Elizabeth Woodville

Something we want to try and start doing is some more blogs about the people in history that are an inspiration to us. This blog might be a bit late, but I can link it into a blog that will be coming soon about Windsor Castle. Seeing as June was the 529th anniversary of the death of Elizabeth Woodville, I thought I would do a blog about her and the women she was along with why she is an massive inspiration to me.

Who was Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. She was born in Grafton Regis in Northamptonshire in what is believed to be October 1437. Her first husband was Sir John Grey and together they had 2 children, Thomas and Richard. John died fighting for the Lancastrian side during the Second Battle of St Albans in February 1461. This left Elizabeth with 2 young children and none of her husbands land, meaning she had to move back with her parents and younger sisters. There is also the rumour that through her maternal line, Elizabeth is related to the mythological water goddess Melusina. 

Meeting Edward VI

There are many rumours that surround how Elizabeth and Edward met, the most famous and common one is that Elizabeth wanted an audience with Edward and his government because they taken her husbands land and she planned to get them back. When she knew the King was riding through the area she went out to meet him by an oak tree and its there that he met her and its said fell in love with her. They married in secret and the exact date is unknown, although its said that it took place at her family home on 1st May 1464. Only her mother and a few ladies were in attendance. About a year later Elizabeth was crowned Queen of England on 26th May. Edward was meant to marry a French Princess on the instruction of his adviser Richard "The King Maker" Neville, Earl of Warwick. When Richard heard the news that Edward had married Elizabeth he was embarrassed and their relationship was never the same again. 

Life as Queen 

Once Elizabeth became Queen her family soon descended and many of her younger sisters were married off to the nobles of court. Elizabeth and Warwick never got on and soon rumours started to fly around the court, he even set about accusing her mother of being a Witch. Whenever Edward had a fall from power Elizabeth fled with her children to Westminster Abbey, it was during one of these times that she gave birth to the future Edward V. She was also engaged in Christian piety and would even found the Chapel of St Erasmus in Westminster Abbey.

The King is dead, Long live the King

Edward died suddenly at the age of 45 from what is believed to have been pneumonia in April 1483, he was surrounded by his family. With his death it meant that Elizabeth was now Queen Dowager and her son was now Edward V, with his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester watching other him as Lord Protector. But Elizabeth and her family wanted control, but Richard acted first and took Edward to the Tower of London to await his coronation. He then arrested one of Elizabeth's brothers and sons. Again Elizabeth fled to Westminster with her remaining children. Richard then accused her of planing to murder him. In 1483, it was declared by Parliament that Elizabeth's marriage to Edward was null and void and that the children were declared illegitimate. Like her mother before her, the act also accused her of being a witch, but there was no evidence to back it up. Richard was offered the throne and became Richard III, Edward and his brother Richard were kept in the Tower never to be seen again. 

Life under Richard

Elizabeth was now known as Dame Elizabeth Grey and with the help of a few allies, including Margaret Beaufort set about putting Henry Tudor, Margaret's son, on the throne. Elizabeth had made Margaret agree that to help strengthen his claim he would marry her eldest daughter Elizabeth. Richard's first act of Parliament was to strip her of the land that had been given to her by her husband Edward VI. In March 1484, Elizabeth and her daughters came out of Westminster Abbey and even returned to court.

Live under Henry

Henry invaded England from France and defeated Richard at the Battle of Bosworth. As promised he would marry Elizabeth of York. This meant that both the York and Lancastrian families were one. Elizabeth was reinstated the title of Queen Dowager and she would stay at court helping out her daughter when she needed it. But she would eventually retire to Bermondsey Abbey in February 1487, while there she was treated with respect with a pension of £400 and her daughters would visit on the odd occasion. Her son in law even debated marring her off to James III of Scotland, but he died in battle

And so it ends

Elizabeth died while at Bermondsey Abbey on the 8th June 1492. Apart from Elizabeth of York and Cecily, her other daughters attended the funeral at Windsor Castle. Her will had requested a simple ceremony and an eyewitness stated that it should have been more splendid. The cause of her death is unknown, but a letter found in 2019, that was written in 1511 states that she may have been the plague that killed her and would explain another reason as to why she had a quick, small funeral. Elizabeth was buried beside her husband Edward in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. 

Why I love Elizabeth 

For the people that know me will know that I have a few women from history that I admire and look to when I need a bit of help. Elizabeth is one of these women, its only recently that she has been added to that list. She is a woman that was so head strong and determined, which for that time period was unheard of and unseen. She wasn't afraid of what people thought of her and ignored all the rumours that were often flying around. Plus when I think about it, without her I wouldn't have half the role models that I have. In some way it all started with her, the women that never set out to be a Queen and one that would put her family above anything else. Plus I love the mystery that surrounds her and the speculation of witchcraft that ran in her family. It is also thanks to the TV drama The White Queen that I became obsessed with crown rings and more interested in her story.