Elizabeth Woodville Archives

October 13, 2022October 13, 2022

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 29, 2022September 29, 2022

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

Image Attribution: unknown scribe, Public domain [PD-US-expired], via Wikimedia Commons

In a time when nobility, especially royalty, married for political power, lands, and money, a king marrying for love was both unheard of and unacceptable. But, to this day, most people believe that Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville for love (or lust) and that this decision caused the War of the Roses to once again explode. According to some, the blood of thousands of English men coated Elizabeth Woodville’s hands and the blame was laid solely at her feet. But, did Edward choose to marry Elizabeth based completely on love or was there a political motivation behind this move? Was this marriage as much of a political clusterfuck as many want you to believe?

As much as Edward was led around by his little brain (he was well known to be a horndog who slept with lots of women before and during his marriage to Elizabeth), he also was not stupid. Here are the top 4 reasons why Edward IV marrying Elizabeth Woodville was a good idea.

1. Elizabeth Woodville was English

Elizabeth was the first English born Queen since the Norman Conquest. Every Queen of England before her was a foreigner, which, depending on the queen, was a good or a bad thing. It was a good thing for Catherine of Valois while she was the Queen because her dowry was the French throne, but as Dowager Queen, it made her untrustworthy and stripped her of almost all of her power. The last Queen before Elizabeth, Margaret of Anjou, came with no dowry and, in fact, cost England much of their French lands. While she had her good moments, her favoritism of the Beauforts and the fact that she was on the losing side of the War of the Roses have made her one of the most reviled Queens in English history. Having another French Queen (which is what Warwick wanted) was very likely to blow up in Edward IV’s face, so it was no surprise that he went looking for an English Queen.

2. Elizabeth Woodvile Was a Lancaster

Elizabeth’s mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg was Henry VI’s aunt by marriage and Margaret of Anjou’s cousin by marriage. She was an influential member of the Lancaster court. Due to her mother’s connections, Elizabeth’s first husband was a staunch Lancaster supporter and died during the first round of the War of the Roses. Her connections made her one of the more high ranking nobles on the Lancaster side left in England (aside from the Beauforts, who would have been more likely to kill Edward in his sleep than rule as Queen by his side).

England was still reeling from the Yorkist victory and Edward knew that his reign was on shaky ground. Taking a Lancaster bride, especially one whose mother had been as high ranking as Jacquetta, bridged some of the gaps between the Lancasters and the Yorkist supporters. At this point in his reign, Edward needed peace more than he needed the foreign lands, support, and funds that a French bride would have given him.

3. Elizabeth and Jacquetta Were Very Fertile

Fertility was always a concern for nobility but especially for Edward. The two kings before him had only had one child each and there were rumors that Henry VI’s only son was not actually his son. Not to mention, the direct Lancaster line essentially died out because out of Henry VI’s four sons, they produced only one grandson, Henry VI. The more children Edward had, the more secure his reign would be. Jacquetta had safely given birth to 14 children (that poor woman. Oh my God, no drugs or anything.) Elizabeth already had two sons of her own from her first marriage. There was little doubt that Elizabeth could and would provide Edward with the children that he would need.

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

In an ideal world, Edward, at this point, would have only been Prince of Wales. His father, Richard, Duke of York, should have been made king upon winning the first part of the War of the Roses. It was only after his father’s brutal death and the desecration of his body that Edward took charge of the rebellion which led him to being crowned King. That made his relationships with his supporters complicated. Warwick took credit for putting him on the throne and since Edward was young, Warwick wanted him to essentially be his puppet. Cecily Neville, his mother, also wielded a significant amount of power. If Edward was ever going to stand on his own two feet as a king, he needed to get out from underneath their thumbs.

Since the Woodvilles held little power in the early days of the Yorkist regime, any and all of their eventual power was given to them by Edward and could be taken away at any point. Edward was able to marry Elizabeth’s siblings off to suit his political and financial needs, effectively taking power back from his over-reaching supporters, such as Warwick.

Here are 4 pretty significant political reasons why Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville. Next time, I will outline 4 reasons why marrying Elizabeth was a bad political move.

