Thomas Felton (KG) facts for kids
Sir Thomas de Felton (died 2 April 1381) was an important English knight, soldier, and leader. He fought in some of the biggest battles of his time, like the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. He was also involved in the Capture of Calais in 1347. Thomas de Felton is often mentioned in the famous Froissart's Chronicles, which tell the story of the Hundred Years' War. He helped sign the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360, which was a peace agreement. In 1362, he became the Seneschal of Aquitaine, a very important job in France. He even joined Edward the Black Prince on a military trip to Spain. Sadly, he was captured by enemy forces in 1367. Later, in 1372, he was made a joint-governor of Aquitaine and a leader in Bordeaux. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1381, which was a very high honor.
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Sir Thomas Felton's Family History
The Felton family came from Norfolk, England. They were related to a powerful family from Northumberland. One of Thomas's ancestors, William FitzPagan, was a governor of Bamburgh Castle in 1315. His son, Sir Robert de Felton, was also a governor of Scarborough Castle. Sir Robert married a woman named Matilda, who was related to the Le Strange family. She gave them the manor of Litcham in Norfolk, which became an important family home.
Sir John de Felton, Thomas's father, had three sons: Hamo, Thomas, and Edmund. Hamo was the oldest and inherited Litcham. He was a Member of Parliament for Norfolk. Hamo died in 1379 without any sons. So, Sir Thomas de Felton, his brother, inherited Litcham. Thomas had married Joan Walkefare around 1356. He was only the lord of Litcham for two years before he died in 1381. Thomas and Joan had three daughters.
Sir Thomas Felton's Military Career
Fighting at Crécy and Poitiers
Thomas de Felton joined King Edward III's army when they invaded France in 1346. He fought bravely in the famous Battle of Crécy, where the English army won a big victory. He also took part in the capture of Calais, an important French city. After these battles, he became a key helper for Edward the Black Prince, who was the king's son and a great military leader.
In 1355, when the Black Prince went to Gascony (a region in France), Felton went with him. He then followed the prince to the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, another major English victory. After these campaigns, he married Joan de Walkfare and started his family.
Leading in Aquitaine
In 1360, Sir Thomas was one of the people who signed the Treaty of Brétigny. This treaty was meant to bring peace between England and France. In 1361, he was a main witness at the wedding of the Black Prince to Joan, Countess of Kent.
By 1362, Sir Thomas de Felton was appointed the Seneschal of Aquitaine. This meant he was the Black Prince's main representative and governor in that part of France. He was also in charge of the prince's household. He even welcomed Peter I, the King of Cyprus, who visited the prince in 1364. Felton also had the power to negotiate with Pedro, the King of Castile. When King Pedro asked for help to get his throne back, the Black Prince asked Felton for advice. Felton suggested asking the local leaders in Aquitaine. They decided to send Felton with a fleet of ships to bring King Pedro back.
Battles in Spain and Poitou
After it was decided to invade Spain, Felton and another knight, Sir John Chandos, got permission to cross the mountains. In March 1367, Felton led an advance group of 200 soldiers. They were attacked by a large Spanish force near Navarrete. Many of his men were killed or captured. Thomas de Felton himself was taken prisoner. He was later exchanged for a French leader who had been captured by the English.
After his release, Felton continued to fight in various battles and sieges in France. The lands of Caumont in Gascony were given to Sir John Chandos, and after Chandos died, they were meant to go to Felton.
Felton's relatives also held important positions. His kinsman, Thomas Walkfare, was a leader in Quercy and Périgord, and his brother, Richard Walkfare, was a leader in Agenois and Mayor of Bordeaux.
The Black Prince called Felton back to Angoulême and sent him to Poitou with another important knight, John Hastings. Felton helped secure the town of La Linde when it was almost given to the French. He also joined John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, in an attack on Mont-Paon. In 1372, when the Black Prince gave up control of Aquitaine, King Edward III gave the region to Felton and Sir Robert Wykford. When the Duke of Lancaster left, Felton was made Seneschal of Bordeaux.
Capture and Ransom
In February 1375, Felton returned to England. A year later, he was ordered to make sure a truce (a temporary peace) was followed. In December 1376, he was asked to negotiate with the King of Navarre. He also had to deal with a local leader, Guillem-Sanche IV de Pommiers, who was found guilty of treason and executed in Bordeaux. These events happened near the end of King Edward III's reign.
Felton was captured by the French again near Bordeaux on November 1, 1377. Around 1378, his wife, Dame Joan de Felton, asked the king not to release a French prisoner in England until her husband was set free. In April 1380, an agreement was made to release him. In August, the king gave Felton 30,000 francs (money) from the ransom of two French prisoners to help pay for his own release. He received permission to return to France to sort out his ransom. After his death, his lands in Caumont were given to another knight.
Death and Legacy
Sir Thomas de Felton was made a Knight of the Garter in January 1381, which is one of the highest honors in England. His special plate, showing his coat of arms, can still be seen in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. He died on April 2, 1381. Besides Litcham, he also owned other properties in England.
In 1384, Joan de Felton, his wife, arranged for a special chapel to be built at Walsingham Priory. In this chapel, four priests would pray forever for the souls of Sir Thomas and Dame Joan Felton. Joan also made sure that her daughters, Dame Sibill de Morley (who became an abbess, a leader of nuns) and Dame Mary de Felton (who was a nun), would receive money after her death. Joan lived until at least March 1408.
Sir Thomas Felton's Family
Sir Thomas Felton married Joan de Walkefare around 1357. They had three daughters and a son named Thomas.
Their children were:
- Mary Felton (born around 1357) was engaged when she was very young. She married Edmund Hemgrave, who died in 1374. She then married Sir Thomas de Breton, and later Sir Geoffrey de Workeseley. However, her marriage to Sir Geoffrey was later cancelled because her first husband had not actually died when she thought he had. Mary became a nun in London. Later, she left the convent and married Sir John de Curson.
- Sibyll Felton (born around 1359) married Sir Thomas de Morley. She became a nun at Barking Abbey by 1384 and later became the abbess (leader) of that monastery for 26 years, from 1393 until her death in 1419.
- Eleanor Felton (around 1361–1400) married Sir Robert Ufford. They had three daughters: Ela, Sibilla, and Joan. Sibilla Ufford also became a nun like her aunt Sibyll. Eleanor later married Sir Thomas Hoo.
- Thomas Felton, their son, was mentioned by his mother to be remembered in prayers.
Sir Thomas de Felton's brother, Sir Edmund Felton, was the ancestor of another important branch of the Felton family. This line included Sir Anthony Felton and his son Henry, who was made a baronet in 1620.
