Alternative History: Should Elizabeth II Have Been Elizabeth III?

Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain [PD-US-expired] , via Wikimedia Commons

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Due to recent events (as in the death of Queen Elizabeth II), I am going to swerve a little bit away from Elizabeth Woodville, back to her daughter, Elizabeth of York. As previously discussed in past blog posts (AKA Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition and Did Elizabeth of York and Henry VII Have a Happy Marriage), many considered Elizabeth of York to be Edward IV’s heir, especially with the disappearance of the Princes of the Tower. However, she was relegated to the position of Queen Consort to Henry VII. So, here is the million-dollar question: should Elizabeth of York been the first Queen Elizabeth to rule in her own right, making the now late Queen Elizabeth II actually Elizabeth III?

In An Ideal World…

Yes. Elizabeth of York had the best claim to the throne. Full stop. Many of Henry VII’s supporters were actually Elizabeth of York’s supporters. It was his promise to marry Elizabeth of York that made him more eligible to the English throne than his own bloodline.

Henry VII’s primary claim to the throne (despite being the nephew of Henry VI) was through his mother, Margaret Beaufort. Margaret Beaufort was the great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt, who was the son of Edward III and the father of Henry IV. She was descended from the side of the family that began as the illegitimate children of John of Gaunt and Kathryn Swynford who were then legitimized when John and Kathryn later married. By the end of the War of the Roses, despite being a woman (as everybody were sexist pigs back then) and a member of the Beaufort family, she had the most legitimate claim to the throne of the remaining Lancasters.

Two Potential Queens; One Throne

So pretty much, there were two women who had a claim to the throne (as Henry VII was basically Margaret’s proxy): Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth of York. Out of the two of them, Elizabeth of York had the better claim. How could she not? The last three kings were her father, her brother, and her uncle. Margaret, on the other hand, was only a distant relative to the last Lancaster king, Henry VI. Her own claim was tenuous at best, much less her sons.

Elizabeth of York Should Have Been Elizabeth I

Despite being a woman, Elizabeth of York had the best claim to the throne after the death of Richard III. Two of the last three kings were in her immediate family and the other was her uncle. Henry VII was only able to gather enough support to launch a realistic campaign for the throne by promising to marry her. Not to mention, Henry VII knew that she had a better claim so he delayed their marriage and even her coronation after their marriage in order to assert his dominance. She was allowed very little power because her mere presence in the political arena was dangerous for Henry VII’s reign.

In conclusion, Elizabeth of York should have been Elizabeth I, the first Queen of England to rule in her own right. That would have made the late Elizabeth II actually Elizabeth III.

SOURCES

Link Disclaimer: Some links within this website may lead to other sites that we believe may be useful or informative. The Snarky History Nerd Blog does not incorporate any materials appearing in such linked sites by reference. These links to third party sites or information are not intended as, and should not be interpreted by you as, constituting or implying our endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of the third party information, products, or services found there. We do not maintain or control these sites and accordingly make no guarantee concerning the accuracy, reliability, or currency of the information found there.

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Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Alison Weir	Elizabeth of York: A Tudor and Her World.
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Sarah Gristwood	Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses.
Roland Hui	The Turbulent Crown: The Story of the Tudor Queens.
Leanda de Lisle	Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England’s Most Notorious Family.

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022

The Quiet Legacy of Elizabeth of York

illustration by Percy Anderson for Costume Fanciful, Historical and Theatrical, 1906, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth of York survived one of the most turbulent periods in English history and had one of best outcomes of the Yorkist faction (except maybe her father who was a beloved king until his death). This period was littered with powerful women and despite first impressions, Elizabeth was one herself and left legacy that is often overlooked (and not just because medieval chroniclers were sexist pigs).

The Last York Princess

Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite several pretenders, Elizabeth of York was the last remnant of the York dynasty. By the time Richard III died at the Battle of Bosworth, the York dynasty had pretty much imploded.

Elizabeth of York’s brothers were missing, presumed dead.
Her only male cousin was executed for “treason” by her husband.
While her sisters outlived her, they were married off for the betterment of the Tudor dynasty and held very little power.
Many look to Margaret de la Pole (George of Clarence’s daughter and Elizabeth’s cousin) as the final York, but she had been excluded from the line of succession long before even Richard III became king and was never in a position to claim the throne for herself or her sons. And the revolt that she was connected to (and executed for) was against Henry VIII and was about the break with the Roman Catholic Church.

Essentially, the York line died with Elizabeth. But she also gave birth to the next kings and queens of England.

The First Tudor Queen

Remigius van Leemput, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Tudor dynasty is perhaps the most famous English dynasty in history and it would not have been possible without Elizabeth (and not just because she gave birth to the 2^nd generation).

