Top 4 Reasons Why Edward IV Marrying Elizabeth Woodville Was A Bad Idea

Image Attribution: Biagio Rebecca, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Disclaimer: The content, images, materials, and information provided on this website is only intended to be general summary information to the public. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. It should not be viewed as medical, financial, legal, or professional advice of any sort. We will do our best to confirm the accuracy of all information that appears on our website but cannot guarantee accuracy, reliability, or timeliness. All recommendations are made without guarantee or warranty. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In my last post (Top 4 Reasons Why Edward IV Marrying Elizabeth Woodville Was A Good Idea), I outlined all of the reasons why Edward IV marrying Elizabeth Woodville was actually a smart political move. However, at the very same time, it was also a really bad decision with some significant consequences. The marriage alienated many important allies and backfired in a pretty big way. So, why was marrying Elizabeth Woodville a really stupid political move for Edward IV to make?

Elizabeth Was English

While being English was a plus in many ways for Edward IV (especially given the Yorkist propaganda about Margaret of Anjou), there were some pretty negative side effects. Foreign brides often had big dowries of both land and wealth. (See Catherine of Valois: The KISS Edition for the best example of this. Catherine’s dowry was literally France! Still blows my mind every time I think about it.) Marriages between foreign royalty were often a condition to a treaty, either to end a war or gain allies to fight one. (Again, see Catherine of Valois: The KISS Edition. Her marriage to Henry V was meant to end the Hundred Years’ War.) Edward IV’s contemporaries saw his marriage as, at best, a missed opportunity and, at worst, a betrayal.

Possibly the biggest misstep that Edward IV made in his marriage to Elizabeth was that, despite being married to Elizabeth, he allowed Warwick to travel to France to begin to negotiate a marriage between Edward IV and a French princess. When Edward IV finally came clean, Warwick looked like an idiot. This humiliation at the hands of Edward IV was directed at Elizabeth and fueled Warwick’s rebellions.

Elizabeth Woodville Was a Lancaster

This was likely the only similarity that Edward and Elizabeth’s marriage had to other royal marriages. Their marriage was intended to unite the Lancasters and Yorks and end the war. Sounds like a great idea, right? Considering that was exactly what Elizabeth and Margaret Beaufort did years later when they organized the marriage between Elizabeth of York and Henry Tudor (see Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition for info on the spectacular Elizabeth of York).

While the marriage between Elizabeth of York and Henry Tudor was relatively successful (aside from a few pretenders to the throne, rebellions, etc.), the marriage between Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV did not unite the two warring houses. In fact, many of Edward’s critical allies felt so alienated by his choice in wife that they defected to the Lancaster side and Henry VI ended up as a puppet king for a short period. In his effort to bring the country back together under his reign, Edward ended up driving it further apart.

Elizabeth Had Lots of Siblings that Edward Could Use for Political Gain

Sounds like a good thing, right? In many ways, it was. Warwick and Cecily Neville (Edward IV’s mother) held significant influence at the beginning of Edward’s reign. Warwick gained the nickname “the Kingmaker” as he was credited with winning the throne for Edward and he fully believed that his shit didn’t stink. He felt that Edward essentially owed Warwick for everything and wanted Edward to be his puppet. Cecily Neville, on the other hand, had expected to be Queen. Richard of York, Edward’s father, had been the one to start the rebellion and had been killed in the second to last battle of the first wave of the War of the Roses. While Edward was unmarried, she was the most powerful woman in the royal court and acted as though she were the Queen instead of just the King’s mother.

In his early twenties, Edward was itching to break out from under Warwick and Cecily’s control. By marrying a woman who had entirely way too many younger siblings, he was able to arrange marriages that created the power structure in court that he wanted. In doing so, he ended up alienating many of his allies. The nobles that were married to the Woodvilles were often highly desired matches and other nobles were bitter that they lost out. Warwick was not the only noble who felt that he was owed more power than he was given once Edward was on the throne. The Woodvilles’ consolidation of power through marriage was an easy target.

