No Strangers to Scandal
The Love Story of Charles and Mary Brandon

 

    Charles Brandon was no stranger to scandal. The year was 1515, and he was about to embark on his most scandalous voyage yet.

     

    Mary Tudor, younger sister of King Henry VIII, had been sent to France in 1514, at the age of 18, to marry King Louis XII. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and Henry had worked out a peace treaty with France and marriage to King Louis was part of the deal. At 52 years old, Louis was a great deal older than Mary. Mary travelled to France with her maids in waiting, to include Anne Boleyn, and arrived in October. Mary would not have to suffer her marriage for very long- King Louis XII died less than three months later. Mary was now officially Dowager Queen of France.

 

    King Henry VIII was under no obligation to France any longer. He wanted to bring his sister back home. Who, you ask, will he entrust to bring back the Dowager Queen of France? None other than his best friend, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

 

    Brandon was a childhood friend of Henry’s. In fact, his father, William Brandon, was King Henry VII’s standard bearer at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. William Brandon was unfortunately killed during the battle by King Richard III. Perhaps this was a kind act of King Henry VII? Allowing William Brandon’s son to be brought up with his own children, in reward for his acts of valor? It appears Charles was the only person in Henry’s life who was able to retain power, and his head for that matter, throughout Henry’s tumultuous reign.

 

    But Brandon had earned that position. Henry had elevated Brandon throughout his reign, giving him more leadership roles in battles and positions of power. In fact, in September of 1513, after Tournai surrendered, the keys to the city were given to Henry. Henry quickly passed the keys off to Brandon, a great honor. There were many celebrations after the surrender of Tournai and that is where Brandon first met Margaret of Austria.

 

Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy, Bernard van Orley, c. 1510-1520

    

    Margaret of Austria was the daughter of Maximilian, Holy Roman Emperor. She was a widow twice over at this point. She swore to never marry again. But Henry had other plans- he thought Brandon would be a great match for her. The scandalous story goes that one-night, Brandon fell upon his knees before Margaret of Austria. He reached for her hand and removed a ring she had been wearing. Brandon put the ring on his own finger. Margaret laughed and asked for the ring back. Eventually Brandon returned the ring, but he wouldn’t stop there. On a second occasion he did the same thing. Margaret no longer found it amusing but, rather, was annoyed Brandon would think that he, of a much lower status then she, would think to have her for a wife. It was the scandal of Christendom and angered the Holy Roman Emperor, the most powerful man, and Henry’s foe.

 

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, Albrecht Durer, 1519 

    After King Louis XII’s death in January 1515, Brandon was dispatched to France to retrieve Mary and as much of her dowry as possible. Before leaving, Henry forced Brandon to swear he would not wed Mary before arriving in England. This, coupled with Mary’s agreement to marry Louis with the stipulation that should she outlive him, she would be free to marry whomsoever she chose, is very interesting indeed. This leads me to believe Mary and Brandon had some sort of romantic relationship prior to her departure for France. It also leads me to believe Henry was very aware of the relationship.

 

    Either way, upon Brandon arriving in Paris, Mary took matters into her own hands and offered herself in marriage. Brandon agreed and the two were secretly wed in France. The exact date of the wedding is not known, but more than likely occurred in February. What is known is the couple did not have the permission of King Henry VIII. Even more, the two were explicitly told to not marry until they were on English soil. For the first time in his life, Brandon had committed treason- he wed a member of the royal family without permission.

 

    The pair decided their best course of action would be to get ahead of the rumors. Both engaged in letters to the king in which they apologized, stated they acted out of love, and were indebted to Henry forever. Brandon reminded Henry of their long friendship and Mary reminded Henry of his promise to marry freely. With Wolsey’s help, Henry finally gave in to his sister and new brother-in-law. Brandon and Mary were married in a public ceremony in France on 31 March 1515. They set sail across the English Channel a few days later. Mary was returning home with her husband.

 

    In exchange for Henry’s forgiveness, the couple were forced to hand over Mary’s dowry, to include her plate and jewels, pay an exorbitant amount in fines, and Brandon was forced to give up his wardship of Lady Lisle (not the ward he would later marry…but that’s another scandalous story for another day!). There are no records to indicate the couple was ever banished from court, contrary to modern belief. Brandon and Mary were formally wed in England at Greenwich Palace on 13 May 1515.

 

Wedding Portrait of Charles and Mary Brandon, Attributed to Jan Gossaert, c. 1516

    

    After a brief honeymoon, the couple would return to court later in 1515. Brandon and Mary would remain married until her death in 1533. They had four children together. Contrary to belief, Henry did not seem to harbor any feelings of ill will towards the marriage. In fact, the tremendous fine they were supposed to have paid, was never paid in full. Most strikingly, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, had committed treason and was allowed to keep his head.