VI's wife, Margaret of Anjou. However, other historical records suggest that Edmund was killed during the battle itself, not afterwards.