(Cover image – © Unknown Artist – The National Portrait Gallery)
Fate can be weird and magical sometimes, and so can be coincidences. Today’s Wednesday 31st of May of 2023, and we’re here to commemorate another Wednesday 31st of May, but back in 1443. On that fateful day, at Bletsoe Castle, Bedfordshire, a new dynastic matriarch was born: Lady Margaret Beaufort. She was welcomed by her parents, Margaret Beauchamp and John Beaufort, duke of Somerset, to whom she was sole heir.
By the time baby Margaret was born, her father was leading a military expedition for the then King Henry VI, but the duke got banished from court on their return from France due to charges of treason, which might have prompted his death. Some said it was an illness and others cried sinful suicide but nonetheless, the result was the same: Margaret had lost her dad. John Beaufort was a direct descendant of John of Gaunt, 1st duke of Lancaster and third son of King Edward III by his second wife Katherine Swynford, who had been his mistress for years while his first wife lived, before they tied the knot, which made little Margaret a contestant for the throne as his heiress. Unfortunately, though, with said claim and fortune, came the reality of being toyed around at court for political reasons, as every woman and girl knew.
At the tender age of 1 year old, Margaret was put under William de la Pole’s care, who was quick to fix her hand in marriage to his own son John. In spite of this, she lived a more or less happy infancy taken care of by her mother along with her half siblings. Her mom made sure she received a fitting education as she was proud of her daughter’s wit.
Life took a turn once again when Margaret turned 12 and William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk and her guardian, died, and her wardship went to the King’s brothers, Edmund and Owen Tudor. Edmund was smarter and greedier than William: he married young Margaret himself in order to reinforce his claim to his brother’s throne in case Henry VI died with no heirs. He was twelve years older than her, and while it was common to marry child brides off to adult men, usually the norm was to refrain from any sexual activity until said bride became of age.
Sadly, this wasn’t the case for Margaret, who found herself pregnant at only 13 years old and married to a man that was deep in the turbulent War of the Roses. This was a bit of a controversial thing even back then and there, since Margaret was clearly too young to consent, and some experts speculate about how this abusive act might’ve affected her.
To top it off, Edmund was captured, fell ill and passed away, leaving his pregnant teenage wife in a difficult situation. It was at Pembroke castle, with Jasper Tudor as her only company, that she gave birth to a baby boy named Henry Tudor, after an excruciating labor. The fact is that that was to be her first and only child. It’s assumed that poor Margaret didn’t only suffer an emotionally scarring birth, but she could have also suffered physically to the point of not being able to conceive ever again. Let us be reminded that the new mom was only 13 years old and already a widow.
All of this painted a sacred picture to Margaret, who decided to see it as divine intervention so that her son could become king someday. This was going to become her sole purpose in life.
Already familiar with the sharks at court, she took it upon herself to arrange her second marriage so that she could be protected and fight for her son. The lucky chosen one turned out to be Henry Stafford, the second son of the Duke of Buckingham. Another rare occurrence during those ages, choosing one’s husband, but there she was, already the intelligent and fierce woman she’d be known as later on. Stafford and Margaret married shortly before Henry’s first birthday (mother and son having lost both of their dads as little babies, mind you) and spent the next few years in peace. This marriage is believed to have been a happy one, him being devoted to her until his demise more than a decade later.
But as Margaret came to expect, destiny turned the wheel again and Edward IV made Henry VI flee towards Scotland after being defeated at the Battle of Towton in March of 1461. The new ruler was scared of leaving loose threats behind that could come to take his throne and Margaret decided to flee as well to Pembroke, taking her son, her husband and her former brother in law, Jasper Tudor. This would prove to be useless, as they were discovered soon after and surrendered. Margaret faced the worst: Edward IV took her son to his court, to prevent a future uprising against his rule. Six whole years would come to pass before mother and son could be reunited.
Margaret introduced herself with ease at the yorkist court with the objective of protecting her son’s interests. In 1470, though, she made the mistake of introducing Henry Tudor to his uncle, the dethroned Henry VI, during a brief revolt, to remind him and everyone that Henry could be the King, should something happen to Edward and his heirs. This was bound to end up in tragedy, and Edward IV got Henry VI killed and his throne back. Once more, Jasper and Henry were forced to exile themselves, leaving Margaret behind to take care of the family’s wealth. Stafford died during the Battle of Barnet and that left Margaret officially alone. In order to guarantee her son a bit more security, she remarried one last time, this one was to Lord Thomas Stanley. Her new husband helped her get back at court and become close to King Edward and Queen Elizabeth Woodville; so much so that she was the one to hold between her arms the royal baby Bridget during her christening.
Thanks to his mom’s work, Henry got back some of his lands and was even rumored to be set to marry princess Elizabeth of York. Do you know what happens when things seem to be looking up? Exactly. Everything goes south. King Edward IV died and his brother Richard III occupied the role. His reign and the two princes' mystery is food for another banquet.
A coup was already being planned, and Margaret was contacted to lend a hand, but it didn’t go down well and Henry was saved at the last minute of a sure death.
Dowager Queen Elizabeth and Margaret united to bring together their families and take the throne. It was August 1485 when Henry went back to England along with lots of mercenaries to meet Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and win the crown to himself. And that’s what he did. At last, Margaret could breathe and taste the sweet flavor of victory and stability after years and years of fighting against all odds.
Life had given her some of the worst cards ever but she still defied the fates and kept pushing to give everything to her Henry, the only baby she ever had. Her one true love, even after multiple marriages.
That’s the fierce woman that started out one of the most famous families in British history, and the one whose birth date we’re celebrating today.
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