Is the helmet that hangs above the grave of Sir Charles Brandon really his helmet that he wore during his lifetime?
I'm sorry but I don't know the answer to that one. I know that he is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and that there is a jousting helmet with his name on at his grave but I'm not sure whether it is simply symbolic or whether he actually wore it.
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Thank you Claire. Do you have a link to St. George’s Chapel and if so do you actually think they would take the time to answer this question?? Sir Charles Brandon is one of my hero’s of the Tudor era and I plan on visiting his grave on this next visit…..You are so helpful Claire…love chatting with you all of the time…It is like you are my time machine to the Tudor era. I think what I ordered, Jan Seymour Ruby Locket, will be a great match to Catherine Parr’s red ear rings…what say you….
The helmet is merely symbolic, although the legend to it is that it was actually placed on the alter at the time of his interment by the King, who arranged and paid for a full state funeral for Charles Brandon in Windsor. He lay in state in Westminster, the old Saint Paul’s and in Saint George’s Chapel on three consecutive days, had a mass said at each place and several leading members of the court and his own estates came to mourn him. All of his surviving daughters and his two sons, as well as Duchess Katherine attended and hundreds of people from his estates and who were related to him. He had a send off that was good enough for a king. He lies in the south transit, to the right of the central chapel, in which is buried the King and Jane Seymour, and his own grave is level with that of the king.
There used to be an inscription, but it was removed, and then it was put back a few years ago. His coat of arms have been restored and they are linked with those of the Tudors and the Poles. He also has a stall in the chapel and he has his chair and arms in the roll of arms gallery, which is the garter chair with his portrait and his arms on, as he was a knight of the garter, a great honour and a rare one.
It was the custom for a knights shield, sword and helmet to rest on his coffin until it was laid to rest and then these were handed to his eldest male heir to remind them of the valour of their father. It was also a custom that an exact copy was made specially for the occasion and that this would rest above the grave. It is this that is more likely to be the helmet that is there today.
Hope this helps.
Cheers