Without Elizabeth, Henry VII would not have been able to get the support that he needed to take the throne from Richard III.
Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII (the English king who had six wives and killed a third of them), Mary Tudor (the Queen Consort of France who married her brother’s best friend behind his back), and Margaret Tudor (the Queen Consort of Scotland who had two scandalous, unhappy marriages after the death of the King of Scotland).
Elizabeth was also the grandmother of two Queens of England in their own rights, Mary I (Bloody Mary) and Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen).
Her great-granddaughter was Lady Jane Grey, who was named Edward VI’s heir but was never crowned and was overthrown by Mary I within nine days of Edward VI’s death.

While Elizabeth of York herself was not a powerful queen, her daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters were all badass women and queens.

Reimaging the Role of the Queen

Over the medieval period, the expectations for the role of the Queen Consort was always in flux; however, the queens always held some semblance political power, even if it was just asking the King for mercy in moments of judgement. Elizabeth’s reign as Queen Consort was very different. This stems from the fact that she had more of a claim to the English throne than her husband. In order to solidify the power of his reign, Henry VII severely limited Elizabeth’s power in the political spectrum. Any political power that Elizabeth exerted would have been a threat to Henry VII’s reign and dynasty, even though she was his queen consort. While it was necessary for Elizabeth to take a back seat in order for Henry VII to assert his authority, it clearly affected the mindset that her son Henry VIII had regarding the role of the Queen Consort later in life. The rate that he swapped wives and their lack of power to protect themselves (even Catherine of Aragon whose family was another powerful royal family who you did not want to piss off was not able to prevent the end of their marriage) indicated that the reduced role of the Queen continued on after Elizabeth’s death.

Now, I can already see the arguments about how both of her daughters (Mary and Margaret) were women who exercised a lot of agency so Elizabeth’s passivity as Queen could not have affected Queen Consorts moving forward. Henry VIII, Mary and Margaret had two major female influences in their lives, their mother, Elizabeth, and their grandmother, Margaret Beaufort. The key part was that only one of them was Queen and while Henry VIII definitely had a fondness for strong women (AKA Anne Boleyn), the ideal Queen was always going to have to measure up to Elizabeth, not Margaret.

Sources

Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Alison Weir	Elizabeth of York: A Tudor and Her World.
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Sarah Gristwood	Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses.
Roland Hui	The Turbulent Crown: The Story of the Tudor Queens.
Leanda de Lisle	Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England’s Most Notorious Family.

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022

Did Elizabeth of York and Henry VII Have A Happy Marriage?

Image Attribution: Malden, Sarah, Countess of Essex (c. 1761-1838)[2][3], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Dream Marriage or Hellish Nightmare?

In the last blog post, I questioned whether or not Elizabeth of York wanted to marry her uncle, Richard III. (You can check out that post by clicking here.) Today, I am focusing on Elizabeth of York’s relationship to her actual husband, Henry VII.

Way Too Many Problems to Overcome?

The marriage between Elizabeth and Henry VII began as solely a political marriage. Considering their marriage united the York and Lancaster families (who had been killing each other for several decades), there was definitely some major tension and distrust from the start (duh). It did not help that pretenders to the throne (Elizabeth’s “brothers” and “cousins”) starting popping up left and right. Elizabeth’s mother, Elizabeth Woodville, had a reputation for scheming. It was unclear whether or not Elizabeth Woodville was part of the plots, but her banishment from court soon after the first major pretender scandal was definitely a sore spot in Elizabeth of York’s and Henry VII’s marriage.

Another sore spot was Henry VII’s mother, Margaret Beaufort. Margaret devoted her life to ensuring her son’s heritage. While that was not always the English Throne, she was instrumental to his ascension to the throne (there is a reason why she is the #1 Kickass Women in the War of the Roses). She remained the primary female political figure throughout his reign, usurping the Queen’s typical role.

Who Has the Better Claim to the Throne: Henry or Elizabeth?

Henry VII was also very aware that Elizabeth was the reason he was able to take the throne. With her brothers presumed dead, Elizabeth was Edward IV’s heir. Regardless of how he came to power and what happened after he died, Edward IV was a beloved king. Many of Henry’s crucial supporters only joined his cause after he pledged to marry Elizabeth (because since she did not have a penis, she could not rule on her own). The assumption was that he and Elizabeth would be co-rulers or even worse, (in Henry’s eyes), Henry VII would rule in her right, not his own. This was unacceptable to Henry.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

After Henry VII defeated Richard III at Bosworth, the next step was supposed to be his marriage to Elizabeth and their coronation. Henry stalled the marriage and made his own coronation the priority. Well after his ascension to the throne, under extreme pressure from Parliament, Henry finally married Elizabeth. This was critical to the Tudor propaganda that Henry was ruling in his own right. From the beginning of their marriage, every single action was politically calculated.

