Africans in Europe

Who commissioned he engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius

The Queen of Portugal

What does the engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius depict

African trumpeters

The engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius creation date

1522

The engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius purpose

Adorns the St Auta altarpiece in the Convent of Madre de Deus in Lisbon

Importance of The engagement of St. Ursula and Prince Etherius

The more global a leader’s musicians were, the more prestige they carried

How long have African musicians been playing for European monarchs

Since the 12th century

Example of African musicians playing for European nobility

In Renaissance Italy, trumpeters from Africa worked on board royal ships

Tudor period

1480 - 1603

Tudor England characterization

Small and poor nation with no strong or direct links with the world beyond Europe

Tudor England connection to Africa

Any connection to Africa was mediated through Southern Europe

How did Africans arrive in England

Via Portugal Spain and Italy

African arrival from 1441 - 1521

Close to 156,000 Africans arrive in Span and Portugal

African presence in the Tudor period

Africans were increasingly present royal and aristocratic households in powerful European kingdoms (span, portugal, italy)

Field of the Cloth of Gold

diplomatic event to cement the ties of friendship between England and France

Who were the kings of the kingdoms in the Field of the cloth of gold

King Henry VIII of England

King Francis I of France

Field of the Cloth of Gold year

1520

Field of the Cloth of Gold importance

a tapestry depicts African trumpet players at this royal meeting

John Blanke

Henry VIII’s highly favored trumpeter

John Blanke birthpalce

North Africa

West Africa

Spain to African parents

John Blanke employment

musician so may have come from a musical family since music as a trade is passed from father to son

John Blanke: Turban

wearing a turban so could indicate Islamic heritage or may represent King Henry’s fashion sense

What does blanke refer to

Blanke could be a remark on his dark complexion, a play on words for French blanc

Why is the play on words for blanke overlooked

a very short person can be given the nickname tall

Importance of Blanke for John Blanke

although differences are observed, even those of color were not considered racial differences

Perks of being a musician for Blanke

wages were twice that of farmers and three times servants

room and board were paid by the king

petitioned for raise and got it

Importance of trumpeters

high status and regular wage

played whenever the king walked in the room and at important events like weddings

entertained the king and ministers at meal time

Trump street

street in London that housed the manufacturers of trumpets

How did John Blanke arrive in Tudor England

He may have arrived with Princess Katherine of Aragon when she married Prince Arthur of England

Spanish rulers when there was an increasing number of Africans living in Spain

Queen Isabella I

Ferdinand II

Parents of Katherine of Aragon

Where did most of the Africans in Spain come from

West Africa

Seville population in 1550

Africans made up almost 8% of the population

Description of Seville in 1574

A giant chessboard with equal numbers of Black and White chessmen

Sir Thomas More’s description of the spanish court

described the entourage that accompanied Katherine of Aragon as hunchbacked, barefoot, Ethiopian pigmies

Caveat for sir thomas more’s description

less an example of ricsim directed at the individuals than an expression of More’s general hostility to the spanish court

Slaves accompanying Katherine of Aragon

there were many household slaves in the Spanish royal court

two slaves sent to attend to her

Slavery in England early 1500s

the enlgish constitution did not recognize slavery

Why di England not recognize slavery

King Henry declares that England has too pure an air for slaves to breathe in

Not recognizing slavery in practice

King henry sets Pero Alvarez a slave from Portugal free

Freedom in Tudor period

not sharp contrast between free and enslaved, most people had some servile status

expansiveness of servitude

2/5ths of Englands rural population and 2/3rds of urban were bound to an employer in some way

Who did English serfs serve

feudal lords

Villeins

English servants bound to a feudal lord for life

How do you obtain villein status

status passed from father to son

How do you become enslaved or servile if not born into it

some enslaved outright, others placed there due to debt, imprisonment, or other misfortune

How was Blanke treated compared to others in his social class

the exact same as other court servants

given a new black outfit for king Henry II funeral and a new scarlet red outfit when King Henry III took over

Important distinction for analyzing Blanke’s treatment

the color and fabrix of the clothes is important according to sumptuary laws

sumptuary laws

Laws like the “Acts of Apparel” had strict rules regarding which social class of people could wear certain fabrics and colors.

Blanke’s marriage

married in 1512, given a Catholic cermenony

What is the prerequisite for Catholic marriage

Baptism

Baptism importance

Being baptized into Catholic faith was considered the greatest gift a person could receive

Who paid for Blanke’s wedding and outfit

King Henry VIII

What did Blanke wear to his wedding

Violet cloth

a hat