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Hey friends, welcome to the Renaissance English History Podcast. This is the weekly highlight reel of videos that I have put out on YouTube. So in case you don't know, you can go over to YouTube and watch all my videos. The channel is History and Coffee, and you can just search for my name as well, Heather Tesco, History and Coffee, and you will get it. And you can subscribe there. Thank you to the many people who already subscribe. And then what I've started doing is

weekly highlight reels of some of the videos that have gone out on YouTube that would be of interest to the podcast listeners as well. So thanks for listening. And you can also, like I said, go over and join me on YouTube history and coffee and search for Heather. And there I am. So let's get right into it.

Today, we are talking about a person I only just discovered recently. I've been podcasting for 15 years on Tudor England, and I only just discovered this person. Some of you probably know him and are going to be like, Heather, how did you not know this person? I don't know, but I just discovered him. I thought I would share him with you. It is Roland de Velville. He is probably the illegitimate son of Henry VII. So,

I think like I was reading some different books that he was mentioned in and I've read those books, but it just didn't click for me. So Henry VII had probably an illegitimate son when he was in exile and he never officially claimed him. But there is a lot of evidence to support that he was Henry's illegitimate son. So we are going to dig into that.

If you would like to see more Tudor history in your YouTube feed, why not go ahead and hit subscribe right now so you never miss a video that I put out. All right, Roland de Velville. His life remains one of the most fascinating yet little-known stories from the Tudor period. He was born around 1474 in Brittany. De Velville has long been speculated to be the illegitimate son of Henry VII.

His background and position at court have sparked intrigue among historians, with debate about his lineage continuing until the present day. In 1967, Professor S.P. Crimes published a paper that controversially dismissed de Velville's royal connection, causing historians to question his place in history. However, more recent analyses have revived the possibility that Roland was indeed Henry VII's son.

In fact, I came across a Facebook post that Alison Weir had done about six months ago, just straight out saying this was Henry's illegitimate son, like not even a question. Anyway, his life at court as a companion and soldier with his close, almost familial relationship to the Tudor kings hints at a unique and probably royal background that warrants further examination.

so roland de velville was born like i said in fourteen seventy four in brittany in a region that was then under the governance of duke francis the second his mother's identity remains a mystery but it's thought that she may have been connected to the counts of d'urthal in nantes potentially placing her within henry tudor's orbit during his time in exile

At this time, Henry was not yet a king, but a young, landless noble closely monitored by his Breton hosts. While in Brittany, he had little hope of ever regaining his titles or his wealth, and his future appeared quite bleak. This context raises the possibility that Henry might have developed a relationship with a Breton noblewoman, leading to Roland's birth, a

a theory further supported by their physical proximity in Nantes during this period. Now, Roland did eventually arrive in England, although when is still a mystery. Some accounts say that he arrived as early as 1485 when Henry took the throne. He would have only been about 11 or 10 or 11 by then. Others place him in England by 1494. Regardless of the exact timing, de Velville was firmly settled within the royal household by the early 1490s.

his first notable appearance came in fourteen ninety four when he participated in a joust celebrating the elevation of henry's young son prince henry future henry the eighth when he became duke of york

this participation was remarkable as jousts were exclusive to knights and nobles an indication of this unspoken recognition that de velville had in court during his early years in england de velville lived in the royal apartments in westminster this arrangement was unusual for someone without an official title or a known noble lineage hinting again at special status conferred upon him by the king

Henry VII's decision to house him within the royal residence raised eyebrows, particularly given the king's notoriously cautious spending. Henry even granted de Velville a pension of 40 marks per year, an uncommon gift from the miserly monarch, who was famously frugal with court expenditures.

this financial support along with his prestigious residence indicated that de velville had a very unique position at court which went beyond just favoritism though he had no formal title beyond knighthood de velville became an unofficial royal companion to henry the seventh he spent much of his time jousting a passion that made him a skilled soldier and later a respected commander

beyond the tilt-yard he engaged in hunting and hawking with the king as well as gambling pastimes generally reserved for those of high social standing now despite his close bond with the king de velville never received an elevated title or land grants which would typically reflect a noble lineage

his knighthood and royal proximity however hint at a deeply valued connection with henry that extended beyond just loyalty so de velville spent his life at court in a very lively and unconventional role best described as a royal companion unlike other noblemen who might have sought titles or states or a firm social position de velville seemed content to live a freer and less structured life