Trust: The Foundation of Marriage

Gaining Henry VII’s trust was likely one of the biggest challenges that Elizabeth faced in her marriage. Henry spent most of his childhood essentially in exile due to his blood relations to the Lancasters (even though everyone was related to everyone else anyway). His mere presence was a threat to the Yorkist regime, so he was constantly looking over his shoulder and expecting betrayal. Elizabeth, as the daughter of the great Yorkist king, Edward IV, was not trustworthy in his eyes. (To be fair, her father and uncle did steal his inheritance and try to get rid of him). Even if Henry ever trusted Elizabeth personally, he clearly never trusted her politically as Margaret Beaufort held the Queen’s power throughout Henry’s reign.

Did Henry VII and Elizabeth Have a Happy Marriage?

Malden, Sarah, Countess of Essex (c. 1761-1838)[2][3], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite all of the reasons why their marriage should have been unhappy, there were many indications that they developed a loving personal relationship. Elizabeth often joined him on his travels. They had multiple children. After Elizabeth’s early death (likely due to complications with childbirth), Henry’s became more cold and calculating. In fact, the almost cruel, tight-fisted reputation that Henry VII is associated with came about after her death. While he was never a very emotional man, he definitely changed with her death.

There was one story that gives us a peek into what their relationship was like behind closed doors. Prince Arthur, the Crown Prince, died suddenly in his teenage years. Henry received the news first and immediately went to Elizabeth. Once he found her, he broke down in tears as he told her the news. She comforted him, acting as the strong one in the situation. He calmed down and went back to his kingly duties. Elizabeth kept it together until he left but then she broke down as well. She was so distraught that one of her ladies-in-waiting went to fetch the king. Henry immediately stopped what he was doing and rushed to her side. This time, he was the one who was comforting her.

For a couple that showed very little feeling for each other in public, this episode indicates that there was definitely a loving relationship between the two of them. Their story is no great love story; but there is a love story there.

Sources

Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Alison Weir	Elizabeth of York: A Tudor and Her World.
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Sarah Gristwood	Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses.
Roland Hui	The Turbulent Crown: The Story of the Tudor Queens.
Leanda de Lisle	Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England’s Most Notorious Family.

May 30, 2022June 20, 2022

Did Elizabeth of York Want to Marry Richard III?

Image by Thomas Wolter from Pixabay

One of the most controversial moments in Elizabeth of York’s life was when rumors spread that Richard III wanted to marry her. Now, as a princess, having a king want to marry you is not normally an issue. It becomes an issue when that King is your uncle who likely ordered the murder of your brothers.

The Dress that Started It All

It was Christmas at Richard III’s court. His only son had just died and Queen Anne’s health was failing. Elizabeth and her sisters recently left sanctuary after Richard signed an agreement that they would not come to harm (AKA he would not murder them like he did their brothers). This was likely the first event at court that Elizabeth and her sisters had attended since her father died. She arrived in a dress that was way too similar to Queen Anne’s dress.

The rumor was that Richard gave both Elizabeth and Anne the dresses. It was seen as a sign that he anticipated Anne’s death (or a possible divorce) and would replace her with Elizabeth. Theoretically, it was solution to Richard’s political troubles. The disappearance of the Princes in the Tower and executing powerful nobles without a trial had him on shaky grounds. It had not been long since Henry VII’s first attempt at invading England and Richard was feeling the pressure to bring some level of peace to the realm. Marrying Elizabeth would have united two of the major factions in England. There was one problem with this plan.

The One, Very Big, Impossible Problem was…

…that Elizabeth was his fucking niece! Incest was not unusual for royal marriages but niece and uncle was like four steps too close. These rumors only did more damage to his reputation and opened more doors for Henry VII. Parliament forced Richard to publicly deny the intent to marry Elizabeth.

It was assumed that Elizabeth was not on board for this plan (for a variety of reasons); however, a seventeenth century historian named George Buck claimed to have found a letter from Elizabeth that indicated that she wanted the marriage. Of course, this letter disappeared soon after the discovery, so there is no way to know if it was actually existed.

So back to the big question. Did Elizabeth of York want to marry Richard III?

We will likely never know what Elizabeth thought about most things in her life. There is no diary or record that focuses solely on her life. Much of it is pieced together by accounting records of her household and the stories of her mother, father, mother-in-law, uncle, husband, and son. My (snarky) opinion is…

Hell No!

