Charles Brandon

Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, was born around 1484, the son of Sir William Brandon who died at the Battle of Bosworth. Raised at the court of Henry VII, Charles became a close friend of Henry VIII. He gained prominence through military service, royal favour, and advantageous marriages. He was appointed Master of the Horse in 1513 and later created Duke of Suffolk. His secret marriage in 1515 to Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII and widow of Louis XII of France, was politically controversial but ultimately accepted by the king after intervention by Thomas Wolsey.

Brandon played key roles in several royal campaigns and policies, including the Field of the Cloth of Gold, wars in France, and the suppression of Queen Catherine’s household. He benefited from the dissolution of the monasteries and was entrusted with diplomatic and military duties in Scotland and France. He died in 1545 at Guildford, having remained a trusted figure at Henry VIII’s court for four decades. His burial took place in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, at the king’s expense.