John Blanke

Extract from the 1511 Westminster Tournament Roll almost certainly showing Blanke, wearing a green turban latticed with yellow

John Blanke (also rendered Blancke or Blak) (fl. 1501–1511) was a musician of African descent in London from the early Tudor period, who probably came to England as one of the African attendants of Catherine of Aragon in 1501. He is one of the earliest recorded black people in what is now the United Kingdom after the Roman period.[1][2] His name may refer to his skin colour, derived either from the word "black" or possibly from the French word "blanc", meaning white.

  1. ^ Olusoga, Davi (13 August 2017). "Black people have had a presence in our history for centuries. Get over it". The Guardian.
  2. ^ Gregory, Phil (26 September 2010). "Black Romans in Britain". The Black Presence in Britain.