The "9th worst Briton in the last 1,000 years"

Putney Park Lane is an unmade road popular with dog walkers, but a few hundred years ago this would have been the hunting grounds and farmland that supported the Archbishops of Canterbury, who had a palace nearby on the river in Mortlake.

The Archbishops were extremely wealthy and held great power over the people and the kings of England. One of the Archbishops was Thomas Arundel, who was voted the worst Briton in the 15th century and the 9th worst Briton of the last 1,000 years by readers of the BBC History magazine.

Thomas was just 20 years old, when the Pope made him a Bishop.

The reason for this appointment was not talent, it was the fact Thomas' father (the Earl of Arundel) had a lot of financial leverage with the ageing King of England (Edward III). This was an era of great meddling by nobles in the affairs of the Kings, and it was about to get worse. Because Edward III died a year after his son, his grandson Richard became King aged 10.

Young King Richard II was powerless at the start of his reign. The country was run by advisors.

Arundel's brother was frustrated with Richard's advisors, and along with some very influential friends impeached the old advisors and took control by setting up a Commission that ran the country for a year. At this point Thomas Arundel was made both Chancellor and Archbishop of York. But then his brother launched a rebellion against the king. Richard regained control but bore a grudge against the group.

Richard kept his enemies closer than his friends, and appointed Arundel as Chancellor for a second time. He was also made the Archbishop of Canterbury. A year later, not realising the size of the King's grudge Arundel exposed the whereabouts of his rebellious brother. His brother was beheaded and Arundel was stripped of his role as Archbishop and sent into exile to Florence.

While in exile he made friends with one of his brother's cohorts, Henry Bollingbroke, a first cousin to Richard. As soon as Richard went on a military campaign in Ireland Arundel and Bollingbroke returned to London and took control. They confiscated the lands of any noble who opposed them. Henry became king in 1399 (the first English-speaking king in 300 years). Richard held out in Wales. Arundel lied on oath to Richard about his safety and lured him out of Conwy castle. Once captured Richard was imprisoned and died under suspiciious circumstances. It's thought he was starved to death.

Arundel was re-instated as Archbishop of Canterbury until his death, and during that time the land we stand on would have fed him and his guests. He also became the Lord Chancellor - two more times.

As Archbishop Arundel began a vicious campaign against a new movement called the Lollards. The Lollards wanted to reform the church and to have the Bible written in English. Arundel forced through an act that had several priests supporting the Lollards burned to death in public. It was for this reason historians voted him the worst Briton in the 15th century.

So Arundel was implicit in the capture and death of the King and the death of many people who wanted to read the Bible in English. Nice work!

P.S. Month Python's Terry Jones has written a treatise accusing Arundel for the death of The Pilgrim's Tales writer Geoffrey Chaucer.