John Blanke -- Africa

Historians have documented the arrival of black people in Britain as
members of the Roman Army.  The first reference to a black African in Britain in the historical record is at a Roman military settlement at Carlisle, in ca. 210 AD. Shortly after, in the years 253-58 AD, Hadrian's Wall on the Empire's northern frontier was guarded by a division raised in North Africa. 

Contemporary records also point to Africans living in Britain during, and after the Roman occupation.  During the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, other African soldiers were active in Britain, eight African men had positions of command in the northern Roman legions, other Africans held high rank as equestrian officers.

Septimus Severus is reported to have been approached by a black African soldier while he crossed Hadrian's Wall on his return from a battle in Scotland.  Africans have lived in Britain at various times, however most of those records have been mislaid, the continuous presence of black people in Britain is traced to the 12th century.  In 1596 Queen Elizabeth I proclaimed the number of "blackamoors," or people of African descent, excessive and ordered their expulsion.  However the Queens employment of a black entertainer and a black page are said to have undermined the deportation effort. 

John Blanke (Blancke or Blak) was a black musician in London in the early 16th century.  He probably came to England as one of the African attendants of Catherine of Aragon in 1501.  He is one of the earliest recorded black people in England after the Roman period.

Little is known of Blanke's life, but he was paid 8d per day by Henry VII, and a surviving document from the accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber records a payment of 20 shillings to "John Blanke, the blacke trumpeter" as wages for the month of November 1507.

An illuminated manuscript 60 feet long now held by the College of Arms which records the royal procession to the lavish tournament held on 12 and 13 February 1511 to celebrate the birth of a son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall, to Catherine and Henry VIII on New Year's Day 1511.  He appears as one of the six trumpeters in the royal retinue.  All six of the trumpeters are mounted on horseback, wearing yellow and grey livery, and bearing a trumpet decorated with the royal arms.  He appears a second time in the roll, in the procession back, wearing a green and gold head covering.  The infant prince died days later, on 23 February 1511.

Black trumpeters and drummers are recorded in other Renaissance cities, including a trumpeter for the royal ship Barcha in Naples in 1470, and black drummers in the court of James IV in Edinburgh.