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Elizabeth Woodville: The KISS Edition

Image Attribution: Royal Collection, 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.

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.

Further Reading/Sources:

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

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Author Name Book Name
Dan JonesThe War of the Roses:
The Fall of the Plantagenets
and the Rise of the Tudors.
Alison WeirWar of the Roses
Elizabeth NortonEngland’s Queens: A Biography
Lisa HiltonQueens Consort:
England’s Medieval Queens
from Eleanor of Aquitaine to
Elizabeth of York.
Sarah GristwoodBlood Sisters:
The Women Behind
the War of the Roses.
Arlene OkerlundElizabeth: England’s Slandered Queen
David BaldwinElizabeth Woodville:
Mother of the Princes in the Tower
David McGibbonElizabeth Woodville: A Life –
The Real Story of the “White Queen”
Alicia CarterThe 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 HollmanRoyal Witches:
Witchcraft and the Nobility
in Fifteenth-Century England
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Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition

Image Attribution: After Meynnart Wewyck, 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.

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

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

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

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

Protecting the Fam

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

Uncle Dick Comes to Town

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

John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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

Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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

And Now We Have… The Tudors?

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

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

Marriages Don’t Magically Solve All of the Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Sources:

AuthorSource Name
Alison WeirThe War of the Roses. 
Mary McGrigorThe Sister Queens: Isabella & Catherine de Valois
Dan JonesThe War of the Roses:
The Fall of the Plantagenets
and the Rise of the Tudors. 
Lisa HiltonQueens Consort:
England’s Medieval Queens
from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
Erin LawlessForgotten Royal Women: The King and I
Dan JonesThe Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens
Who Made England
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The War of the Roses: The KISS Version

Image Attribution: The original uploader was Murraypaul at English Wikipedia., 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.

Introduction

In all likelihood, you have heard of the War of the Roses. It inspired some of the most popular films and shows of our time (aka Games of Thrones). It also led directly to England’s most famous dynasty, the Tudors (hint: Henry VIII and his six wives). As I will be exploring this time period in English history first, here is some background information or the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) version of the War of the Roses.

The Drama That Started It All

While the actual battles did not start until the mid 1400s, the dispute over succession started two generations prior when Henry IV took the throne from his cousin Richard II. Richard II inherited the throne from his grandfather when he was a child (never a good sign). He was the first and only son of Edward III’s first born son (named Edward of course) who died before his father. Henry IV, on the other hand, was the first son of Edward III’s third son, John of Gaunt. 

Richard II grew up to be a dick (pun intended) who pissed off Henry IV by stealing his inheritance (not the throne but John of Gaunt’s lands and title). Henry IV imprisoned Richard II, took the throne and had Richard II quietly assassinated (as one does when they steal the throne). To justify his actions, beyond the general “he was an asshole so I got rid of him”, Henry IV argued that since Edward III’s first and second sons died before Edward III died, the crown should have gone to his third son, who was Henry IV’s father. A bit confusing, but the English people accepted it (for the most part) and moved forward.

History Repeats Itself

Ironically, it was another inept child king that reopened the case of “Who the fuck should have been Edward III’s heir?” Henry VI, (Henry IV’s grandson who literally became king before he turned one) essentially lost the Hundred’s Year War and all of the English holdings in France. Since England literally spent over 100 years fighting this war, a significant and powerful section of the English nobility were really fucking pissed. In comes Richard, Duke of York, who was descended from Edward III’s second and fourth sons (because cousins should always marry cousins). He and his sons (most notably Edward IV and Richard III) overthrow Henry VI. 

As Richard of York dies before Henry VI is overthrown, Edward IV (his first born) takes the throne. Aside from a little hiccup where a former ally who got his panties in a twist (aka Warwick the Kingmaker) briefly put Henry VI on the throne again, Edward IV’s reign was relatively stable. And then he died. 

