Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Manners
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| 1st Earl of Rutland | |
Effigy of Manners, St Mary's Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire, near to his seat of Belvoir Castle
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| Born | c. 1497 |
| Died | 20 September 1543 |
| Father | George Manners, 11th Baron de Ros |
| Mother | Anne St Leger |
Thomas Manners was an important English nobleman who lived a long time ago, from about 1497 to 1543. He was known as the 1st Earl of Rutland and the 12th Baron de Ros. King Henry VIII made him an Earl in 1525. His home was Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, which is near the small county of Rutland. He was also a Knight of the Garter, a very special honor.
Contents
Family Background of Thomas Manners
Thomas Manners was the son of Sir George Manners, 11th Baron de Ros and his wife Anne St Leger. His mother, Anne, had a very important family. Her mother was Anne of York.
Anne of York was the daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York. This means she was the sister of two English kings: Edward IV and Richard III. Thomas Manners was also a second cousin to King Henry VIII. This close family connection to the royal family was very helpful for his career.
Thomas Manners' Public Life
Thomas Manners started his public life early. In 1513, when he was only about 16, he went with the English army to France. That same year, he became Baron Ros after his father passed away.
Important Roles and Honors
Thomas Manners held many important jobs and received special honors from King Henry VIII:
- In 1515, he was called to join the Parliament.
- He attended the famous Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, where King Henry VIII met the King of France.
- He became the king's cupbearer in 1521.
- He was made steward of Pickering in Yorkshire in 1522.
- From April to October 1522, he was the Lord Warden of the East Marches, protecting the border with Scotland.
- In 1524, he became the warden of Sherwood Forest, a job that stayed in his family for many years.
- In 1525, he received the highest honor: he was made a Knight of the Garter.
- Later in 1525, King Henry VIII made him the Earl of Rutland.
Serving King Henry VIII
Thomas Manners was a favorite of King Henry VIII. He received many gifts from the king, including the important Belvoir Castle, which is still the main home of his family today.
He continued to serve the king in many ways:
- In 1532, he traveled with the king to France.
- He was at the coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn in 1533.
- He later took part in her trial.
- He helped the king deal with a large protest called the Pilgrimage of Grace in northern England. He led troops to stop the rebels.
When King Henry VIII was going to marry Anne of Cleves, Thomas Manners was chosen to be her lord chamberlain. This meant he was in charge of her household and met her when she arrived in England. In 1542, he became the constable of Nottingham Castle. He also returned to the border as Warden of the Marches, but he became ill and had to return home.
Knight of the Garter Honor
Being a Knight of the Garter was a very high honor, given by the king. Thomas Manners received this honor in 1525. His special plate, called a Garter stall plate, can still be seen in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. It shows his coat of arms and the symbol of the Garter. His family crest, a peacock, is also on the plate.
Marriages and Children
Thomas Manners was married twice:
- His first marriage was to Elizabeth Lovell around 1512, but it ended in 1513.
- Around 1523, he married Eleanor Paston. They had many children together.
Sons
- Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland (1526–1563)
- Sir John Manners (c. 1534–1611)
- Sir Thomas Manners
- Roger Manners (died 1607)
- Oliver Manners
Daughters
- Gertrude Manners
- Anne Manners
- Frances Manners
- Katherine Manners
- Elizabeth Manners (c. 1530–1570)
- Isabel Manners (died young)
Death and Burial
Thomas Manners passed away on September 20, 1543. He was buried in Bottesford Church in Leicestershire. His body was carefully prepared and placed in a lead shell before burial.
His Tomb Monument
His tomb, made of alabaster, is still in Bottesford Church. It was created by Richard Parker and others. The tomb shows statues of Thomas Manners and his wife. Thomas is wearing his armor and the special mantle of the Order of the Garter. His head rests on his helmet, which has his family crest, a peacock. His feet rest on a unicorn. His wife's statue is dressed in a gown and cape, with a griffon at her feet. This tomb was the first of many for the Earls and Dukes of Rutland in this church.
