William Brandon (standard-bearer) facts for kids

The family symbol of the Brandons.

Sir William Brandon (born 1456 – died 22 August 1485) was an important knight from Soham, Cambridgeshire. He served as the standard-bearer for Henry Tudor during the famous Battle of Bosworth. Sadly, he was killed in this battle by King Richard III himself. William Brandon was also the father of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, who became a very powerful person later on.

Early Life and Family Connections

William Brandon was the son of another important person, also named Sir William Brandon. His father was a Knight Marshal, which meant he was a high-ranking officer in charge of keeping order and managing the royal household. William's mother was Elizabeth Wingfield.

William had many brothers and sisters. One of his brothers, Sir Thomas Brandon, was also a knight. Thomas fought alongside William in the Battle of Bosworth. Later, Thomas became a close friend and advisor to King Henry VII. He also held an important job called Master of the Horse, looking after the king's horses.

A Time of Trouble and Escape

William Brandon was involved in a rebellion against King Richard III in 1483. This was known as the Buckingham Revolt. William, his brother Thomas, and his brother-in-law were key figures in this uprising.

Even though he was involved in the rebellion, William was forgiven in March 1484. However, he soon left England. In November, he sailed to France. His wife is believed to have joined him there. Their oldest son was born in Paris. While in France, William joined his brother Thomas in defending a fortress called Hammes.

The Battle of Bosworth

The royal flag of Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth.

At the Battle of Bosworth, William Brandon had a very important role. He was Henry Tudor's personal standard-bearer. This meant he carried the royal flag, which was a huge honor and a dangerous job. The standard-bearer was always at the heart of the battle, showing where the leader was.

During the battle, King Richard III launched a fierce attack. He personally knocked Sir John Cheney off his horse. Sir John Cheney was a famous champion in jousting, a knightly sport. William Brandon was the other main person killed during this charge. He died while bravely defending Henry Tudor's flag from King Richard III.

Some stories say that William and his brother Thomas were knighted by Henry Tudor when he landed in England in 1485. However, this is likely a myth. Thomas was actually knighted much later, in 1497. William was probably called "Sir William" after his death as a sign of respect, or people might have confused him with his father, who was already a knight.

William Brandon's Family

William Brandon married Elizabeth Bruyn sometime before 1475. Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Henry Bruyn. She had been married before to Thomas Tyrrell. After William Brandon died at the Battle of Bosworth, Elizabeth married again to William Mallory. She passed away in 1493 or 1494.

William and Elizabeth had two sons and one daughter:

• William Brandon (who died young, before 1500).
• Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (born around 1484 – died 1545). Charles became a very important and powerful figure in the court of King Henry VIII.
• Anne Brandon, who married Sir John Shilston and later Sir Gawain Carew.

William Brandon also had two daughters outside of his marriage. They were Katherine and Elizabeth. William's sister, Mary Brandon, was married to John Reading. John Reading was the treasurer for King Henry VII.