Much of his time was spent indulging in the courtly pastimes of the day. He jousted, he gambled, and he drank, sometimes to excess. He was apparently known for his obsessive jousting, and he honed his skills as both a soldier and a commander, spending countless hours practicing in the tilt yard. However, his passion for gambling and less prudent financial habits suggested that he may not have been as driven by long-term ambitions as his peer.

despite his close relationship with the king de velville made little effort to accumulate property or wealth unlike other courtiers who climbed the social ladder by marrying advantageously or building estates de velville seemed content to live off of his pension and the king's favor he never built up a substantial estate

He rarely invested in land, a decision that showed his really kind of carefree, almost adolescent approach to life. You know what? It seems like maybe he was the Tudor version of, like, a beach bum or a hippie. I'm totally okay with it. I'm not going to hate on it. Anyway, in 1509, after Henry VII, his probable father died, Roland's status shifted. Henry VII was the first to die.

Henry VIII appointed him as constable of Beaumarie Castle in Anglesey in North Wales, making his first formal position, and it was a very significant one at that. This role provided a respectable income, second only to that of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in North Wales, but it also established Velville as a prominent local figure.

He spent his later years in Beaumarie overseeing the castle's upkeep and maintaining local peace, though he did return to court when summoned. This prestigious appointment allowed de Velville to operate independently of court life, marking his transition from court companion to a trusted official of the crown. Henry VIII's support for de Velville went beyond that of the initial appointment. When Parliament attempted to suspend his pension, Henry personally intervened,

ensuring that the funds continued. This reinforcement of de Velville's status hints at a close bond, perhaps even a sense of family loyalty. An episode in 1517 also further suggests a connection. De Velville was briefly imprisoned for, quote, slandering the king's council, a very serious offense. His release, however, was conditional upon his remaining near the king, implying that his presence was valued by Henry VIII.

This was a pretty unusual punishment. So it shows that Henry, you know, probably wanted to have him around for whatever reason, family loyalty, we don't know. De Velville's military career is marked by notable campaigns as well. He participated in the 1513 Battle of the Spurs, a victory for Henry VIII's forces against the French.

His skills honed through years of jousting and courtly training made him a valuable commander. He was also part of Henry VIII's royal entourage at the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520.

His presence at key court ceremonies further cemented his role as a trusted courtier. He attended the funerals of Henry VII in 1509 and Henry VIII's young son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall, in 1511, signifying his deep connection to the royal family. So what are the arguments for him being Henry VII's son?

First, his mother's likely connection to Breton nobility suggests a plausible context for his relationship with Henry VII and Henry Tudor. Henry, during his years in exile, was frequently housed in or near Nantes, close to where de Velville's maternal family is believed to have lived.

The proximity and timing make a romantic liaison between the young landless Henry and a noblewoman in Brittany very feasible. Heraldic clues also support the theory. De Velville wore a coat of arms similar to that of the Coscare family in Brittany, who were of noble blood and known for their emblem of a black boar. Additionally, descriptions of his physical appearance add weight to the claim.

He was known to be tall and fair, resembling Henry VIII. His physical similarity to the Tudors shows potential familial ties, further suggesting a relationship to the king. Also, Henry VII wasn't really known for being a big gift giver to people who weren't close to him. So the idea that he was just randomly giving out money to strange Breton people, it doesn't really add up to me. So that seems like a pretty strong case for Henry.

But then in 1967, Professor S.B. Crimes published a paper dismissing his alleged royal lineage, claiming it was an allegation by an amateur historian.

The assertion, though, faced significant challenges. Research in subsequent decades, including Welsh bardic poems from de Velville's era, suggest that the claims of his royal parentage was not simply an invention of later historians. Welsh poets frequently refer to him as of kingly blood, a phrase that implies a royal connection, obviously. These references, combined with newer assessments, have called Crimes' stance into question

reviving the belief that de Velville's closeness to the Tudor throne may not have been merely coincidental.