It may just be my 21^st century perspective, but I find it hard to believe that Elizabeth would have actually wanted to marry her uncle. First off, he is her uncle (so gross. Oh God, so gross). While he was not a huge part of her life growing up, he was still her beloved father’s brother.

Secondly, he is very likely responsible for the death of her younger brothers. He needed to get them out of the way so that he could become King of England. In some ways, Elizabeth herself was in his way. There was significant support growing behind Elizabeth as the remaining of her father. Her safety was at the whim of Richard III and she was very aware of that fact.

On the other hand, the only reason (that I can see at least) that Elizabeth would have considered marrying Richard was to protect herself and her remaining family. Henry VII’s first invasion failed. Her brothers were missing and likely dead at the hands of Richard. She was safe only as long as Richard kept his word. And frankly, that was not much reassurance. If the George Buck letter is real and she did in fact want to marry Richard, it would have only been to ensure safety for her and her family.

That being said, I stand by my original opinion. There is no way in hell Elizabeth wanted to marry Richard.

Sources:

Links Disclaimer: Some links within this website may lead to other sites that we believe may be useful or informative. The Snarky History Nerd Blog does not incorporate any materials appearing in such linked sites by reference. These links to third party sites or information are not intended as, and should not be interpreted by you as, constituting or implying our endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of the third party information, products, or services found there. We do not maintain or control these sites and accordingly make no guarantee concerning the accuracy, reliability, or currency of the information found there.

Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Alison Weir	Elizabeth of York: A Tudor and Her World.
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Sarah Gristwood	Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses.
Roland Hui	The Turbulent Crown: The Story of the Tudor Queens.
Leanda de Lisle	Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England’s Most Notorious Family.

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May 16, 2022June 19, 2022

Sanctuary For Elizabeth of York: The Sleepover from Hell

Image Attribution: Charles A. Platt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth of York grew up in a particularly unstable time in English history: the War of the Roses. As a princess (and sometimes heir) of one faction of the war, life became particularly dangerous when the opponents came into power. (I would love to say that there were only two sides, but since Elizabeth’s uncle is suspected of murdering her younger brothers, it is clear that there were no sides. Just assholes trying to grab as much power as possible.) During these dangerous moments, Elizabeth’s mother packed up their family and fled to sanctuary twice throughout her life.

What the Fuck is Sanctuary?

In the medieval era, Church Law and Civic Law were two separate entities that held equal power and sway over the legal system in England. For example, Church officials had to be tried through the Church and using the laws of the Catholic Church, rather than the laws of the land or Civic Law. Sanctuary was another area where Church Law and Civic Law clashed. As churches were considered outside of the law of the land, anyone who was charged for any crime could go to a church and claim sanctuary. They would then live in the church and not be able to leave. If they left, they risked by arrested by the authorities. So it was basically a very long sleepover at church, where if you left, you would be arrested. (Sounds fun, right? Not!)

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 1

The first time Elizabeth was forced into sanctuary was when she was only four years old. Her father, Edward IV, was forced to flee to Burgundy when Warwick and George of Gloucester staged a coup and placed Henry VI back on the throne. Henry VI was so mentally unstable at this point that he was little more than a puppet for Warwick. Elizabeth and her family remained in sanctuary in Westminster Abbey until Edward IV took back the throne.

Charles A. Platt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Westminster Abbey was basically right down the road from their enemies and the royal family had no military protection. During these months, their continued safety was at the whims of two men who hated them; Warwick and George of Gloucester. In fact, Warwick was directly responsible for the execution of Elizabeth’s grandfather and uncle on her mother’s side in his first rebellion. (This “trial” and execution was very sketchy legally and frankly was done out of spite.) Despite being in sanctuary, Elizabeth and her family’s lives were at risk every day that Warwick remained in power.

At only four years old, it is unlikely that Elizabeth understood what was going on; however, that does not mean that she was totally oblivious. Her world had changed overnight, and her beloved father was no where in sight (because he literally abandoned them in enemy territory! Who the fuck does that to their wife and kids?) Her mother was very pregnant and gave birth in the Abbey. All around, this was a traumatizing experience for Elizabeth, who, up until this point, had lived a relatively sheltered life.

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 2

Once Edward IV regained the throne, the realm, and the royal family, lived in relative peace for the next 13 years. It was only upon Edward IV’s death that Elizabeth and her immediate family were forced back into sanctuary at Westminster Abbey. This time, there is no doubt that Elizabeth knew what was happening. Her family was literally tearing each other apart and there seemed to be no end in sight. All their allies had abandoned them, and it was clear that they were on their own. Soon, the former princes and princesses of England were declared illegitimate, and Elizabeth’s brothers were missing, presumed dead (at the hands of Dear Old Uncle Dick).

