Reginald Bray

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coat of arms of Sir Reginald Bray

Sir Reginald Bray KG (* around 1440 ; † June 24, 1503 ) was an English nobleman , politician and architect , especially under the kings Henry VI. and Henry VII Tudor .

Origin and family environment

Bray comes from an English noble family who lived in Bedfordshire and had their seat on the Eaton-Bray estate. He was the son of Sir Richard Bray and the Joan Troughton and was probably born in the parish of St. John Bedwardine in Worcestershire in the early 1440s . His father was a member of the Privy Council under Henry VI.

Spelling of the name

There are different versions of the spelling of the first and last name. In the Dictionary of National Biography the family name is given with Bray and the first name with Reginald, while his nephew Edmund Braye, 1st Baron Braye , spelled both in the title and in the family name "Braye". The first names also differ: In the dictionary, Bray is given the first name “Reginald”, while he is referred to as “Reynold” in The Complete Peerage . As Reginald Bray, he is also listed on the list of Knights of the Order of the Garter .

Political career

Reginal's rise began as steward of the household of Sir Henry Stafford, the husband of Margaret, Countess of Richmond , and mother of the pretender to the throne and future King Henry VII of the House of Tudor . He stayed in Margaret's service even after her marriage to Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby . Despite the services he provided to King Henry VI, who was overthrown from the House of York from the House of Lancaster had done, he was by Richard III. pardoned.

After Richard III. died at the Battle of Bosworth and then Henry VII became king, he won the favor of the new king and held it until his death. Already on the occasion of the coronation of Henry VII on October 28, 1485 he was made Knight of the Bath . From then on a steep career began: first he was appointed constable of Oakham Castle in Rutland and also chief justice south of the Trent . He then became a member of the Privy Council and eventually Treasurer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster . In 1488 he was made Keeper of the Parks of Guilford and Henley for life. Numerous honors followed: In October 1494 he was appointed steward of the University of Oxford , in 1495 the king gave him the Isle of Wight with Carisbrooke Castle and several estates for life and accepted him on January 28, 1501 in the Order of the Garter .

Military services

In June 1497 he took part in the campaign against the rebels in Cornwall under Lord Audley , who was defeated and captured at the Battle of Deptford Bridge . Here, too, Henry VII rewarded him like a king: he beat him to the Knight Banneret on the battlefield of Deptford Bridge and after the execution of Lord Audley gave him his Manor of Shire and a large estate in Sussex .

Activity as an architect

Bray was also a talented architect. So he built the St. George Chapel in Windsor Castle and designed the chapel of his royal master in Westminster Abbey . He laid the foundation stone for this chapel on January 24, 1502, but he did not see the completion of this building. He died on August 5, 1503 and was buried in his chapel at Windsor Castle. He was married to Catherine Husee without children. His heir became his nephew Edmund Braye, the son of his brother John.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Dictionary of National Biography, Volume VI, pp. 237-8.
  2. ^ The Complete Peerage, Volume II, p. 289, Alan Sutton, London, 1982
  3. ^ William Arthur Shaw: The Knights of England. Volume 1, Sherratt and Hughes, London 1906, p. 142.
  4. ^ William Arthur Shaw: The Knights of England. Volume 1, Sherratt and Hughes, London 1906, p. 19.
  5. ^ William Arthur Shaw: The Knights of England. Volume 2, Sherratt and Hughes, London 1906, p. 28.
personal data
SURNAME Bray, Reginald
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English knight and politician
DATE OF BIRTH around 1440
DATE OF DEATH June 24, 1503