Despite having two sons, Edward IV’s brother, Richard III took the throne and the princes disappeared. A distant relative of Henry VI, Henry Tudor (otherwise known as Henry VII), challenged Richard III for the throne. Henry Tudor won, married Edward IV’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth of York and the War of the Roses ended. 

And that is a very brief overview and background of the War of the Roses. Confused? Don’t worry. I am going to go into a lot more detail as we explore this time period in England. 

A Few Fun Things to Look Forward To:

  1. There are some really badass women that we are going to talk about.
  2. Entirely way too many people are related. Seriously. The other name for this war is the Cousins’ War. Because everyone is related.
  3. There are legit mysteries from this conflict that we will likely not ever be able to solve, but everyone and their mother has a theory.
  4. And soooooo much more….

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.

Sources

Charles River Editors. Medieval England: The History of England from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Tudor Dynasty. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56157716-medieval-england

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

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

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Why Should You Give a Shit About History? 

Image Attribution: Image by Stephanie Curry from Pixabay

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.

Although it has been almost 15 years, I still can pinpoint the moment that I fully understood the importance of history (beyond the typical “you need to take ‘x’ classes to graduate” that every high school student dreads hearing). The social studies class that was required during my sophomore year of high school was World History. Unlike most history courses, the progression of the course was not based on timeline but on areas of the world. So we had a unit on China, India, the Middle East, etc… While most of our big projects incorporated current events (at least what was current in the 2007-2008 school year), it was not until I was required to write a paper on the Israeli-Palestine conflict that I fully understood how history affects the present.

The Assignment That Changed Everything

The assignment was to choose a side and write a persuasive essay defending your choice. I had to present both sides of the story and convince my audience that my side was right. I don’t remember what side I took or the grade I got (not that it actually matters at this point).  But the lesson I learned from this assignment impacted my life significantly and set me on the path to becoming the Snarky History Nerd!  That lesson was that every single thing that happens on earth is influenced by history. And without the history, you cannot fully understand the motivations behind all those involved. 

Don’t Worry; I Can See the Eye Rolls at that Dramatic Statement.

Because on the surface, the Israeli-Palestine Conflict traces back to the second World World. So what the fuck does history have to do with anything? Especially Medieval History! Well, once you delve a little deeper, you can start to see the connections very clearly. The creation of Israel was to provide the Jewish victims of the Holocaust a safe haven away from Europe. Why away from Europe (aside from the obvious mass murder that had just taken place under the Nazis)? Because the Holocaust was not a stand-alone moment of persecution against Jewish people. For centuries, the European Jewish people suffered through the Spanish Inquisition, pogroms, forced expulsion, forced confinement (aka ghettos) and all sorts of horrible abuse. Ever been to the “Jewish Quarter” in a European city? Yeah, that is the nice way of saying, “this is where we forced the Jewish population to live aka ghettos when we weren’t murdering them or kicking them out.” As you can imagine, after the Holocaust, many Jewish victims wanted to get the fuck out of Europe. And in true European fashion, they stole land that did not belong to them and sent the Jewish people there.

If I go into colonization and the Crusades (which I consider an attempt at colonization), this post will never end. Because the Europeans did way too much fucked up shit all over the world. So, on the Palestinian side, I will focus on the fall of the Ottoman Empire (because of course we can’t talk about Europe and the Middle East and not talk about the Crusades). First, after the Ottoman Empire fell at the end of World War I, the European Allies divided up the Middle East based on the resources that they wanted and generally fucked over the people who live there. Most of the conflicts in the Middle East today can be traced back in some way to this decision. But that is a conversation for another day. So when the European Allies decided to do it again thirty years later, lets just say, no one was happy about it. 

Will All of My Posts Connect Directly to Current Events?

Probably not. Honestly, I would spend waaaaayyy too much time on a soap box and this blog would be more serious and less snarky. Plus, this blog is meant to give you a break from the craziness that surrounds us a daily basis by providing historical stories and information in sardonic manner. But I thought it was important to start out this blog by illuminating why this shit matters!

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