Sir Thomas Kyriell (1396–18 February 1461) was an English soldier of the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Planta ...

and the opening of the

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the throne of England, English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These w ...

. He was executed after the Second Battle of St Albans.

Background

The de Criol, Kyriel or Kyriell family built up a position in Kent, where they fortified

Westenhanger Castle Westenhanger Castle is a fortified manor house once owned by royalty, located next to Westenhanger railway station and the grandstand of Folkestone Racecourse in Kent. The castle has endured a period of steady decline to near ruination in recent ...

, from the middle of the 14th century.

Military career

Kyriell served under Henry V of England in Normandy, and in 1436 held the fortress at

Le Crotoy Le Crotoy () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. The inhabitants are known as ''Crotellois''. History Isabella of France, queen consort of England, and her son (later Edward III of England) embarked f ...

in Picardy. He served under John, Lord Talbot at this period, around Rouen, and was created

knight-banneret A knight banneret, sometimes known simply as banneret, was a medieval knight ("a commoner of rank") who led a company of troops during time of war under his own banner (which was square-shaped, in contrast to the tapering standard or the penno ...

by 1443. He led the English forces in the 1450 French victory, the

Battle of Formigny The Battle of Formigny, fought on 15 April 1450, was a major battle of the Hundred Years' War between the kingdom of England and the kingdom of France. The destruction of England's last army in Normandy in the battle and the decisive French vi ...

. Released after being captured at Formigny, Kyriell was a Member of Parliament, representing Kent in the Parliaments of 1455-56 and 1460-61. There he showed himself a

Yorkist The House of York was a cadet branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Three of its members became kings of England in the late 15th century. The House of York descended in the male line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, t ...

, by his opposition to

Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, 4th Earl of Somerset, 1st Earl of Dorset, 1st Marquess of Dorset styled 1st Count of Mortain, KG (140622 May 1455), was an English nobleman and an important figure during the Hundred Years' War. His rival ...

. He was openly a Yorkist commander by 1460, as heavy fighting began in the Wars of the Roses. Warwick the Kingmaker had Kyriell elected to the Order of the Garter on 8 February 1461, with himself and two others. At the Second Battle of St Albans, eight days later, Kyriell was on the losing side captured while guarding the king,

Henry VI of England Henry VI (6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. The only child of Henry V, he succeeded to the English throne ...

, who was a Yorkist prisoner.

Margaret of Anjou Margaret of Anjou (french: link=no, Marguerite; 23 March 1430 – 25 August 1482) was Queen of England and nominally Queen of France by marriage to King Henry VI from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. Born in the Duchy of Lorrai ...

had Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales pronounce the fate of the Yorkist guard, and they were beheaded.

Family

Kyriel married Cicely, daughter of the Somerset Member of Parliament John Stourton, whose first husband was John Hill of Spaxton.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kyriell, Thomas 1396 births 1461 deaths English army officers People from Folkestone and Hythe District Knights of the Garter English MPs 1455 English MPs 1461