John Kendal (d. 1501)

John Kendal (d. 1501), Turcopolier (Colonel General of Infantry) of the Order of St John (1477), the Siege of Rhodes by the Turks, cast bronze portrait Medal, 1480, of Italian manufacture, bust right with long hair, IO KENDAL RHODI TVRCVOPELLERIVS, rev., shield of arms, TEMPORE. OBSIDIONIS. TVRCHORVM. MCCCCLXXX, 55mm (MI 17/3; Hill 934; Furse p. 379). A somewhat worn but original cast with old but later gilding applied, reverse fine, obverse better.

John Kendal was commissary and deputy to Pope Sixtus IV "throughout the globe" and Turcopolier at the time of the siege of Rhodes by the Turks. The latter post was annexed to that of Grand Bailiff of England and he was also Prior of the Order of St John in London and Grand Master. As such the task of recruiting for troops, especially in Ireland, to fight the Turks fell to him. The medal is sold with an old collector's ticket priced at "2000 frs".

Provenance: Baldwin Auction, 4 May, 2006 (lot 2311).