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Take the quiz at ilmakiage.com slash quiz. That's I-L-M-A-K-I-A-G-E dot com slash quiz. The other question against would be why didn't Henry just claim him? It happened before he was married. It's not like it was before he was married to Elizabeth of York. Why didn't he just claim him as his son? And I don't have an answer to that. Maybe he wanted the English people to think that he was really, you know, chaste.

I don't know. I don't know why he wouldn't have claimed him. It wasn't unusual. Edward IV had illegitimate children. It wasn't particularly an unusual thing to have. So I'm not sure why he wouldn't have claimed him, but that is definitely an argument against as well. Roland de Velville died in 1535, but he was still remembered by Henry VIII and people at court even years later. In 1544, Henry VIII learned that Beaumarie could no longer raise troops as it had during de Velville's tenure.

And he expressed surprise and said he missed the loss of his trusted constable there. This is a rare statement of regret that's recorded from the often callous king. Shows a deep respect that he had for de Velville. So what do you think, my friend? It seems like there's too much happening, too many coincidental gifts and privileges that are just unexplained.

Seems like a little too much to just be random. So I suspect he probably is a son of Henry VII, but I don't know why Henry wouldn't have just said so.

Today is a video that comes from a channel member request. This is for Tiffany. Tiffany has requested a video on Roland D, the father of John D. So just a note, if you join this channel, you get lots of extra content, extra videos, mini courses, depending on what level you're at, author chats, all kinds of fun stuff.

So this is for Tiffany, Roland D. I got to tell you, Tiffany, you stumped me on this one. It is hard to find information on Roland D because, of course, as the father of John D, everything is in relation to John D. So it's just kind of all this stuff about John D. And then it's, oh, by the way, his father was Roland. It's really hard to find stuff on just Roland D. But the John D Society came through. They have some great resources on their page.

And so I was able to cobble together enough to make a video. And so if there's other stuff, Tiffany, that you know of because you requested this video, please leave a comment and let me know too what I missed, all right?

So Roland Dee was the father of the renowned mathematician, occultist John Dee, who was Elizabeth I's astronomer. He was a Welshman born around 1500, and his life reflects a lot of the opportunities and challenges that were faced by ambitious people in the rapidly changing society of Tudor England.

We talk about this a lot on this channel, how the 16th century saw this rise of the middle class that had never existed before. And these merchants, these tradespeople who started to grow in prominence in a way that hadn't, not like you hadn't seen it before at all, but it really grew during the 16th century. And Rowland was part of that growth. Rowland's origins can be traced back to Radnorshire in Wales, where his family had very deep ties to the region's history and culture.

His grandfather, Bedo Du, was known in the area as a prominent figure in Plymouth, a village with historical significance because of its association with Welsh resistance. So there was this cultural backdrop of pride in Welsh identity that likely influenced Rowland's ambitions as he sought to rise within the Tudor society.

Roland was born into a lineage that boasted a connection, however small, to Welsh nobility. We already mentioned his grandfather, Bedo Du, was part of this Welsh resistance line. The family's surname, Dee, actually is derived from the Welsh word du, meaning black. And this connection to Welsh identity was actually quite advantageous to Tudor England. The Tudors were Welsh as well, and Henry VII

launched his attack from wales had a lot of support from wales and so roland's heritage provided a foundation for his ambition while later influencing his son john dee who famously claimed descent from roderie the great king of wales

the dee family's move to london occurred following the ascension of henry the seventh the first tudor monarch henry tudor's victory at bosworth brought many welsh supporters into positions of influence and the dees were among those who benefited this migration marked a significant shift for the family positioning them in the heart of england's political and economic life

by the early sixteenth century roland had established himself in london as a mercer a member of one of the most prestigious trade guilds in the city mercers specialized in the trade of fine fabrics like silks velvets and linens which were highly sought by the wealthy and members of the royal court this trade required not only business acumen but also strong connections to suppliers and buyers across europe

Roland's position as a Mercer provided him with financial stability and a network of influential contacts, making it a natural stepping stone into the world of royal service. Let's talk about something that's not always top of mind but still really important. Life insurance. Why? Because it offers financial protection for your loved ones and can help them pay for things like a mortgage, credit card debt. It can even help fund an education.