Elizabeth Was A Commoner

Despite Jacquetta’s royal connections, by contemporary standards, Elizabeth was a commoner. Her father was a knight whose status was raised when he married Jacquetta and a child’s social status was determined by the status of their father. While the Woodvilles had some land, they had very little wealth, so Elizabeth came to the marriage with no dowry. The most valuable thing she brought was her mother’s connections, which in the eyes of many prominent Yorkist nobles, meant very little.

So… Was It A Good or Bad Idea for Edward IV to Marry Elizabeth Woodville?

If you read the previous post, “Top 4 Reasons Why Edward IV Marrying Elizabeth Woodville Was A Good Idea“, you may have noticed that many of the reasons why marrying Elizabeth Woodville was a good idea are the same as why it was a bad idea. That is because this was a moment of chaos. The political situation at the beginning of his reign was unstable. To be frank, it likely did not matter who Edward married. There were always going to be rebellions. Edward was always going to be too dominant for Warwick to be satisfied with his power. Cecily was always going to have a power struggle with the new queen. Medieval queens in general were an easy target for anyone who had an issue with the king. Elizabeth just became one of the most notorious.

What do you think? Was it really Elizabeth Woodville that was the problem? Did Edward make a mistake? Was marrying Elizabeth a good political move or a bad one?

RECOMMENDED 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.

Author Name	Book Name
Dan Jones	The War of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors.
Alison Weir	War of the Roses
Elizabeth Norton	England’s Queens: A Biography
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.
Arlene Okerlund	Elizabeth: England’s Slandered Queen
David Baldwin	Elizabeth Woodville: Mother of the Princes in the Tower
David McGibbon	Elizabeth Woodville: A Life – The Real Story of the “White Queen”
Alicia Carter	The Women of the War of the Roses: Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, & Elizabeth of York
Phillipa Gregory, David Baldwin & Michael Jones	The Women of the Cousins’ War: The Duchess, The Queen & The King’s Mother
Gemma Hollman	Royal Witches: Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth-Century England

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022

Alternative History: Should Elizabeth II Have Been Elizabeth III?

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

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

Affiliate Link Disclaimer: The Snarky History Nerd Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you.

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.

August 10, 2022August 9, 2022

Elizabeth Woodville: The KISS Edition

Image Attribution: Royal Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth Woodville was probably one of the most controversial, if not hated English Queen Consorts. She was the first English-born Queen Consort to marry into the Plantagenet dynasty. Not only that, but she was also considered a “commoner” because her father was a knight. Despite being painted as a villain by her enemies, she was a shrewd politician who came out on top in most situations, with a few significant exceptions.

Becoming Dame Lady Grey

Elizabeth Woodville was the first-born child to Sir Richard Woodville and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. This marriage was incredibly scandalous. Jacquetta was sister to the Count of Luxembourg and married the Duke of Bedford prior to his death. The Duke of Bedford was the most powerful man in England and France as the primary regent and eldest uncle to Henry VI, making Jacquetta the most powerful woman in England and France. Since Bedford had no heirs, his significant estate was left to his widow. Legally, Jacquetta needed the permission of the king to remarry, so when she married Richard in secret, shit hit the fan.

Luckily, around the time Elizabeth was born, Henry VI had forgiven Jacquetta and Richard. Jacquetta and Elizabeth spent a significant amount of time at court, especially after Henry VI married Margaret of Anjou, who was related to Jacquetta. Elizabeth had front row seats to the political strife that led to the outbreak of the War of the Roses.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s first marriage was not very advantageous. Due to the rampant sexism of the time, a child’s social status was determined by their father’s status, not their mother’s. While Henry VI gave Sir Richard Woodville the title, Baron Rivers, due to his marriage to Jacquetta, he was not considered nobility. This meant that his children, including Elizabeth, were considered to be of lower birth than their contemporaries (which, in my humble opinion, was bullshit).