Let me know what you all think! Do you agree or disagree with my arguments?F

Recommended Sources

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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.

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.

March 31, 2022June 21, 2022

Top 10 Kickass Women of the War of the Roses: Part 2

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.

This week, we are continuing our count down of the top 10 kickass women in the War of the Roses by tackling numbers 1-5.

If you want to recap numbers 6-10, you can find that post by clicking this link. Click Here

If you need a refresher on “The War of the Roses: The KISS Edition”, you can find that post through this link. Click Here

5. Jacquetta of Luxembourg

Izabela Fioror, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

Jacquetta of Luxembourg is a fascinating woman to study as her story embodies pieces of the other women on this list’s story. She married into the English royal family in her first marriage and despite Henry VI/the Regency’s decree that she could not marry again without permission, she married a knight for love (like Catherine of Valois). At one point, she was the wife to the heir apparent and then mother of the Queen Consort (Cecily Neville). She was tried for witchcraft by her son-in-law’s enemies during Warwick’s rebellion (Eleanor Cobham). So, basically, she survived a lot of shit and did what she wanted.

As the widow of Henry VI’s uncle, John of Bedford, and a favorite of Henry VI’s, she was very influential during Henry VI’s reign. Despite her close relationship to the Lancaster branch, she became an influential figure as the Queen Consort’s mother during Edward IV’s reign. She took her destiny into her own hands in her second marriage and had fourteen children. Yep, that is right. She gave birth to fourteen children in the Medieval Era. That means lots of sex (fun!) and no painkillers (yikes!). The fact that she thrived in both the Lancaster and Yorkist courts and determined her own destiny indicates how much of a badass she was.

4. Cecily Neville

Meister der Münchner Legenda Aurea, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

In the shadow of her husband, Richard of York, and her two royal sons, Cecily Neville often gets lost in the crazy that is the Cousins’ War. Not because she was not a badass or significantly influenced the events of the Cousins’ War, but because history is basically just mansplaining on an epic level. It does not help that she was merely the mother of the king, not the Dowager Queen in her own right (because she was never Queen Consort), plus her feud with Elizabeth Woodville (her daughter-in-law) limited her power in court significantly.

While her husband was alive, she often was the mediator between him and Henry VI. While Richard was the face of the Yorkist faction, Cecily was the political mastermind. So, when Richard died, her son, Edward IV, was able to pick up where his father left off, with the help of Cecily. Once Edward IV took the throne, Cecily held significant influence as the number one woman in the King’s life. This changed after Edward IV’s controversial marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. The two did not get along and there was a constant power struggle between the two women.

Aside from the feud with her daughter-in-law, Cecily continued to play the role a mediator in the royal court. As much of the political strife was between George of Clarence (who was literally a giant pain in the ass) and Edward IV, Cecily constantly had to mediate between the two. She is one of the main reasons why Warwick’s rebellion failed, as she convinced George to turn on Warwick. Unfortunately, as George continued to scheme against his brother (essentially committing treason), he died under “suspicious circumstances” (AKA Edward IV had him killed). So, her success rate as mediator is not awesome, but the War of Roses may have been far bloodier without her.

3. Elizabeth Woodville

Royal Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth Woodville was pretty much the exact opposite of what Edward IV’s Queen Consort was expected to be.

She was the first English born queen consort since the Norman Conquest.

She was considered a commoner as her father was a knight (even though her mother was a noble from Luxembourg who had been married to Henry VI’s uncle).

She was a widow with two sons from her previous marriage (because a women’s value was based on her virginity and her fertility, not her brains, personality, etc.).

Her late husband had died fighting for the Lancasters and her family was very close to Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou.

Her marriage to Edward IV did wonders for the Woodvilles but Edward IV gained very little from the marriage politically and alienated some of his biggest supporters. She arranged for advantageous marriages for her siblings and placed them in powerful positions in the court, which pissed off all the other nobles who wanted those positions for themselves (greedy assholes).

