![]() She was granted rights far in excess of those afforded to other women of noble birth. Margaret Beaufort as ‘My Lady the Kings Mother’įollowing the Battle of Bosworth Margaret Beaufort became known as “My Lady the King’s Mother”. Given Henry’s abortive attempt at landing in England during that uprising, it is hard to believe that she hadn’t conspired in some way. ![]() It is also believed that she had a role in the rebellion led by the Duke of Buckingham. It gave additional legitimacy to Henry’s claim to the throne whilst disarming some of the potential Yorkist opposition, after all, Elizabeth of York was the senior heiress of Edward IV once the Princes in the Tower had disappeared. The agreement to marry Henry Tudor to Elizabeth of York was politically astute. ![]() Margaret Beaufort’s most famous political act is undoubtedly the arrangements that she masterminded with Elizabeth Woodville. Margaret Beaufort conspires with Elizabeth Woodville This led to her negotiating with King Richard III and conspiring with Elizabeth Woodville. It also allowed her to observe the political situation and to ensure that her son’s position was safe. She enjoyed favour at court, being the godmother of one of the Princesses. It appears that the marriage of Margaret Beaufort to Thomas Stanley was simply one of political expediency. So, in 1472 she married Sir Thomas Stanley. Margaret needed to marry again to maintain her own position and influence at court. Now her own lineage could be seen as a potential problem, especially as the Lancastrian line was now deceased. Stafford had a good relationship with the Yorkist elite and she had benefitted from this at court. This placed Margaret in a potentially precarious position. Henry Stafford died of wounds whilst fighting for the Yorkists at the Battle of Barnet. Margaret then suffered the loss of her husband. This led to a fourteen-year period in which mother and son did not see one another. To ensure the safety of her son, Margaret persuaded Jasper Tudor to take Henry into exile. Margaret was of Royal Blood and herself and her son had a claim to the throne at a time when the conflict was being fought on dynastic lines. The Wars of the Roses raged in the late 1450s and early 1460s. This period continued to be one of great tension. She was married to Henry Stafford, the second eldest son of the Duke of Buckingham. Jasper also arranged Margaret’s 3 rd marriage. Margaret was cared for by Jasper Tudor who provided for her and the newly born Henry Tudor. Margaret Beaufort and Henry Tudors infancy Margaret, still only 13, was heavily pregnant when in 1456 Edmund died in captivity of the Plague. The factionalism at court had just turned into warfare. Margaret and Edmund married in 1455, a marriage that she later noted was was the result of divine guidance. Henry’s solution was to contract Margaret, still only 9 years old, to his half-brother, Edmund Tudor. As an important heiress, it was important to ensure that the lands and power that she wielded were put to good use for the crown. The annulment led to King Henry VI becoming more involved in Margaret’s future. This was a politically motivated move by Suffolk and though the marriage took place in 1444 and was confirmed by Papal Dispensation, she never recognised the marriage herself and it was annulled due to the illegality of the marriage under canon law. Through this, she was contracted to marry John de la Pole. Inheriting his lands and title at an early age, Margaret was put in the care of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. John Beaufort, her father, was the Duke of Somerset. She was the sole legitimate child and therefore heiress to her father’s lands. As the granddaughter of John of Gaunt, she was politically significant. Margaret was an important figure throughout her life. Source: Wikimedia Lineage and infancy of Margaret Beaufort Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby. It was her lineage that gave Henry the claim to the throne: Margaret was a great-granddaughter of King Edward III, though from a line that King Henry IV determined could never inherit the throne. The Countess of Richmond had just one child, Henry Tudor. Margaret Beaufort was the mother of the Tudor Dynasty.
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