Nicola Tallis - Uncrowned Queen: The Life of Margaret Beaufort, Mother of the Tudors

UNCROWNED QUEEN FEATURES A GREAT number of personalities, all of whom had varying impacts on Margaret Beauforts life. To help familiarize the reader, I include below a brief biographical sketch of some of the main characters in Margarets story.

Beauchamp, Margaret, Duchess of Somerset (c. 14201482)

Margarets mother was the daughter of Sir John Beauchamp and Edith Stourton. She was married first to Sir Oliver St John, by whom she had seven children. Following her brief marriage to John Beaufort, which produced a single daughter, Margaret, she remarried in 1447. Her third husband was Lionel, or Leo, Lord Welles, by whom she had a son. Margaret Beauchamp died prior to 3 June 1482.

Beaufort, Edmund, Second Duke of Somerset (c. 1406/71455)

The younger brother of Margarets father, Edmund was granted the dukedom of Somerset in 1448. A favourite of both Henry VI and his queen, Edmund was unpopular with many of his fellow noblesmost significantly the Duke of York, who tried to have him imprisoned on several occasions. Edmund participated in the first battle of the Wars of the Roses at St Albans in 1455, where he was killed.

Beaufort, John, First Duke of Somerset (14041444)

Margarets father was the grandson of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford. Somerset spent much of his youth imprisoned in France as a result of his capture at the Battle of Baug. He was ransomed in 1438, and in 1442 he married Margaret Beauchamp. In July 1443 he led a military campaign to France, but it ended in disaster. He returned six months later, in January 1444, and was met with disgrace. In Mayjust days before his infant daughters first birthdaySomerset died, possibly by his own hand.

Bray, Sir Reginald (c. 14401503)

Margaret met the man who would become one of her most trusted servants and lifelong friends following her marriage to Henry Stafford. Bray acted as receiver general to the couple and managed Margarets estates for around two decades. He served Margaret loyally and conspired on her sons behalf in the Buckingham Rebellion of 1483. Following Henry VIIs accession in 1485, Bray was handsomely rewarded and became one of the kings most influential advisors. He died childless on 5 August 1503.

Cecily of York (14691507)

Margaret was extremely fond of the third of Edward IVs daughters, who she is likely to have come to know well during her time at the court of the Yorkist king. It was probably under Margarets auspices that Cecily was married to John Welles, Margarets half-brother, in 1487. Following Welless death, Cecily wed Thomas Kyme without seeking Henry VIIs consent. The king was outraged, but Margaret did her best to protect the former Yorkist princess, interceding on her behalf. Cecily lived out the remainder of her days quietly.

Edward IV (14421483)

The son and heir of Richard, Duke of York, following a victory at the Battle of Mortimers Cross in February 1461, in March Edward declared himself king. His victory was consolidated after the bloody Battle of Towton on 29 March. Edward secretly married Elizabeth Wydeville in 1464, and together the couple would produce ten childreneight of whom survived infancy. In 1470 Edward was briefly deposed and fled abroad, but he returned the following year to fight for his throne. After two successful victories at Barnet and Tewkesbury, he regained his crown. Edward died unexpectedly in 1483, the results of which led Margaret Beaufort to spy an opportunity for her son.

Elizabeth of York (14661503)

The eldest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Wydeville, Elizabeth was betrothed to the French dauphin in 1475 as part of her fathers peace negotiations. The betrothal was broken off in 1482, and the following year Margaret plotted to marry Elizabeth to her son, Henry. Their marriage finally took place in January 1486, and in September Elizabeth gave birth to the first Tudor heir, Arthur. Together she and Henry sired seven children, four of whom survived infancy. Elizabeth died nine days after the birth of her final child, Katherine.

Fisher, John, Bishop of Rochester (c. 14691535)

The son of a Yorkshire merchant, Fisher first met Margaret in 1494 when he was senior proctor at Cambridge. The two struck up an immediate friendship, and before long Fisher had assumed the role of Margarets chaplain and confessor. In 1504 Fisher was created Bishop of Rochester and remained a close friend of Margarets for the rest of her life. So much so that he was one of the executors of her will, and it is from him that much of the information about her life stemslargely related by Margaret herself.

George, Duke of Clarence (14491478)

A younger brother of Edward IV, it was to Clarence that Henry Tudors title of Richmond was given in 1462. Clarence was treacherous and rebelled with the Earl of Warwick against his brother in 1469. He was later reconciled with Edward IV and became a recipient of the kings favour. He was married to Isabel Neville, and the couple had two surviving children: Margaret, later married to Sir Richard Pole, and Edward, Earl of Warwick, executed in 1499. Following the death of his wife in 1476probably as a result of childbirthClarences behaviour became increasingly erratic. He was arrested and tried on charges of treason, of which he was found guilty. He was executed on 18 February 1478, reportedly by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.