John Cassel, Public domain (US-PD-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

If Elizabeth’s first round in sanctuary had been traumatizing, this one was emotionally catastrophic. In rapid succession, Elizabeth lost her father, her freedom, her brothers, and her inheritance. While the first three must have been soul-crushing, the fourth likely made her situation seem hopeless. (I can feel the rage from here. Before you rip me a new one, let me explain.)

As a royal woman in the Medieval Era, Elizabeth knew that her role was to marry and produce heirs. She learned through her parents’ marriage that power and protection come through marrying well. Clearly, her father brought the power to the marriage (Exhibit I. Sanctuary Part 1. Exhibit 2. Sanctuary Part 2. Exhibit 3. Waaaay too many murdered family members. I rest my case). To protect herself and her remaining family, Elizabeth needed to marry a powerful man. That became much harder when she was declared illegitimate and lost most of her inheritance.

Elizabeth’s Stints in Sanctuary Shaped the Queen She Became

There is no way that Elizabeth’s times in sanctuary did not affect her. We can see it in the way she lived the rest of her life. Elizabeth’s priority was the safety of her family above all else. She may not have had a significant role in politics, but she ensured that her sisters were taken care of and that her children’s marriages were politically sound and relatively safe. Due to the trauma that she experienced, in all likelihood, she was not power hungry, like many of her family members were. She wanted power and money to protect and take care of her family. She did not need anything else.

Sources

Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Alison Weir	Elizabeth of York: A Tudor and Her World.
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Sarah Gristwood	Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses.
Roland Hui	The Turbulent Crown: The Story of the Tudor Queens.
Leanda de Lisle	Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England’s Most Notorious Family.

May 9, 2022June 20, 2022

Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition

Image Attribution: After Meynnart Wewyck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Similar to Catherine of Valois (See Catherine of Valois: The KISS Edition), Elizabeth of York is a largely forgotten queen who is essential to the rise of the Tudors.

Elizabeth of York: The Daughter of the War of the Roses

Elizabeth was the first born child of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. From the moment of her birth, she was celebrated and treated as a national treasure. (I hope I am not the only who just had a flashback of Nicholas Cage pretending to be Indiana Jones). For the first few years of her life, Elizabeth led a charmed life. This, of course, did not last long.

When Elizabeth was four, Edward IV was overthrown by the Lancasters (in what I like to refer to as Warwick’s hissy fit). He forced to flee England and abandon his wife and children. A heavily pregnant Elizabeth Woodville sought sanctuary at Westminster Abbey for her and her daughters. While they resided in comfort, the royal family lived in fear that Warwick and the Lancasters would storm the Abbey to “take care of” (AKA murder) of them.

Protecting the Fam

One of the first things that Edward IV did, after he defeated the Lancasters, was to liberate his wife and children from sanctuary. From that point on, Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville took several steps to ensure their family’s safety. Henry VI “died of grief” (AKA murdered) and Margaret of Anjou was declawed by the deaths of her husband and her son. As George of Clarence (Edward IV’s brother and Elizabeth of York’s uncle) continued to commit treason, he was killed, likely on Edward IV’s orders. (As much as George was a turd, brothers killing brothers is never a good thing in the long run). With the obvious threats taken care of, Elizabeth and her family were safe and happy.

Uncle Dick Comes to Town

This all ended when Edward IV died unexpectedly when she was seventeen. Her twelve year old brother, Edward V, became king and her uncle Richard III became Lord Protector. Richard III hated the Woodvilles (especially the new Queen Dowager, Elizabeth Woodville) and sought to take power for himself. (The men in the York family literally destroyed each other and themselves over being the King of England. I would love to ask them if it was all worth it in the end). He took custody of Edward V and arrested Elizabeth of York’s maternal uncle and half-brother. This action sent Elizabeth and her immediate family once again into sanctuary (AKA a very long sleepover at church). Everything seemed to go downhill from there.

John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

With complete control over Edward V and the Woodvilles powerless, Richard III quickly secured more power for himself. He conducted a coup, executed and exiled Edward V’s supporters (without a trial, which is a big no no even then), and forced the Queen Dowager to release Richard (Edward IV’s second son) into his custody. Once the two biggest threats to his power were under his control, Richard III made the ultimate power move. He revealed (around the same time that the Princes “disappeared”) that Edward IV had already been married when he married the Queen Dowager, making the Princes and Princesses illegitimate. Of course, there was only one witness (the priest who could not actually be considered a legal witness), the supposed first wife was dead, and apparently, George knew? (You know, the traitor brother who literally called Edward IV, his own brother, illegitimate to get more power. There is no way he would have sat on this information.)

