Margaret Beaufort Archives

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

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.

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

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

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

May 9, 2022June 20, 2022

Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition

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

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

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

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

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

Protecting the Fam

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

Uncle Dick Comes to Town

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

John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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

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.

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.

Sources:

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

May 1, 2022March 29, 2023

The Unexpected Legacy of Catherine of Valois

During the Medieval Period, royal women are often remembered as the “Daughter of…” or the “Mother of…” (because, of course, their value is based on the men in their lives). If we look at Catherine of Valois from that perspective, she is a pretty average royal medieval woman. She was the Daughter of Charles VI, Queen Consort of Henry V, Mother of Henry VI, and Grandmother of Henry VII. On its face, that legacy is very ordinary. It is the details that make her legacy extraordinary.

The Daughter, The Queen Consort, and The Mother

As the Daughter of Charles VI, she was raised by a Mad French King and a reviled Queen during a civil war and an English invasion (a traumatic childhood to say the least). While her reign as Queen Consort to Henry V was very short, Catherine literally made the English aristocracy’s dreams come true by bringing all of France as her dowry AND immediately got pregnant with the heir to the throne. Her time as Queen Mother was toxic (due to turds like Humphrey of Gloucester). While these things would make her an interesting woman to study, it is her final label that takes her legacy to a different level.

The Grandmother Through… The Tudors?

In a normal world, being the Grandmother of Henry VII would be expected. He was named after her husband and son. Plus, as Queen Mother, her grandson was expected to be her son’s heir. Henry VII was one of her son’s heir, but he was Edmund Tudor’s son, not Henry VI’s (cue the dramatic music).

Even though Catherine of Valois was his mother, Edmund Tudor was never in line for the throne. First off, his father, Owen Tudor, was Welsh. Not only was he Welsh, but Owen was the son of a Welsh rebel! Secondly, the marriage between Catherine and Owen was not entirely legal (because Humphrey of Gloucester was a vindictive asshole).

The Perks of Being Half-Brothers to the King

Upon Catherine’s death, no one could have predicted that her second son would be the father of a king. In fact, after Edmund’s own death, the idea that his son would one day be king was laughable. Henry VI and his own son, Edward of Lancaster, were alive and there were countless nobles who were ahead of Henry VII in the line of succession. Not to mention, Henry VII’s only claim to the throne (which was very very thin) was through his mother, Margaret Beaufort, not Edmund. Even though he was half-brother to the English King, Edmund himself was French and Welsh with literally no English royal descent.

The only reason Edmund was able to marry Margaret Beaufort (a rich heiress who was cousin to the king) was because he was Henry VI’s half-brother. While Catherine did not play a significant role in Henry VI’s life once he was removed from her household, Henry VI cared for his mother. He took care of his half-brothers, which led to Edmund’s marriage to Margaret. (That marriage is so fucking gross. She was way too young at 12, even for the time.) Essentially, the only reason why Henry VII existed is because of Catherine’s most scandalous choice: her marriage to Owen Tudor.

Catherine of Valois’s Legacy

One of the only times Catherine took control of her life (which frankly, she had very little agency for most of her life) was when she married Owen Tudor despite the fact that it was illegal. This moment of agency changed the course of history, although, those changes did not come to pass until well after her death. If Owen had married anyone else, Edmund would have not married Margaret and Henry VII would never have been born.

The world would be a very different place today without Catherine of Valois.

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:

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

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

Tag: Margaret Beaufort

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

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

Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition

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

Protecting the Fam

Uncle Dick Comes to Town

And Now We Have… The Tudors?

Marriages Don’t Magically Solve All of the Problems

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

Sources:

The Unexpected Legacy of Catherine of Valois

The Daughter, The Queen Consort, and The Mother

The Grandmother Through… The Tudors?

The Perks of Being Half-Brothers to the King

Catherine of Valois’s Legacy

The world would be a very different place today without Catherine of Valois.

Sources:

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

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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