Lady Margaret

DEATH OF MARGARET BEAUFORT

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Lady Margaret was born at Bletsoe Castle, Bedfordshire, either on 31 May 1441 or on 31 May 1443.

The day and month are not disputed, as she required Westminster Abbey to celebrate her birthday on 31 May.

She was the daughter and sole heiress of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, a legitimised grandson of John of Gaunt.

Her Mother was Margaret Beauchamp of Bletsoe.

Margaret had two maternal half-brothers and three maternal half-sisters from her mother's first marriage, whom she supported after her son's accession to the throne.

Margaret was first married to John de la Pole.

The wedding may have been held between 28th January and 7th February 1444, when she was perhaps a year old but certainly no more than three.

Three years later, her marriage to de la Pole was dissolved, and King Henry VI granted Margaret's wardship to his own half-brothers, Jasper and Edmund Tudor.

Margaret never recognised the marriage to de la Pole, and in her will, made in 1472, Margaret refers to Edmund Tudor as her first husband.

Henry VI chose Margaret as a bride for his half-brother, Edmund Tudor.

The king was then without a child or any legitimate siblings, and as Edmund was the eldest son of the king's mother, Catherine of Valois from Owen Tudor, Edmund was the designated heir.

At age twelve Margaret married Edmund Tudor, twelve years her senior, on 1 November 1455.

The Wars of the Roses had just begun, and Edmund, a Lancastrian, was taken prisoner by Yorkist forces.

He died of the plague in captivity, on 3 November 1456, leaving Margaret, a 13-year-old widow who was pregnant with their child.

On 28th January 1457, Margaret gave birth to a son, Henry Tudor.

She was thirteen years old at the time, and not yet physically mature.

The birth was extremely difficult, and may have done permanent, physical damage to Margaret.

Despite two later marriages, she never had another child.

Margaret married Henry Sir Stafford, on 3 January 1458, at the age of fourteen.

A dispensation for the marriage was necessary, because Margaret and Stafford were second cousins.

They had a fairly long and harmonious relationship, and for a time they were able to visit Margaret's son, Henry, who had been entrusted to Jasper Tudor's care at Pembroke Castle in Wales.

At the Battle of Towton, in 1461, the Yorks held a victory over the Lancastrians, and Edward IV was now King of England.

Jasper Tudor was forced to flee to Scotland and France, to muster support for the Lancastrian cause.

Henry Tudor became the ward of Sir William Herbert, and Margaret was allowed some visits to see her son.

In 1469 the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick, incited a rebellion against Edward IV, capturing him after a defeat of his forces.

Margaret used this opportunity to attempt to negotiate with Clarence, hoping to regain custody of her son

Soon, however, Edward was back in power.

Warwick's continued interference, resulted in the brief reinstallation of the Lancastrian Henry VI in 1470–71, which was effectively ended with the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Barnet.

Faced with York rule once again, Jasper Tudor, took Margaret's 13 year old son, Henry, and fled abroad.

It would be fourteen years, before Margaret saw her son again.

Margaret's husband, Lord Stafford, died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Barnet, fighting for the Yorkists.

At 28 years old, Margaret became a widow again.

In June 1472, Margaret married Thomas Stanley, Lord High Constable.

Their marriage was one of convenience, marrying Stanley enabled Margaret to return to the court of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville.

Margarets efforts to befriend the Queen were successful ~ she was chosen by Queen Elizabeth, to be godmother to one of her daughters.

Following Edward IV's death in April 1483 and the seizure of the throne in June by Richard III, from Edward V, Margaret was back at court, serving the new Queen, Anne Neville ~ she even carried Anne's train at her coronation.

Seeking her son's return to England, Margaret appears to have negotiated with Richard.

Margaret is also known to have conspired with Elizabeth Woodville, to aid the release of The two Princes, whom Richard III had confined to the Tower of London.

After rumours spread of the boys' death, Margaret began to hope well of her son’s fortune.

Margaret is believed to have initiated secret discussions with Elizabeth Woodville, to remove King Richard, and replace him with Margaret's son, Henry Tudor.

Their alliance would further be secured by the agreed betrothal of Margaret's Son, Henry Tudor to Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV's daughter, Elizabeth of York.

They hoped this proposal would attract both Yorkist and Lancastrian support.

After her son defeated Richard III, Henry Tudor was now the King of England.

Margaret was referred to in court as "My Lady the King's Mother"

As arranged by their mothers, Henry married Elizabeth of York.

Margaret took on the role as a superior, to her husbands new Bride.

She wore robes of the same quality as the queen consort, and walked only half a pace behind her.

Margaret exerted considerable political influence within the Tudor court.

The power she exercised was evidently obvious, Henry was influenced by his mother in affairs of the state, or personal interests.

In the earlier years of her son's reign, records indicate Margaret usually accompanied the royal couple when they traveled.

In 1499, with her husband's permission, she took a vow of chastity.

Taking a vow of chastity, while being married was unusual.

Margaret moved away from her husband, and lived alone at Collyweston, Northamptonshire.

She was regularly visited by her husband, and she had rooms reserved for him.

Margaret was still actively involved in the domestic life of the royal family.

She created a proper protocol regarding the birth and upbringing of royal heirs.

Margaret and Elizabeth worked together, when planning the marriages of the royal children.

After Elizabeth's death in 1503, Margaret became the principal female presence at court.

When Prince Arthur died, Margaret played a part in ensuring her grandson Henry VIII, the new heir apparent, was raised appropriately.

Henry VII died on 21 April 1509.

For two days after the death of her son, Margaret worked to secure the smooth succession of her grandson, Henry VIII.

She arranged her son's funeral and her grandson's coronation.

At her son's funeral she was given precedence over all the other women of the royal family.

Before her death Margaret also left her mark on the early reign of Henry VIII, when her eighteen-year-old grandson chose members of his privy council, it was Margaret's suggestions he took.

Margaret died in the Deanery of Westminster Abbey, on 29th June 1509.

This was the day after her grandson Henry VIII's 18th birthday, 5 days after his coronation. and just over two months after the death of her son.

She is buried in the Henry VII Chapel of the Abbey.

Her tomb is now situated between the later graves of William III, Mary II and the tomb of her great-great-granddaughter Mary Queen of Scots.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Margaret_Beaufort

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders