Edward Brampton
Sir Edward Brampton, (Portuguese: Duarte Brandão) KG (1440–1508)[1] was the Governor of Guernsey, a knight, adventurer, ship commander and the godson and protégé of King Edward IV of England.[2]
Origins
Duarte Brandão came from the Jewish community of Portugal.[3] He was the bastard son of Mariana, the wife of a Jewish blacksmith.[citation needed] Later Portuguese genealogy records indicate that his father could have been a Fernão Rodrigues Alardo, the main alcaide of Leiria and Óbidos. However, these differences can be attributed to the tendentious efforts of subsequent genealogists to "Christianise" his ancestral lines.[citation needed]
Life in England
Born in about 1440, to the Portuguese Jewish community, Duarte emigrated to England during the late 1450s. In order to be accepted at court, he converted to Christianity, having as his sponsor King Edward IV.[3] He adopted the English name of Edward Brampton in honour of his Godfather. He was an adventurer, soldier, ship commander and fought in several battles, such as Tewkesbury, and he was the Governor of Guernsey. With the help of his wife Lady Margaret Brampton, he won the favours of both Portuguese and English royalty. He was knighted in August, 1484 by Richard III.
During the years while the king was overthrown, Brampton had to leave England.
From his marriage with Lady Margaret Beaumont, Duarte had six children: João, Jorge, Henrique, Isabel, Maria and Joana.
Popular culture
On the novel The Family, by Mario Puzo, Duarte Brandão is depicted as an escapee from England who becomes the personal advisor of Pope Alexander VI (Borgia), a mortal opponent of Savonarola.
References
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Rosemary Horrox, ‘Brampton, Sir Edward (c.1440–1508)’, rev. first published 2004
- ^ Sir Edward Brampton: AN ANGLO-JEWISH ADVENTURER DURING THE WAR OF THE ROSES
- ^ a b The first of the Tudors: a study of Henry VII and his reign, (Taylor & Francis, 1981) By Michael Van Cleave Alexander, page 97