The birth of Elizabeth Woodville, who she was before her rise to Queenship

( Elizabeth Woodville - © Royal Collection Trust )

Jacquetta of Luxembourg’s decision to secretly marry a man below her status must’ve caused quite a scandal in the mid-fifteenth century. She was after all a woman of noble blood (‘a princess of Luxembourg by birth’) and now, recently widowed, the third lady of the realm due to her status as Dowager Duchess of Bedford. Her man of choice was no stranger, for he had frequently been keeping her former husband, the Duke of Bedford, company. His name was Sir Richard Woodville, a man from a respectable family but not – in terms of medieval standards – a suitable husband for a woman like Jacquetta. However, the couple decided to marry in secret, and it’s widely accepted by historians that they both did so because of their mutual affection or even love. King Henry VI wasn’t happy upon hearing of their match but the newlyweds were restored to favor again after Jacquetta had paid a sum to the crown. Their wedding must’ve taken place sometime in early 1437 because their first child would be born later on the same year. It’s often suggested that Elizabeth was born in April.

The first child that graced the couple’s life was a daughter whom they named Elizabeth. Over ten children would follow; Jacquetta’s and Richard’s union proved to be a fruitful one.

( Jacquetta of Luxembourg - © The History Press )

Elizabeth Woodville was probably born at Grafton, in Northamptonshire. It was the main residence of the Woodville family and most likely the place where Elizabeth and her siblings had grown up, too. Sadly, there are hardly (if at all) sources that inform us about Elizabeth’s childhood and teenage years; her years until her becoming Queen are largely lost to us. We can, however, try to piece these years together. The fact that Elizabeth and her brother Anthony were fairly close, must mean that they both spent much time together growing up (they had an age gap of ca. a year.)

She must’ve learnt how to manage a household; basic skills expected in medieval noble women such as needlework, and riding. Elizabeth is known for her piety, so it’s not implausible to assume that religion played a big role in her education and upbringing as well.

How did she look like? Unfortunately, no detailed contemporary portrait has survived. There are recreations that are based on (lost) originals, and there is an illustration in a manuscript depicting her in her coronation clothes. Still, it doesn’t show her exact facial expressions or her appearance in detail. On the other hand, it does reveal a large forehead (that was a beauty standard) and long, yellow (or even strawberry-red) hair. The non-contemporary portraits show a wise woman with soft facial features, brown eyes, a long nose and red lips; the bottom lip being fuller than the upper one. Her eyebrows appear to have been plucked to be thin and somewhat straight. All in all, the portrait shows a beautiful woman and, according to contemporaries, that she was! Elizabeth Woodville would later be praised for her graceful and beautiful appearance; people would even admire her heavy-lidded eyes.

There’s no date to suggest when Elizabeth was married to Sir John Grey. As historian David Baldwin states we cannot even be certain when their first child had been born. Thomas Grey’s birth year ranges from 1451 to 1455. If he had been born in 1451, then Elizabeth Woodville must have been some thirteen or fourteen years old. Another boy would be born to the Greys’ some years after Thomas’ birth: Richard Grey. Again, we don’t know anything about Elizabeth’s life with Sir John and her children, though her husband fought for the House of Lancaster in the bloody clashes between the red rose and the white rose. When he died at the Second Battle of St. Albans in February 1461, he left behind a young widow and two young boys to look after. Whether Elizabeth and John had been a quarrelsome or affectionate couple, it’s not unthinkable that she grieved the loss of her husband who had supported her and their children. Baldwin even suggests that they were partners who were supportive of each other, especially when John was absent.

All in all, Elizabeth Woodville remains an enigma, and especially the younger Elizabeth who was born to Jacquetta and Richard, went on to marry John and lived for several years with him and their children.

References:

1. Baldwin, David. Elizabeth Woodville: Mother of the Princes in the Tower, Stroud 2012.

2. Licence, Amy. Edward IV & Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance, Stroud 2016.

3. Strickland, Agnes. Lives of the Queens of England from the Norman Conquest. Vol. 2, London 1909.