Richard III’s rule was rocked with rebellion and instability. His treatment of Edward IV’s children enraged many English citizens. As hated as the Woodvilles were, Edward IV was beloved. Despite Richard’s scheme to delegitimize Elizabeth and her siblings, her brothers were still considered the rightful heirs. After it was largely accepted that they were dead (as if they needed more family murder in the York family), Elizabeth became the rightful heir to the throne. This is the reason why Henry VII and Elizabeth were betrothed multiple times before they eventually married and why there were rumors that Richard III sought to marry Elizabeth after Anne Neville’s death. (Incest. So much incest. I definitely just threw up at little in my mouth.)

And Now We Have… The Tudors?

Moving away from potential royal incestual marriages (still so gross), Henry VII defeated Richard III and became the first Tudor king of England. This should have been a glorious time for Elizabeth. After all, she was the reason he won. Most of Henry’s supporters only fought for him because he promised to marry Elizabeth (and not in the creepy uncle way that Richard III tried to do). While Elizabeth waited for Henry to set a wedding date so that they could be crowned as King and Queen of England together, Henry had other plans.

Henry wanted to rule in his own right, not based on his wife’s claim to the throne. So he put off the wedding. He had his coronation and began to rule England as a King alone. (While I can see his point, the massive fan of Elizabeth in me is enraged on her behalf.) He did this for so long that his supporters began to get nervous that he was not going to marry Elizabeth. Finally, he chose a wedding date and they got married. Elizabeth became pregnant and then Queen (and yes, it is supposed to be the other way around). And so began the Tudor age.

Marriages Don’t Magically Solve All of the Problems

Unfortunately, her marriage to Henry VII did not end the clashes between her family and her husband. Her aunt, Margaret of Burgundy, promoted two different pretenders, including one who claimed to be Elizabeth’s youngest brother, (which was such a dick move. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound). After one of these rebellions,, Henry VII may have forced the Queen Dowager to relinquish her lands and retire to an abbey. (Some say it was her choice while others say Henry forced her into it.) Henry VII stole some of Elizabeth and her sisters’ inheritance (besides the throne) and refused to provide doweries for them. Elizabeth ended up financially supporting her sisters throughout their adult years.

While their marriage did not miraculously heal the wounds that the War of the Roses caused, Henry and Elizabeth had a solid marriage. They had multiple children (which indicated an active sex life). Neither were overly affectionate towards each other in public (and Henry was a total Mama’s Boy); however, multiple sources indicate that they cared for and supported each other. In fact, Henry VII only developed his cold and controlling reputation after Elizabeth passed away.

For the most part, Elizabeth stayed away from politics. Whether or not this was her choice or she was sidelined by Margaret Beaufort (the #1 Badass, clink link for more info), we will probably never know. Regardless, she gave birth to multiple children, including the infamous Henry VIII, Queen Margaret Tudor of Scotland and Queen Mary Tudor of France. Her main contribution politically was negotiating marriages for her children. While she worked with Margaret on these negotiations, Elizabeth made sure that she had a voice in who daughter- and son-in-laws would be.

At the end of the day, Elizabeth of York was critical to English history despite being overshadowed by her mother and mother-in-law. She was the Daughter of the War of the Roses and the first Tudor Queen.

Sources:

Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Mary McGrigor	The Sister Queens: Isabella & Catherine de Valois
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Erin Lawless	Forgotten Royal Women: The King and I
Dan Jones	The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England

April 24, 2022June 20, 2022

The Villain of Catherine of Valois’s Story

Image by 3959267 from Pixabay

For more information about the Hundred Years War, read this blog post “The Hundred Years War: The Gift That Keeps Giving”.

For a brief overview of Catherine of Valois, read my previous blog post “Catherine of Valois: The KISS Edition”.

Waaaayyy Too Many Villians…

There are many candidates for who played the most villainy role in Catherine of Valois’s life. Her father, the Mad King, could be considered (due to his violent outbursts), as could her husband, Henry V, for 1) taking her brother’s birthright and fighting a war against him or 2) not giving her a prominent role in court after his death. (I mean, he did arrange for pretty much everything else). It might be her mother, who was hated by pretty much everyone (although, probably unfairly). These, of course, are some of the most well-known historical figures in her life. The REAL villain, however, is… (drumroll, please)… HUMPHREY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.

