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In celebration of Women’s History Month (in the United States), I am highlighting the kickass women who contributed to the War of the Roses. In their own way, each of these women affected the way the war played out. Some of them did it by rebelling against the social norms and taking their fates into their hands while others played the roles that they were expected to while being in powerful positions. Many of them are considered famous women in history.
10) Eleanor Cobham
While Eleanor Cobham’s scandal happened a little earlier than the outbreak of the War of the Roses, it greatly affected the political landscape leading up to the War of the Roses. Eleanor was the daughter of a lesser noble who became the lady-in-waiting to Jacqueline of Hainaut, who was Humphrey of Gloucester’s wife. Eleanor and Humphrey began an affair, which led to Humphrey annulling his marriage to Jacqueline so that he could marry Eleanor (which was super scandalous).
Of course, the scandal does not end there. Humphrey gained more power in the regency when his brother, John of Bedford, died. Many members of the regency council did not like Humphrey and when the opportunity presented itself, they lashed out and accused Eleanor of witchcraft (because of course). She was convicted, forced to divorce her husband and remained in confinement for the rest of her life.
While her downfall had more to do with the fact that Humphrey was a political dumpster fire that it did with her, Eleanor took her destiny into her own hands. She became the mistress, and then wife, to one of the heirs to the throne despite being part of the lesser nobility and not bringing any political or monetary value to the marriage. She was essentially giving the English nobility the middle finger and did whatever the fuck she wanted.
9) Anne Neville
Anne Neville, Warwick’s youngest daughter, was the wife of a Lancastrian prince and the Queen Consort of a Yorkist King. Her marriage to Edward of Lancaster (Henry VI’s heir) was organized by her father during his rebellion against Edward IV to solidify his alliance with Margaret of Anjou (because power matters more than your daughter’s happiness). Most of their marriage was spent in exile and her husband perished soon after they arrived in England.
Anne was in a really shitty spot once she became a widow. She was under the control of her brother-in-law, George of Clarence (who was a greedy asshole). George attempted to prevent her from marrying Richard III (who was simply a Duke at that time), but with the blessing of Edward IV, the marriage went through. She remained out of the spotlight until Richard III usurped the throne from his nephews after Edward IV’s death. She was not Queen Consort for long as she died young, along with her only child.
Anne Neville should be a fascinating character in this story. She was a survivor who in any other period of time, had the potential to be a powerful women. But in the long shadows of legends such as Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville, and Margaret Beaufort, she falls short.
8) Catherine of Valois
While she was Queen Consort to Henry V and Queen Mother to Henry VI, Catherine of Valois had very little influence on the political stage in England. Henry V pretty much got her pregnant immediately and then died in a very shitty way (pun intended; aka he died of dysentery), making her reign as Queen Consort very short. Due to the fact that she was a French princess during the Hundred Years’ War, she was not given regency during Henry VI’s youth, though she was very involved in raising him during his younger years. Truthfully, she made very little impact during her lifetime.
Since she had very little power, the regency council paid little attention to her, except regarding her love life. As Queen Mother, her second husband could have used her position to gain power and influence (and they could not have that). So, after her first engagement was broken by the regency council, she eloped with Owen Tudor, a Welsh knight (the ultimate Mike Drop). It was this one rebellious act that shows how badass she was. She wanted to marry Owen Tudor, so she did. This act had very little impact on politics at that time, but her grandson from this union would eventually become Henry VII or Henry Tudor.
7) Margaret of Burgundy
Sister to Edward IV and Richard III, Margaret of Burgundy is often overlooked in the retelling of the tale of the Cousin’s War Her role in the conflict is primarily limited to Warwick’s temper tantrum during Edward IV’s reign and her achievements during this period are directly connected to her husband, so she gets little to no credit.
During the brief period in which Warwick overthrew Edward IV and placed Henry VI back on the throne, Edward IV fled England and sought sanctuary from Margaret and her husband in Burgundy. It is believed that Margaret was instrumental in reconciling Edward IV and George of Clarence. George was basically a treasonous asshole to his brother. Margaret and her mother, Cecily Neville, worked together to reconciled the estranged brothers, which helped Edward IV take back the throne once and for all.
Margaret is most well known for being the primary backer for the pretenders to the throne during Henry VII’s reign. Despite her niece being Queen Consort, Margaret provided funds and troops for pretenders like Perkin Warbeck who claimed to be Richard of York (one of Edward IVs sons who disappeared under Richard III’s “protection”). Her actions ensured that the War of the Roses continued well into Henry VII’s reign.
Brief Side Note: Her biggest badass moments have more to do with her regency over Burgundy after her husband’s death than her impact on the War of the Roses.
6) Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York, Edward IV’s first born and Henry VII, was vital to ending the War of the Roses. As the Yorkist primary heir to the throne, her marriage to Henry VII (the Lancastrian heir) united the Yorks and Lancasters, especially as she gave birth to seven children. This solidified the Tudor dynasty and eventually peace (once her aunt, Margaret of Burgundy, stopped stirring shit up with pretenders to the thrown).
Frankly, in a different period of time (or a different list), Elizabeth would be ranked much higher. As a princess and then Queen, she fulfilled her roles perfectly. In comparison to her mother, Elizabeth Woodville (whose marriage literally caused the biggest scandal) and her mother-in-law, Margaret Beaufort (who literally put her son on the throne despite his sketchy as fuck “right to rule”), she blends in the background. Due to Margaret Beaufort’s elevated role as the King’s mother, she did not have much political influence beyond the arrangement of her children’s marriages.
While I am stopping here, don’t worry; there is waaaayyy more to come. Part 2, with the rest of the list, will be coming out next week.
Do you agree with my rankings so far? What are your thoughts on these badasses? Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. I would love to hear them!
Sources
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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
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