Claire Ridgway is a British writer of history books about the Tudor dynasty, with a particular focus on the life of the Boleyn family. Since 2009 she has run the websites TheAnneBoleynFiles.come and Elizabethfiles.com. In 2014, Claire founded The Tudor Society.
Books for research
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
1509
The first year of the reign of the iconic monarch King Henry VIII. 29th of June 1509, Lady Margaret Beaufort the mother of Henry VII and grandmother of Henry VIII and the woman who seemed to be the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty. She died at the age of 66 at shangates at the westminister house. Margaret died 4 days after the coronation of her grandson Henry VIII and his wife Queen Catherine of Aarogon. John Fisher who was Bishop of Worchester and very good friend of Margaret formed the last rites and she died as he elevated the host. Barried in Henry VII's southern chapter in Westminister abby.
Margaret was born on the 31st of May 1443 and blacksmith's castle in brakinshare. Her parents were Margaret Beauchamp of Bisetso and John Beaufort the first Earl of Somerset who's the son of John of Gaunt the second duke of Lancaster and his mistress later wife Katherine, Duchess of Lancaster.
Margaret was an only child. Although 1397 Act of parliament legitimize the children of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford in 14o7. Henry IV while recognizing his both top brothers and sisters declared that they could never inherit the throne.
Margaret was married 4 times. Around 1450 she married John De la Pole. This was a marriage that was eventually dissolved in 1453 and some say the marriage never took place at all. It was just a betrothal. Then in 1453 she married Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond who is the oldest son Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois. He was half brother to King Henry VI. Then in 1462 she married Henry Stafford the first Duke of Buckingham. And finally in 1472 she married Thomas Stanly first Early of Dudly. Margaret had only one child. A man who will go on to become King Henry VII. She gave birth to him at the age of 13. And his father was Edmund Tudor.
A/N: 13? That is so young. Wow.
Margaret was a powerful lady. She was a big figure in the wars of the Roses. That was a civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster. Margaret actively supported Henry Tudor's claim to the throne. Thomas Stanly famously swarpt sides to support Henry's forces and killed Richard III. Richard III was killed at the battle, Henry became King Henry VII of England. Now Margaret and Elizabeth Woodville coplotted the marriage of Henry who was Margaret's son and Elizabeth of York who was Elizabeth Woodville's daughter by the late Edward IV.
Margaret was the contess of Richmond and Dobby but after her son's victory at Barsworth she was refer to "My lady the King's mother." And she refused to accept the lowest status of Queen consult which was her daughter in law Elizabeth of York.
Margaret took an active interest in education. She established Lady Margaret professionalship at Cambridge University. She refounded and added to Gods house in Cambridge turning it into Christ college. And her state founded St. John's college in Cambridge. Queen Elizabeth's school formal Grammar school came about out of her intention to have a free school so she was a patron of Education. John Fisher, Bishop of Worcester, Margaret's friend political and spiritual adviser and executor of her estate was of course famously executed for treason by Margaret's grandson, Earl King Henry VIII. Margaret Beaufort wouldn't thought much of her grandson actions there.
In 1486, Margaret wrote "audiences" by Margaret Countess of Richmond and Darby as to provision is to made against a queen as of the crystallin of a child which she shell be delivered. Now she wrote this when her daughter in law Elizbeth was expecting her first child, that first child being Arthur Prince of Wales. Preparations for the Queen confinement. How the church be for the crystallin service. While the prince of princess kneel in the nursery.
She have become known in Fiction and she is surrounded in myth. She is often betrayed as a horrible figure. But she should be remembered for being the patron of Education. And to be a strong woman in a time when women were not allowed to be seen and powerful and strong.