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Roland's integration into the Tudor court came through his appointment as a gentleman sewer to Henry VIII, a role that was likely facilitated by these connections that he cultivated as a mercer. Gentleman sewers were a type of servant, and they had a number of different tasks, from taking care of serving the monarch during mealtimes to dressing and undressing the monarch,

So it actually puts you into very close proximity to the king and their inner circle, even though it was seen as kind of a domestic role. You were right there with the king and with all of the people in power. Roland's role as a gentleman sewer seemed to have been responsible for overseeing some of the ceremonial aspects of royal dining. This was something that would have required a lot of trust and loyalty from him.

and through this role roland secured his family's connections to the court further solidifying their status in fifteen forty four roland received an additional appointment as one of two customs officers responsible for overseeing the packing and inspection of goods for export from london

This position granted by Henry VIII may have been a reward for his prior service as a gentleman sewer or part of the king's broader efforts to regulate trade more effectively. It showed Roland's reliability and skill in managing commerce and also showed his growing prominence within the mercantile elite. This role also helped him financially. It allowed him to collect fees and regulate the city's thriving export market.

Rowland's Welsh heritage became a significant part of his identity even as he acclimatized to life in London. The family attended services at St Dunstan's, a parish church in the mercantile heart of the city.

St. Dunstan, the church's namesake, was actually a notable figure in English history, and I love this story. St. Dunstan was a Bishop of London, an Abbot of Glastonbury, and later Archbishop of Canterbury. And St. Dunstan was also considered a patron saint of goldsmiths and, wait for it, alchemists, which is a super fun connection given John Dee's later pursuits in alchemy and Arthurian lore tied to Glastonbury.

this environment of faith trade and cultural intersections shaped roland's world view and provided the backdrop for his integration into the tudor court and society roland d s later years were marked by both opportunity and uncertainty in fifteen fifty three during the turbulent transition between edward the sixth and mary i roland faced imprisonment a fate that he shared with his son john d who was also arrested at the same time

on grounds of heresy and conjuring. Some historians have conflated Rowland's imprisonment with John's, but surviving records suggest that Rowland's detention stemmed from political or financial disputes rather than any kind of religious accusation. Or even John Dee at that point was in prison for supposedly conjuring a horoscope of when Mary would die, which was considered treason at that time as well.

so that while they were both imprisoned at about the same time it wasn't for the same thing he was pardoned in december of fifteen fifty four this allowed him to return back to his family but the episode strained both his finances and his reputation

It's interesting that in 1541, Roland was counted among the wealthiest merchants in the parish of St. Dunstan's. Yet he was actually unable to leave any kind of real inheritance to his son, John. So it seems like this episode of imprisonment and everything that came from that really hit him financially and he wasn't able to recover from that. But of course, his legacy lived on with the success of John Dee. John was an only child and Roland had invested heavily in money.

John's education, he paid for him to go to the best schools, and that would of course come back to pay dividends to John Dee as he was Elizabeth's chief astronomer and had the largest library in Europe and all of the things that we remember John Dee for. So Roland's life shows the shifting tides of Tudor England, a world where your ambition and your connection could propel you to prominence,

But the political turmoil could quickly unravel fortunes as well. Rowland's Welsh heritage, deeply intertwined with the rise of the Tudor dynasty and his success in integrating into England's mercantile and royal circles, paint a very vivid picture of a period defined by both opportunity and risk. And like we said, this growing middle class, this growing economy,

movement between classes that people suddenly had opportunities for that didn't exist so much in the past. Thanks so much for listening to this week's YouTube highlights. Remember, you can go over and subscribe. History and Coffee, Heather Tesco, you will find me there. And we'll be back again next week with more highlights from what went out on YouTube throughout the week. Thanks so much. Have a great week.

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