Attributed to Jacques Le Boucq, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

The Giant Turd

Humphrey was, to put it nicely, a turd. He married his first wife, Jacqueline of Hainaut, for her inheritance (which to be fair was normal for the time). BUT, then he had a very public affair with one of Jacqueline’s ladies in waiting, Eleanor Cobham, dumped his wife once it was clear that he was not going to get a piece of her inheritance and married Eleanor. He was so disliked that Eleanor was accused of witchcraft by his enemies (literally everyone) just to take a shot at him. And the king (his nephew) went along with it because… (shocker)… he hated Humphrey, too. John of Bedford, his own brother, did not trust him with the role that Henry V gave to him on his death bed (Protector of the Realm) so he manipulated it so that Humphrey could not make any big decisions without John or the rest of Parliament.

Inexplicable Grudge Against Catherine

Aside from his general dickishness, he was especially vindictive towards Catherine. No one entirely knows why. Maybe it was because she sided with Jacqueline in the messy annulment. Maybe it was because she was French. Or, maybe it was because she was an easy target. It was likely a mixture of all three. Either way, once her son, Henry VI, became more involved with politics and was removed from her household, Humphrey went out of his way to make her life difficult. He ensured that she was unable to remarry during her courtship with Edmund Beaufort and made court unbearable by spreading vicious rumors about her. No one was surprised when she quietly retired from court.

It was expected that she would have retired to nunnery or into a quiet life on her estates, but Catherine had a different plan (because she was a badass). She left public life to marry Owen Tudor and live a quiet life with him and their children on her estates. And, she did… for a few years, at least. But, once Humphrey discovered what she had done, he had her arrested while she was very pregnant with her final child. Catherine died soon after her arrest, giving birth to her only daughter. Her last act was to create a will, begging her son to protect her husband and children. Many at the time, including Henry VI, blamed Humphrey for Catherine’s death, given his cruel treatment of her during the last months of her pregnancy (which was a very very dangerous time for a woman).

Humphrey, however, was not satisfied with basically hounding Catherine to death. Behind the king’s back, after Catherine passed, Humphrey had Owen Tudor arrested and jailed in the worst English prison. Owen was only released when Henry VI discovered his uncle’s deceit and freed him.

Too Little, Too Late

Out of all of the things that Humphrey did during his life, arresting Catherine and Owen was likely his downfall. Henry VI blamed him solely for the death of his mother and his treatment of his stepfather was just the icing on the cake. While he did not move against Humphrey until later, Humphrey lost much of his power and influence. The grudge against Humphrey ensured that when there were mere rumors that Humphrey’s wife Eleanor was using witchcraft to assassinate the king, Henry VI believed them and took quit action to exile Eleanor and remove all power from Humphrey.

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Sources:

Author	Source Name
Alison Weir	The War of the Roses.
Mary McGrigor	The Sister Queens: Isabella & Catherine de Valois
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Lisa Hilton	Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Erin Lawless	Forgotten Royal Women: The King and I
Dan Jones	The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England

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March 23, 2022June 21, 2022

Top 10 Kickass Women in the War of the Roses: Part 1

In celebration of Women’s History Month (in the United States), I am highlighting the kickass women who contributed to the War of the Roses. In their own way, each of these women affected the way the war played out. Some of them did it by rebelling against the social norms and taking their fates into their hands while others played the roles that they were expected to while being in powerful positions. Many of them are considered famous women in history.

10) Eleanor Cobham

Edwin Austin Abbey, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

While Eleanor Cobham’s scandal happened a little earlier than the outbreak of the War of the Roses, it greatly affected the political landscape leading up to the War of the Roses. Eleanor was the daughter of a lesser noble who became the lady-in-waiting to Jacqueline of Hainaut, who was Humphrey of Gloucester’s wife. Eleanor and Humphrey began an affair, which led to Humphrey annulling his marriage to Jacqueline so that he could marry Eleanor (which was super scandalous).

Of course, the scandal does not end there. Humphrey gained more power in the regency when his brother, John of Bedford, died. Many members of the regency council did not like Humphrey and when the opportunity presented itself, they lashed out and accused Eleanor of witchcraft (because of course). She was convicted, forced to divorce her husband and remained in confinement for the rest of her life.

While her downfall had more to do with the fact that Humphrey was a political dumpster fire that it did with her, Eleanor took her destiny into her own hands. She became the mistress, and then wife, to one of the heirs to the throne despite being part of the lesser nobility and not bringing any political or monetary value to the marriage. She was essentially giving the English nobility the middle finger and did whatever the fuck she wanted.

9) Anne Neville

William Henry Mote, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

Anne Neville, Warwick’s youngest daughter, was the wife of a Lancastrian prince and the Queen Consort of a Yorkist King. Her marriage to Edward of Lancaster (Henry VI’s heir) was organized by her father during his rebellion against Edward IV to solidify his alliance with Margaret of Anjou (because power matters more than your daughter’s happiness). Most of their marriage was spent in exile and her husband perished soon after they arrived in England.

