Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for December 21.
Today in 1495 Jasper Tudor died. He was the uncle of Henry Tudor, Henry VII, and it was largely due to his work protecting his nephew that Henry survived and was able to become King. He and Edmund were the sons of Owen Tudor and his secret marriage to Katherine of Valois, who had been Queen to Henry V, and was the mother of King Henry VI. That made Edmund and Jasper step brothers to the king. Jasper lived an exciting life as a deep defender of the House of Lancaster.
He escaped sieges, he raided Yorkist castles, and he remained deeply loyal to his step brother, often having to choose to live to fight another day. It was down to his planning and work that Henry Tudor survived, and became King. After the Battle of Bosworth, Jasper stayed involved in government, but he finally settled down and got married, and had a few quiet years before his death.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com where there is an episode on Jasper Tudor.