War of the Roses 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

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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.

The Quiet Legacy of Elizabeth of York

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

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

The Last York Princess

Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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

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

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

The First Tudor Queen

Remigius van Leemput, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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

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

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

Reimaging the Role of the Queen

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

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

Sources

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

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022

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

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

Dream Marriage or Hellish Nightmare?

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

Way Too Many Problems to Overcome?

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

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

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

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

Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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

Trust: The Foundation of Marriage

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

Did Henry VII and Elizabeth Have a Happy Marriage?

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

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

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

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

Sources

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

May 30, 2022June 20, 2022

Did Elizabeth of York Want to Marry Richard III?

Image by Thomas Wolter from Pixabay

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

The Dress that Started It All

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

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

The One, Very Big, Impossible Problem was…

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

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

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

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

Hell No!

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

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

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

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

Sources:

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

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

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May 16, 2022June 19, 2022

Sanctuary For Elizabeth of York: The Sleepover from Hell

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

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

What the Fuck is Sanctuary?

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

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 1

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

Charles A. Platt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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

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

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 2

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

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

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

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

Elizabeth’s Stints in Sanctuary Shaped the Queen She Became

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

Sources

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

May 9, 2022June 20, 2022

Elizabeth of York: The KISS Edition

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

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

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

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

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

Protecting the Fam

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

Uncle Dick Comes to Town

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

John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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

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

And Now We Have… The Tudors?

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

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

Marriages Don’t Magically Solve All of the Problems

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

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

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

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

Sources:

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

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

April 24, 2022June 20, 2022

The Villain of Catherine of Valois’s Story

Image by 3959267 from Pixabay

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

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

Waaaayyy Too Many Villians…

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

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

The Giant Turd

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

Inexplicable Grudge Against Catherine

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

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

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

Too Little, Too Late

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

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

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:

The Last York Princess

The First Tudor Queen

Reimaging the Role of the Queen

Sources

Dream Marriage or Hellish Nightmare?

Way Too Many Problems to Overcome?

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

Trust: The Foundation of Marriage

Did Henry VII and Elizabeth Have a Happy Marriage?

Sources

The Dress that Started It All

The One, Very Big, Impossible Problem was…

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

Hell No!

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

Sources:

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What the Fuck is Sanctuary?

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 1

The Yorks in Sanctuary: Part 2

Elizabeth’s Stints in Sanctuary Shaped the Queen She Became

Sources

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 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:

Waaaayyy Too Many Villians…

The Giant Turd

Inexplicable Grudge Against Catherine

Too Little, Too Late

Sources:

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