Margaret Beaufort - A Red Rosed Lady
On this day in history 31st of May 1443 Lady Margaret Beaufort was born in Beltsoe Castle, Bedfordshire. She was the first daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp of Beltsoe.
At the age of only one she was married to J0hn De La Pope, 2nd Duke Suffolk. This was annuled in 1553 by King Henry VI. He rewarded his half brothers Edmund and Jasper Tudor wardship of her.
The king proposed his younger brither Edmund to marry Margaret. He was the oldest son of Catherine Valois who was also the King's mother and Owen Tudor.
On the 1st of November 1455 Margaret was married to Edmund Tudor af the age of only twelve. He did not seem to care for her young age for she fell pregnant not long after. As a Lancastrian Edmund was captured by Yorkist forces. He contracted the plague and died in captivity on the 3rd of November 1456. Margaret was seven months pregnant. Jasper Tudor took on Margaret and took care of her. As if was expected of him by his brother.
In the early hours of the 27th of January 1457 she went into labour. She was only thirteen years old! The labour was very difficult and she was in alot of pain due tonjer small body. She was not yet mature enough structure wise to give birth. At thirteen a girl's hips and vaginal muscles are not yet fully formed (during puberty a woman's hips widen and so does their pelvis) strengthened enough to actually push a child. After hours if labour and her and her baby ear dying sje gave birth to her first and only child. A son in Pembroke Castle. He was the future Henry VII
She remained in Pembroke Castle under the care of Jasper Tudor until the Yorkist victory in 1461. Edward IV stripped little Henry of his title Earl of Richmond and ir was bestowed upon Lord Herbert of Raglan.
Henry was send to Wales where he lived with his uncle.
Margaret was married to her third husband on the 3rd of January 1458. He was Sir Henry Stafford. He was much older being eighteen years her senior. They had a happy marraige and Margaret took it upon herself to restore Woking Castle. Even though this marraige did not have issue they were happy.
Henry Stafford died of his wounds after foghting for the Yorkist army in the Battle of Barnet. He died days after.
At the age of twenty eight Margaret was yet again a widow. She seen herself at risk so quickly tried to find another husband. It was around this time she wrote her will. She said that she wanted to be buried with her first husband Edmund Tudor she did nit acknowledge John de la Pole as her first husband and this was accepted under Canon Law.
She married for the 4th time to Lord Thomas Stanley. He was a Yorkist and it was her way back to court. She served Elizabeth Wydeville and she was even one of her many daughter's godmother. She delivered the Queen's second surviving son as well(As depicted on the Wjite Queen) as she knew how to deal with a difficult birth.
With the death of Edward IV and Richard III seizing the throne she had to serve Queen Anne. She even carried her train at her coranation.
Even though she was loyal, her titles and lands were stripped from her and given to her husband. This is what pushed Margaret over the edge.
Margaret being a mother of a single son with a claim to the throne of England who she had not seen for over ten years, sbe began to conspire with Dowager Queen Elizabeth Wydeville to put Henry Tudor on the throne woth Elizabeth's oldest daughter Elizabeth of York as his Queen..
When Henry VII won the throne at the Battle of Bosworth Feild she was made Her Lady, The King's Mother. She was the second mofher of a king ro use this title. The first being Cecily Neville, Duchess of York and mother to Edward IV and Richard III.
During her son's reign she had a huge influence. Parliamant gave her back her oands as her own as if she wasnt married. This was verg uncommon as it made her independent from her husband financially.
Margaret did not like the fact she was lower in rank than that of her Daughter in law Elizabeth of York and the Dowager Queen Elizabeth Wydeville. She even wore clothes of the same cokour as Elizabeth and walked half a pace behind.
She lived a long kiife and outlived her only son. Henry VII died in the 21st of April 1509. Margaret was afraodnthat the remaining Yorkist loyalists would rise and take the throne back. After all there still were many noboes with blue blood.
The King's death was not announced till the 24th of April and young Henry Tudor, Duke of York was declared king Henry VIII. Sje was present at his wedding on the 11th of June 1509 and his Coranation onnthe 24th of June.
After the coronation she retired to the Deanery of Westminster Abbey. She died there on the 29th of June 1509. The day after her grandsons eighteenth birthday.
Margaret died knowing her son's dynasty was secure. She muat have turned in her grave when Henry split with the church and cast aside his first wife Catalina de Aragon.
