As part of Rosslyn Hill Chapel's 'Celebrating Black Lives' series, we celebrate an African musician in the court of King Henry VII and Henry VIII, John Blanke.
John Blanke, of African descent, lived in Tudor England and acted as a prominent black musician in the court of King Henry VII and King Henry VIII. His life provides valuable insights into the lives of Africans and racial dynamics in general during Tudor England.
The life of John Blanke is one of the first black lives recorded in Britain through court records. His role was mainly as a trumpeter under the reign of Henry VII and VIII. He performed at all significant events including the funeral of Henry VII and the coronation of Henry VIII. John is depicted in the Westminster Tournament Roll which celebrates the birth of Henry VIII's son. This is one of the earliest depictions of a black person in Tudor England which speaks to his significance and importance as a court musician.
His integration into the royal household and acknowledgement of his importance can also be seen in the documentation that suggests John received a wedding gift from the king. Additionally, John petitioned Henry VIII for a pay rise which was successfully granted to him on December 14, 1512, by increasing his daily payment from 8 to 16 pence. The life of John Blanke is a testament to how Africans were respected and held important positions in Tudor times as opposed to the common view that they were only enslaved. John's depiction in the Westminster Tournament Roll continually ensures that he remains a visible and recognized figure in British history and the story of his life serves as a symbol of the long-standing diversity in British history and the contributions of black individuals to European culture and society.
Each month we mark the significant life of a person of colour as a positive statement and a contribution to redressing historical imbalances in our society. More profiles.
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