Elizabeth Woodville’s power, in court, was directly tied to her husband’s. During Edward IV’s exile to Burgundy and after his death, she sought sanctuary and tried to protect her children the best she could. In fact, she gave birth to the heir to the throne, Edward V, while in sanctuary during Warwick’s revolt. After Richard III had her children declared bastards and the “disappearance” of her sons in the Tower of London (which is still a mystery to this day), she teamed up with Margaret Beaufort to overthrow Richard III and place her daughter, Elizabeth of York, on the throne as wife to Henry Tudor or Henry VII.

2. Margaret of Anjou

Talbot Master (fl. in Rouen, c. 1430–60), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Margaret of Anjou is one of the ultimate badass medieval Queen Consorts, which also means that she is one of the most hated as well. As Queen Consort to Henry VI, she was the primary force behind the Lancastrian throne, especially during the War of the Roses. While Henry VI was never a powerful ruler, before he started having his catatonic episodes, Margaret played the role of the typical Queen Consort. She was powerful in her own way, but Henry VI was still the ruler of England.

That changed when Henry VI collapsed into his first catatonic state, which, unfortunately, coincided with the birth of their only child, Edward of Lancaster. As the infighting in court increased and Henry VI became more unstable, Margaret focused on securing the future of England for her son. While she did not ride into battle during the War of the Roses, the Lancastrians followed her as she essentially was regent for her husband. Despite the Yorkist victories and the loss of the throne to Edward IV, she worked tirelessly from exile to put her son (the rightful heir) on the throne. She even allied (albeit very very very very reluctantly) with her former enemy, Warwick, to place her son back in the line of succession.

Despite her efforts, her son and husband were killed by the Yorkists, and she lost everything. She is seen by many as a villain, but as a strong but tragic figure by others.

1. Margaret Beaufort

Rowland Lockey, Public domain (PD-US-expired), via Wikimedia Commons

One of the primary reasons why the Tudor dynasty came to be is due to the brilliance of Margaret Beaufort, the number one badass woman in the War of the Roses.

Margaret was dealt a difficult hand. Her father died when she was young, and she was married to Edmund Tudor at the age of twelve (so fucking gross) at the beginning of the War of the Roses. She quickly got pregnant (just thinking about this makes me want to vomit) and gave birth to her only child, Henry Tudor. Margaret and Henry both almost died during the birth and Margaret was never able to have any other children.

Edmund died fighting for the Lancasters before meeting his son. In the wake of Edward IV’s ascension to the throne, Henry Tudor was stripped of his inheritance and Margaret married her second husband, Henry Stafford. As her husband had Edward IV’s favor, Margaret utilized her political influence to attempt to gain her son’s inheritance back. While she made some missteps (attempting to negotiate with George of Clarence while Edward IV was in exile being a significant one), her third marriage to Thomas Stanley helped keep her in favor and part of the court. She became an integral part of Edward IV’s court.

With Richard III taking the throne, Margaret was pretty much back at square one. She made a bold decision; she was going to overthrow the king and place her son on the throne (with his distant/not super legal claim to the throne). Then, she struck a deal with Elizabeth Woodville in which Henry Tudor would marry Elizabeth of York and take the throne. Her political maneuvering (as well as luck) was instrumental in the rise of the Tudor dynasty and changed the path of English History.

And we are at the end of the Top 10 Kickass Women of the War of the Roses. Let me know what you think, if you would make any changes, or any sort of feedback! We will be seeing a lot more of these women (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

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.

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

1. Elizabeth Woodville was English

2. Elizabeth Woodvile Was a Lancaster

3. Elizabeth and Jacquetta Were Very Fertile

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

Here are 4 pretty significant political reasons why Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville. Next time, I will outline 4 reasons why marrying Elizabeth was a bad political move.

Recommended 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:

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

5. Jacquetta of Luxembourg

4. Cecily Neville

3. Elizabeth Woodville

2. Margaret of Anjou

1. Margaret Beaufort

And we are at the end of the Top 10 Kickass Women of the War of the Roses. Let me know what you think, if you would make any changes, or any sort of feedback! We will be seeing a lot more of these women (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Sources

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