Despite being the daughter of the king’s aunt by marriage, Elizabeth married Sir John Grey, heir to the Barony Ferrers of Groby. She had two sons with her first husband. Unfortunately, her husband died during the first part of the War of the Roses, fighting on the Lancastrian side. As a Lancastrian widow, Elizabeth and her children were in a very precarious situation when she met Edward IV.

The Secret Queen Consort

*unknown scribe, Public domain [PD-US-expired], via Wikimedia Commons*

There was no definitive record about Elizabeth and Edward’s first meeting. In fact, their marriage was kept secret for months afterwards. Edward only revealed that he married Elizabeth when his close ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, presented Edward and Parliament with a potential marriage alliance with a French princess. At this point, Edward was forced to admit that he was already married.

The most popular story for how Elizabeth and Edward met was that she, with her young sons at her side, “ambushed” him on the side of the road while he was travelling (as much as a young woman with two young children could ambush a king). In the wake of her husband’s death and the Lancastrian defeat, her sons were denied their inheritance. She approached Edward to plead for aid.

For Edward, it was love at first sight. He first tried to seduce her, but she refused to become his mistress. He then (in typical toxic masculinity fashion) attempted to force her, but she held him off until he agreed to marry her. They married in secret, with only Jacquetta present, according to legend. Elizabeth quickly became pregnant with their first child, the spectacular Elizabeth of York.

To say that this was a scandal was a massive understatement. Warwick was so insulted that he threw a hissy fit and switched alliances. He, with Edward’s brother, George of Clarence, briefly overthrew Edward and placed Henry VI back on the throne. Elizabeth fled into sanctuary with her children and mother, until Edward took back his throne.

The Queen Mother in Sanctuary

The next several years were relatively peaceful; at least, until Edward IV died suddenly. His son, Edward V, was still a child and Richard III, Edward IV’s youngest brother, became primary regent. In an effort to consolidate power, Elizabeth had her brother, Anthony Woodville, and her son from her first marriage, Richard Grey, escort Edward V to London. However, Richard III intercepted them and arrested Anthony and Grey. He took custody of Edward V, under the guise of ensuring that he arrive at London for his coronation safely.

John Cassel, Public domain [PD-US-expired], via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth, seeing the writing on the wall, once again fled to sanctuary. While many saw this action as an overreaction (as women tended to do when their family members were arrested without cause), her fears were soon proven right as Richard III had Anthony and Grey executed. Edward V resided in the Tower of London for “his protection.” Richard III forced Elizabeth to release her second son, Richard (named after his grandfather and uncle), into Richard III’s custody, to join Edward V in the Tower of London. Soon after, Edward V and his brother disappeared, becoming the infamous “Princes in the Tower.”

Dame Lady Grey, Once Again

The key to Richard III claiming the throne, despite his brother’s multiple legitimate children, was to “prove” that the marriage between Elizabeth and Edward was illegitimate. Richard III claimed that Edward had participated in an engagement ceremony with Lady Eleanor Butler, which, at that time, was equivalent to a legally binding marriage, prior to his marriage to Elizabeth. He passed an Act of Parliament that declared that the marriage between Elizabeth and Edward was invalid, making all their children illegitimate. Richard III used this to declare himself Edward IV’s heir and crowned King of England.

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

With her youngest sons missing and presumed dead, any sort of power and protection for herself and her daughters seemed well out of reach as long as Richard III remained in power. So, Elizabeth switched sides once again and aligned herself with Margaret Beaufort, the mother of the last Lancastrian heir, Henry VII. They communicated secretly using a physician and arranged for Henry VII to marry her eldest daughter, Elizabeth of York, after Henry VII usurped the throne from Richard III. The first invasion ultimately failed; however, this alliance ultimately set the stage for the Tudor dynasty.

After the failed invasion by Henry VII, Elizabeth was forced to come to an agreement with Richard III. At this point, Elizabeth and her daughters had been in sanctuary for over a year and there was no end in sight. Accepting the new status quo, Elizabeth agreed to leave sanctuary with her daughters only if Richard III made a public oath to do no harm to her daughters and secure their futures (AKA marriages, because that was all women were good for, according to the jerks in charge). Richard III did so, and Elizabeth finally left sanctuary. She retired from court and her daughters split their time between living with her and attending court.