Anne was in a really shitty spot once she became a widow. She was under the control of her brother-in-law, George of Clarence (who was a greedy asshole). George attempted to prevent her from marrying Richard III (who was simply a Duke at that time), but with the blessing of Edward IV, the marriage went through. She remained out of the spotlight until Richard III usurped the throne from his nephews after Edward IV’s death. She was not Queen Consort for long as she died young, along with her only child.

Anne Neville should be a fascinating character in this story. She was a survivor who in any other period of time, had the potential to be a powerful women. But in the long shadows of legends such as Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville, and Margaret Beaufort, she falls short.

8) Catherine of Valois

engraved by W. H. Mote (1803-1871) after an illustration by J.W. Wright, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

While she was Queen Consort to Henry V and Queen Mother to Henry VI, Catherine of Valois had very little influence on the political stage in England. Henry V pretty much got her pregnant immediately and then died in a very shitty way (pun intended; aka he died of dysentery), making her reign as Queen Consort very short. Due to the fact that she was a French princess during the Hundred Years’ War, she was not given regency during Henry VI’s youth, though she was very involved in raising him during his younger years. Truthfully, she made very little impact during her lifetime.

Since she had very little power, the regency council paid little attention to her, except regarding her love life. As Queen Mother, her second husband could have used her position to gain power and influence (and they could not have that). So, after her first engagement was broken by the regency council, she eloped with Owen Tudor, a Welsh knight (the ultimate Mike Drop). It was this one rebellious act that shows how badass she was. She wanted to marry Owen Tudor, so she did. This act had very little impact on politics at that time, but her grandson from this union would eventually become Henry VII or Henry Tudor.

7) Margaret of Burgundy

Anonymous (Southern Netherlands)Unknown author, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

Sister to Edward IV and Richard III, Margaret of Burgundy is often overlooked in the retelling of the tale of the Cousin’s War Her role in the conflict is primarily limited to Warwick’s temper tantrum during Edward IV’s reign and her achievements during this period are directly connected to her husband, so she gets little to no credit.

During the brief period in which Warwick overthrew Edward IV and placed Henry VI back on the throne, Edward IV fled England and sought sanctuary from Margaret and her husband in Burgundy. It is believed that Margaret was instrumental in reconciling Edward IV and George of Clarence. George was basically a treasonous asshole to his brother. Margaret and her mother, Cecily Neville, worked together to reconciled the estranged brothers, which helped Edward IV take back the throne once and for all.

Margaret is most well known for being the primary backer for the pretenders to the throne during Henry VII’s reign. Despite her niece being Queen Consort, Margaret provided funds and troops for pretenders like Perkin Warbeck who claimed to be Richard of York (one of Edward IVs sons who disappeared under Richard III’s “protection”). Her actions ensured that the War of the Roses continued well into Henry VII’s reign.

Brief Side Note: Her biggest badass moments have more to do with her regency over Burgundy after her husband’s death than her impact on the War of the Roses.

6) Elizabeth of York

National Portrait Gallery, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth of York, Edward IV’s first born and Henry VII, was vital to ending the War of the Roses. As the Yorkist primary heir to the throne, her marriage to Henry VII (the Lancastrian heir) united the Yorks and Lancasters, especially as she gave birth to seven children. This solidified the Tudor dynasty and eventually peace (once her aunt, Margaret of Burgundy, stopped stirring shit up with pretenders to the thrown).

Frankly, in a different period of time (or a different list), Elizabeth would be ranked much higher. As a princess and then Queen, she fulfilled her roles perfectly. In comparison to her mother, Elizabeth Woodville (whose marriage literally caused the biggest scandal) and her mother-in-law, Margaret Beaufort (who literally put her son on the throne despite his sketchy as fuck “right to rule”), she blends in the background. Due to Margaret Beaufort’s elevated role as the King’s mother, she did not have much political influence beyond the arrangement of her children’s marriages.

While I am stopping here, don’t worry; there is waaaayyy more to come. Part 2, with the rest of the list, will be coming out next week.

Do you agree with my rankings so far? What are your thoughts on these badasses? Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. I would love to hear them!

Sources

Alison Weir. The War of the Roses. http://www.alisonweir.org.uk/

Dan Jones. The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13844539.Dan_Jones

Lisa Hilton. Queens Consort: England’s Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4333081-queens-consort

Sarah Gristwood. Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13498116-blood-sisters

Erin Lawless. Forgotten Royal Women: The King and I. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/45182330-forgotten-royal-women

Gemma Holland. Royal Witches: Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth Century England. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46158747-royal-witches