John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock

Sir John Wenlock, as portrayed in stained glass window in the Wenlock chapel at St. Mary's Church, Luton.
The Wenlock chapel.
Arms of Sir John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock KG.

John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock KG (c.1400/04 – 4 May 1471) was an English politician, diplomat, soldier and courtier. He fought on the sides of both the Yorkists and the Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses.[1] He has been called "the prince of turncoats",[2] although some historians suggest the label may not be fair as this behavior was commonplace during the Wars of the Roses.[3] Others contend that even when Wenlock was not actually changing sides, he was engaged in "fence sitting par excellence."[2]

Although Wenlock is often remembered for his military exploits (he fought in six of the major battles of the Wars of the Roses, as well as the sieges of the Tower of London and Dunstanburgh Castle), most of his public service was in the diplomatic field, and contemporary accounts record him as being regarded as "very clever".[2]

  1. ^ Kekewich, Margaret L. (2004). "Wenlock, John, first Baron Wenlock (d. 1471)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online) (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29043. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c John Ashdown-Hill (2014). The Third Plantagenet: George, Duke of Clarence, Richard III's Brother. The History Press. ISBN 9780750955393.
  3. ^ Brondarbit, Alexander R. (2022). Soldier, Rebel, Traitor: John, Lord Wenlock and the Wars of the Roses. Pen & Sword. p. 224. ISBN 9781399003476. The historiographical depiction suggesting he was uniquely unprincipled, a 'Prince of Turncoats' or trimmer par excellence, does not withstand scrutiny. Like most of his fellow aristocrats, he was a mixture of both vice and virtue. He was quite conventional in this respect. The verdict that he was particularly amoral ignores the bulk of his career that took place before 1460..