A TIMELINE OF

BLACK BRITISH HISTORY

TUDORS & STUARTS

The Tudor and Stuart periods saw monumental

change in the relationship between Europe and their

continental neighbours. As the period begins, we

see evidence of integrated societies at different

levels of local and national life. By the close, Britain

is embarked on a frenzied mission to extend their

colonial reach and primed to step into an industrial

revolution, powered by the outrageous wealth

accumulation made possible by the triangular slave

trade.

AD 1485 - 1714

THE COURT OF JAMES IV

King James IV Scotland had numerous qualities and successes; he united the

highlands and lowlands; he created a Scottish navy; and maintained alliances

with France and England. It is clear that he was also something of a

forerunner in regards multi-culturalism.

AD 1488 - 1513

Records show that many black people were

present at the court of James IV – servants yes

but also invited guests and musicians. Much of

what we know comes from the royal treasurers

accounts which show that James’ purse paid

wages and gifts to numerous ‘moors’.

African drummers and choreographers were

paid to perform, to have instruments repainted,

or bought horses to accompany James on tour.

The records also show black women present

being gifted clothing, fabric and large sums of

money.

CATALINA & CATALINA

In 1501 ‘la infant’ Catalina, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain,

arrived in Plymouth to begin a new life in England. She came from one royal

household and was travelling in preparation to be married into another, the

fledgling Tudor dynasty. She was promised to Arthur, heir to the English

throne. Yet she would arrive in a decidedly un-English way.

When Catherine entered London she made a public display of her roots, riding

‘a mule richly trapped after the manner of Spain’. Her auburn hair was braided

and her Spanish ladies wore ‘busteous and marvellous’ hooped gowns.

AD 1501

Among these ladies was at least one

black moor from Grenada – another

Catalina.

The royal Catalina, after her first

husband, Arthur’s death, would

marry Henry VIII and be known to us

as Catherine of Aragon. The other

would later return to Spain to marry a

crossbow maker.

THE ROYAL TRUMPETERAD 1506–12

Of all the black British Tudors, and there were many, there is one who is

best known to us and probably best known at the time.

It is supposed that like Catalina, John Blanke arrived

with Catherine of Aragon as part of her entourage.

However by 1506 he is employed directly by Henry

VIII who would, three years later, become king.

Records show Blanke was paid 8d per day but later

petitioned the king and was successful in his

request for 100% pay rise to 16d a day.

In 1511, Prince Henry was born to Catherine and

Henry. To celebrate a great festival was held, the

Westminister Tournament. The 1511 Westminster

Tournament Roll depicts the event and shows the

royal trumpeters in their finery twice – at the

beginning and the end.

As such, John Blanke is the first settled black Britain

for whom we have a face and a name.

FIRST BRITON IN AFRICA

Trade between Europe and the

West coast of Africa would come

to be common place but in the

early 1500s such a journey was

practically unheard of. William

Hawkins of Tavistock in Devon

seems to be the first to venture

that far in search of the fabled

riches of Africa. He made it to

the Guinea coast, leaving a

seaman behind and returning to

Britain with an African chieftain.

AD 1530s

ABOARD THE MARY ROSEAD 1545

In 1545, when the Mary Rose sailed down the Solent, equipped to engage the

attacking French galleys, its crew of several hundred mariners and soldiers

would have been, as befitting one of the flag ships of the royal armada, the

navy's finest. That crew, 179 of whom were found during the excavations of

the sunken ship, were sailors who called England home.

Among them was a man we know as ‘Henry’, a muscular teenager of North

African origin living in England. He died in the bowels of the Mary Rose,

where he served to keep the hold

watertight.

"Archer Royal", no name but this epithet,

died on deck. It is suggested he shared,

with Henry, this African heritage. But

their lives were markedly different. In

"Archer Royal's" possession were symbols

of status - a sword, comb and a wrist

guard bearing the royal arms of England.

THE ROYAL COURTS

The Tudor family and the Stewart family ruled

Scotland and England for hundreds of years. Their

courts, at Stirling and in London, were filled with all

different kinds of people. Both in Scotland and in

England, the Royal courts contained people from

different parts of the world, including people of

African origin.

LESSON 1

THE COURT OF JAMES IV

King James IV Scotland had

numerous qualities and successes;

he united the highlands and

lowlands; he created a Scottish

navy; and maintained alliances

with France and England.

AD 1488 - 1513

THE COURT OF JAMES IVAD 1488 - 1513

He also had a very diverse

court.

Records show that many

black people were present

at the court of James IV –

servants yes but also

invited guests and

musicians.

THE COURT OF JAMES IVAD 1488 - 1513

African musicians and choreographers were paid

to perform, to have instruments repainted, or

bought horses to accompany James on tour.

