Best Uncles vs. Worst Uncles: Jasper Tudor - The Best Tudor Uncle

Imagine if you were a young orphaned king or royal claimant, it is absolutely essential that you have the best uncles to protect you and look after you. Such a great uncle will make sure that your claims and your potential are fully fulfilled. This video is about such an uncle during the Tudor era. This is the story of Jasper Tudor, who was the uncle of Henry VII.

Chapters:
00:00 Imagine if you were a young royal claimant, you need a good uncle
00:28 The Worst Uncles will kill you prematurely
00:43 Jasper Tudor and Henry VII
01:12 Secret Marriage of Catherine of Valois and Owen Tudor
01:27 Generous Henry VI
01:55 Three Suns at Mortimer’s Cross
02:08 Were They in Love? Jasper Tudor and Margaret Beaufort
02:35 Battle of Bosworth 1485
02:51 After Henry VII was King
03:04 Catherine Woodville
03:17 Death of Jasper Tudor
03:31 Dissolution of Monasteries and Destruction of Jasper’s Tomb
03:44 Was Stephen Gardiner his Illegitimate Grandson?

Imagine if you were a young king or royal claimant in late medieval England trying to stay alive and advance your claims against all the other claimants.

Having a great uncle means having a solid chance of surviving and winning your royal title.

However, having the wrong sort of uncles may mean your premature end, so who were the best and worst royal uncles during the Tudor period?

This video is the first part of this series on the best Tudor royal uncle, Jasper Tudor.

The Best Uncle – Jasper Tudor:

Jasper Tudor was an example of the best royal uncle, the uncle to Henry Tudor, who won the Battle of Bosworth field to become Henry VII.

Jasper and his brother, Edmund, were born out of the secret marriage between the Dowager Queen Katherine of Valois with Owen Tudor, a member of her household.

His half-brother, King Henry VI, treated them with respect and generosity, made Jasper the Earl of Pembroke, and gave Edmund and Jasper Margaret Beaufort’s wardship.

Edmund died before his son, Henry Tudor, was born, and Jasper Tudor spent his entire life protecting his nephew and sister-in-law and making Henry the King of England.

In his first battle against the Yorkists in support of Henry VI, the 18-years-old Edward IV defeated Jasper Tudor and his father at Mortimer’s Cross. Jasper escaped, but the Yorkists executed his father.

Although there were rumours that Jasper Tudor was in love with Margaret Beauforts, there was no direct proof, and Jasper Tudor consistently demonstrated only brotherly love towards Margaret.

Legends have it that he was able to enter and leave besieged castles like a Medieval James Bond to support the House of Lancaster and win the final victory of Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field.

He was with Henry Tudor at the crucial Battle of Bosworth Field to keep Henry alive and supported him to become the first King of the House of Tudors.

What happened to Jasper Tudor after Henry VII became King?
Henry VII was highly grateful and made his uncle the Duke of Bedford and gave him Cardiff Castle.

Jasper married Catherine Woodville, the sister of Elizabeth Woodville, a month after the Battle of Bosworth at the relatively old age of 54 and had no confirmed offspring.

He lived for another ten years and died peacefully at Thornbury Castle in 1595, knowing that he had firmly established Henry VII on the throne of England.

Unfortunately, his grand-nephew, Henry VIII, destroyed his tomb in the Augustine Abbey during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.

After his death, there were rumours that he had an illegitimate daughter named Helen, whose son was Stephen Gardiner. The story had no reliable evidence.

The Music include:
“Le Goûter” by Dominique Carpentier licensed via Music Vine: QVHR7BDMFJRTPBMX
“Stella” by Dominique Carpentier licensed via Music Vine: UIMKN6FRAM9YPOHD

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