Robert Hales

Sir Robert Hales (c. 1325 – 14 June 1381) was Grand Prior of the Knights Hospitaller of England, Lord High Treasurer, and Admiral of the West. He was killed in the Peasants' Revolt.

For other people named Robert Hales, see Robert Hales (disambiguation).

Sir

Robert Hales
The murder of Archbishop Simon Sudbury and Hales at the Tower of London
Bornc. 1325
High Halden, Kent, England
Died14 June 1381(1381-06-14) (aged 55–56)
Tower Hill, London, England
Service years1372–1377
RankAdmiral of the West

Career

In 1372 Robert Hales became the Lord/Grand Prior of the Knights Hospitallers of England. Richard II appointed him Lord High Treasurer,[1] so he was responsible for collecting the hated poll tax. He was appointed Admiral of the West from 24 November 1376 – 24 November 1377.[2] He was beheaded on 14 June 1381 on Tower Hill during the Peasants' Revolt. His estate and assets were inherited by his brother, Sir Nicholas de Hales, the progenitor of many prominent English Hales families.[3] Robert Hales was present at many latter-day crusader expeditions, and is recorded as leading a contingent of hospitaller knights at the sacking of Alexandria.

Hales was described by the chronicler Thomas Walsingham as a "Magnanimous knight, though the Commons loved him not".

Personal

He was the son of Nicholas Hales and his brother was Sir Nicholas de Hales, who inherited his father's estates in Kent.[1][4]

References
  1. Hasted, Edward (1798). "Parishes". The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Institute of Historical Research. 6: 80–98. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  2. Gorski, Richard (2012). Roles of the Sea in Medieval England. Boydell Press. p. 84. ISBN 9781843837015.
  3. Stuart, Isaac William; Hale, Edward Everett (1856). Life of Captain Nathan Hale, the martyr-spy of the American revolution. The Library of Congress. Hartford, F. A. Brown; New York, D. Appleton & co.; [etc., etc.]
  4. Burke, John. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies ..., p. 232, at Google Books
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.