And Introducing the Queen Mother… Once Again

Things seemed to calm down for Elizabeth for a time. Her daughters were safe-ish (I mean, as safe as they could be) and while she did not have any power, she was also not in constant fear for her life. In typical War of the Roses fashion, shit hit the fan once again.

Henry VII, once again, invaded England to claim the throne from Richard III. He defeated him in the famous Battle of Bosworth, changing the political landscape once again. Much of Henry VII’s support came from the promise that he would marry Elizabeth of York, uniting the Lancasters and Yorks and hopefully, ending the War of the Roses once and for all. Many important nobles viewed Elizabeth of York as Edward IV’s true heir, putting Elizabeth in the potentially powerful position of Dowager Queen.

Now, I am sure that you are wondering why Margaret Beaufort was not considered Dowager Queen. After all, she was the mother of the new king, Henry VII. The issue with Margaret claiming the title of Dowager Queen was that she had never been Queen Consort. The Dowager Queen had always been a previous Queen Consort. Instead, Henry VII created a new title for his mother, the King’s Mother. Frankly, since Margaret held immense power (more so than the current Queen Consort or the Dowager Queen) As Elizabeth was the mother of the current Queen Consort, whom many considered to be the actual heir to the throne, she regained the title of Dowager Queen.

Despite her title, there was no room for Elizabeth to hold power in court. Her daughter, Elizabeth of York, while being Queen Consort, wielded very little power in her own right. It was clear from the get-go that Margaret was the female power in the English court, and while she made a little room for the Queen Consort, she was not about to yield any of her power to Elizabeth Woodville.

Elizabeth ended up retiring to a convent, much like many other Dowager Queens before her. She was stripped of most of her wealth prior to retiring. The circumstances surrounding her retirement was unclear and there has been much debate on whether Henry VII ordered her to retire or if it was her choice. Either way, Elizabeth spent her final years shut away in a convent, away from her beloved family and the seat of power that she worked so hard to gain for her children.

Whether you love her or hate her, Elizabeth Woodville’s impact on history is undeniable.

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.

Subscribe to the Snarky History Nerd Blog Email List

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.

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

Elizabeth Was English

Elizabeth Woodville Was a Lancaster

Elizabeth Had Lots of Siblings that Edward Could Use for Political Gain

Elizabeth Was A Commoner

So… Was It A Good or Bad Idea for Edward IV to Marry Elizabeth Woodville?

What do you think? Was it really Elizabeth Woodville that was the problem? Did Edward make a mistake? Was marrying Elizabeth a good political move or a bad one?

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

In An Ideal World…

Two Potential Queens; One Throne

Elizabeth of York Should Have Been Elizabeth I

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

Becoming Dame Lady Grey

The Secret Queen Consort

The Queen Mother in Sanctuary

Dame Lady Grey, Once Again

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

And Introducing the Queen Mother… Once Again

Whether you love her or hate her, Elizabeth Woodville’s impact on history is undeniable.

Further Reading/Sources:

The Last York Princess

The First Tudor Queen

Reimaging the Role of the Queen

Sources

Dream Marriage or Hellish Nightmare?

Way Too Many Problems to Overcome?

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

Trust: The Foundation of Marriage

Did Henry VII and Elizabeth Have a Happy Marriage?

Sources

The Dress that Started It All

The One, Very Big, Impossible Problem was…

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

Hell No!

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

Sources:

Subscribe to the Snarky History Nerd Blog Email List

What the Fuck is Sanctuary?

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 1

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 2

Elizabeth’s Stints in Sanctuary Shaped the Queen She Became

Sources

10) Eleanor Cobham

9) Anne Neville

8) Catherine of Valois

7) Margaret of Burgundy

6) Elizabeth of York

Sources

Subscribe to the Snarky History Nerd Blog Email List