THE COURT OF JAMES IVAD 1488 - 1513

The records also show

black women present

being gifted clothing,

fabric and large sums of

money.

People who were part of

the court like this were

known as courtiers.

A DAY AS A COURTIER

Today we are going to write

about one day in the life of a

courtier.

Let’s start with this title.

A DAY AS A COURTIER

We’re going to write a diary as

if we are this courtier in the

painting. Let’s call her

Catalina.

We’ll do some reading to help

us. As you read, make some

notes of what could go in your

diary.

ONE DAY AS A COURTIERTudor and Stewart kings and queens spent much of their time surrounded by

ladies of the court and gentlemen called courtiers. When the monarch moved

from one place to another, the court went too.

Why did the courtiers follow the monarch?

Most courtiers were already rich and had their own houses. They hoped that the

king or queen would take notice of them or their relatives, and reward them with

jobs or titles that would make them even richer.

However, being a courtier was very expensive. You had to spend a great deal of

money on fine clothes and buy the monarch expensive presents.

What was life like at court?

Courtiers were given their own rooms in each of the royal palaces. They all had

their own servants, who slept either in the same rooms or in the corridors. At

Hampton Court, when King Henry VIII was in residence, about 500 people lived

there. There were three enormous kitchens where cooks prepared all sorts of

roast meats, pies and fancy desserts. Rich people were not very fond of vegetables

though! Everyone at court was also provided with a daily allowance of wine (for

the courtiers) or beer (for the servants).

ONE DAY AS A COURTIERWhat was a day like for a courtier?

Rise, shine and avoid the WCThe more senior courtiers have a two-room lodging where they sleep. You’ve brought your own furniture by cart and your servants have hung your tapestries, set up your bed and arranged the furniture.

It is here that you wake and are dressed by your servants, who sleep in the outer room. As the court gets going in the morning, everyone is interested in what the monarch is going to do. This very much determines today’s activities. Each day will dominated by hunting or religion – perhaps both.

Eat, hunt and lose moneyYou eat two meals a day: a sort of brunch mid-morning and dinner in the late afternoon. These are set moments and the senior courtiers eat in the outer rooms of the royal lodgings, summoned by trumpets when food is ready.

After brunch it is time for activities. If you are lucky you might be invited to hunt (all the Tudor monarchs hunted fearlessly and well: Henry VII and VIII also played tennis, bowls and liked to see chicken’s fight!). Courtiers join in these sports and make heavy wagers. Losing money at these, and at cards and dice, is an occupational hazard for you.

ONE DAY AS A COURTIERBe ready to party... every nightThere are many religious feast days at court. On these occasions, the outer rooms are set up and eating and drinking goes on into the night.

After eating there will be a play or dancing – sometimes into the small hours.

Crawl into (yet another) bedThis might all sound like fun. It probably isn’t. It is very expensive being at court, despite the fact that you get free board and lodging. Appearances have to be kept up and, what with gambling, tipping and maintaining your horses and servants, many courtiers end up financially ruined.

Continually moving from house to house as the king moves round the country is exhausting and disruptive. There are long days when you never see the king and have to hang around with other, equally bored, courtiers. On these days, you often long to be in your own house with your family.

On busy days like this, you might look forward to retiring to your inner chamber at night with candles and a good book, hoping that the next day brings something worthwhile.

ONE DAY AS A COURTIER

Catalina’s Diary

Now write a short diary entry as if you are Catalina. Can you imagine what happened today? What did you do?

How did you feel?

ART

Paint a self-portrait as a Royal Courtier

THE ROYAL TRUMPETER

Of all the black British Tudors, and there were many,

there is one who is best known to us and probably

best known at the time. He was a trumpeter known

as John Blanke.

LESSON 2

THE ROYAL TRUMPETERAD 1506–12

It is supposed that like Catalina, John

Blanke arrived with Catherine of

Aragon as part of her entourage.

However by 1506 he is employed

directly by Henry VIII who would,

three years later, become king.

Records show Blanke was paid 8d

per day but later petitioned the king

and was successful in his request for

100% pay rise to 16d a day

THE ROYAL TRUMPETERAD 1506–12

In 1511, Prince Henry was born to

Catherine and Henry. To celebrate a

great festival was held, the

Westminister Tournament. The 1511

Westminster Tournament Roll depicts

the event and shows the royal

trumpeters in their finery twice – at

the beginning and the end.

As such, John Blanke is the first settled

black Britain for whom we have a face

and a name.

THE ROYAL TRUMPETERAD 1506–12

Today we’re going to look at the

pictures from the Westminster

Tournament Roll and describe what

John Blanke saw on that day.

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The Procession

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The Tournament

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The Royal Box

ART

Create your own horseman to add to the Westminster Tournament Roll