Margaret was extremely intelligent and very literate. She founded St John’s College, Cambridge, in 1511. She also promoted higher learning for girls. The first women’s college, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, was named in her honour.
She was born at Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire. She was the only daughter born to John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, and Margaret Beauchamp. She was also descended from Edward III. Her grandfather, John Beaufort, was legitimised but he was barred from inheriting the throne.
Margaret was the wealthiest heiress in England—worth £1,000 per annum.
The Child Bride
She was married to John de la Pole, the Duke of Suffolk’s son when she was six years old.
However, Henry VI granted Margaret’s wardship and marriage to his half-brothers, Edmund and Jasper Tudor. Her previous marriage was quickly annulled.
Margaret married Edmund—a man more than twice her age—when she turned twelve on 1 November 1455.
She was heavily pregnant when her husband died on 3 November 1456. Margaret sought refuge with her brother-in-law Jasper at Pembroke Castle.
Margaret’s son, the future Henry VII, was a puny infant when he was born. She was unable to bear more children as the birth damaged her immature body.
Margaret was quickly remarried to Henry Stafford. (He died in 1471.)
The Lancastrian Henry VI briefly regained his throne on 3 October 1470. Henry VI was again defeated by the Yorkist Edward IV six months later.
Margaret urged her son to flee with his uncle to Brittany where they remained in exile for years.
Remarriage
She married Thomas, Lord Stanley, in 1473. He was the head of a powerful Yorkist family.
Edward IV died in 1483. His eldest son, Edward V, inherited the throne. However, the boy’s uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, declared Edward V was illegitimate and claimed the throne as Richard III.
Edward V and his younger brother were confined in the Tower of London. They have never seen again—sparking rumours they were murdered.
She plotted with Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV’s widow, to marry her son to Elizabeth of York, or her sister Cecily. Margaret’s doctor, Lewis Caerleon, passed messages between the two women.
Margaret also kept Henry informed of current affairs.
Richard III discovered the plot. Margaret’s lands were confiscated. Richard III insisted Lord Stanley kept his wife under control. Margaret escaped lightly. Others, including the Duke of Buckingham, were executed.
Henry Tudor landed in Wales and defeated Richard III at Bosworth in 1485. He was crowned Henry VII. Henry immediately restored his mother’s confiscated property.
The King’s Mother
He married Elizabeth of York. Margaret was a domineering mother-in-law. She resented giving precedence to both the Queen and her mother. Elizabeth Woodville was a crowned Queen whilst Margaret was merely “My lady the King’s mother.”
Margaret even signed her letters “Margaret R”. She wore the same robes as her daughter-in-law.
She retired from political life and concentrated on running the royal household. She set out rules for the management of the royal nursery and protocol for childbirth.
Margaret was devoted to her grandchildren, especially her namesake, and she took an active interest in their education.
Margaret was widowed again in 1504. This time she took a vow of chastity.
She survived her son by ten weeks. Margaret was appointed Regent until her grandson Henry VIII turned 18.
Margaret died on 29 June 1509, aged 66, retaining all her faculties. She was buried in Henry VII’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey, beside her son and daughter-in-law.
Sources
Chrimes, S B, Henry VII, Yale University Press, Yale, 1999
Fraser, Antonia, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London, 1992 (Seventh Impression 1993)
Griffiths, Ralph A, and, Thomas, Roger S, The Making of the Tudor Dynasty, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 1985 (Revised 2005)
Perry, Maria, Sisters To The King, Carlton Publishing Group, London, 1998 (Reprinted 2002
Plowden, Alison, Tudor Women: Queens & Commoners, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 2002 (Reprinted 2007)
Ridley, Jasper, Henry VIII, Constable and Company, London, 1984
Starkey, David, Monarchy: From the Middle Ages To Modernity, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 2006
Williams, Neville, The Life and Times of Henry VII, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1973
© 2008 Carolyn M Cash
This article was originally published by Suite 101 on 23 September 2008.
