[19][20] On 4 April 1504 Margaret gave 15 poor women blue gowns, shoes, a purse with 15 English pennies, and a wooden tankard with a jug and a plate, a token of the Last Supper. Henry VIII's "natural" son (illegitimate), Henry Fitzroy, is shown dying as a child of six. Here's the true story of Margaret's fascinating life, including what The Spanish Princess leaves out. But she had been thoroughly trained for her new role and was determined to prove that she was equal to its demands. The Earl of Bothwell was proxy for the Scottish king and wore a gown of cloth-of-gold at the ceremony in the Queen's great chamber. Since today is the anniversary of the wedding of Margaret Tudor, (older sister of Henry VIII) and King James IV of Scotland, I thought it would be appropriate to … Through her first and second marriages, respectively, Margaret was the grandmother of both Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary's second husband, Lord Darnley. She found herself particularly attracted to the Earl of Angus, whom even his uncle, the cleric and poet Gavin Douglas, called a "young witless fool". Her riding gear, including a new sumpter cloth or pallion of cloth-of-gold worth £127 was destroyed in the fire. As so often in Margaret's life, tragedy and unhappiness were closely pursued by intrigue and farce. Both of these factors were to some degree beyond her control. His first task was to get custody of James and Alexander, politically essential for the authority of the regency. Besides, by this time her desire for a divorce had become obsessive, taking precedence over all other matters. Keeping Care (and Cash) in the Family. She left Richmond Palace on 27 June with Henry VII, and they travelled first to Collyweston in Northamptonshire. Margaret Pole was one of only two women in the 16 th century to hold a peerage in her own right. James was in his late twenties and still unmarried. When Catherine of Aragon gave birth to a daughter, Mary, Margaret … [16] Harry Roper worked in the wardrobe, making her sheets, washing clothes, mending her tapestries and perfuming them with violet powder. After lengthy negotiations, Margaret was promised in marriage to James IV of Scotland in the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between England and Scotland on the 24th January 1502. [39] Her weariness even extended to betraying state secrets to Henry. Some dramatic license is expected (like flipping France for Portgual b/c they introduced Francis I early on) but there is no GOOD excuse for making a composite of Henry's sisters by telling Princess Mary Rose Tudor's story, but calling the character Princess … It was her moment of triumph and she wrote to Henry and Thomas Cromwell, now his chief advisor, saying that it was "by advice of us and no other living person". Margaret Tudor was a disagreeable woman, a forceful personality, a Tudor without the charm and beauty of her sister, Mary Tudor (1496–1533), ex-queen of France, or the wisdom and shrewdness of her niece, Elizabeth I. She was born at Westminster Palace as the eldest daughter and second child of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York.[1]. As queen dowager she was forced to beg permission from the Privy Council even to travel. Margaret's alliance inevitably alienated other noble houses. In November, Parliament formally recognised Margaret as the chief councillor to the King. [43] Henry Ray, the Berwick Pursuivant, reported that she had palsy (possibly resulting from a stroke) on Friday and died on the following Tuesday. Angus and his allies spread the rumour that the two were lovers, to such effect that even the sober-headed Lord Dacre wrote to Wolsey, predicting that James would be murdered and Albany would become king and marry Margaret. Historians have tended to be dismissive of Margaret’s … When he arrived in Edinburgh with a large group of armed men, claiming his right to attend Parliament, she ordered cannons to be fired on him from both the Castle and Holyrood House. You will also find the graves of Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII’s mother and Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, the daughter of Margaret Tudor. Family members Albany was temporarily absent in France – where he renewed the Auld Alliance once more and arranged for the future marriage of James V — but the queen dowager was received at the border by Sieur de la Bastie, his deputy, as well as by her husband. Because of the political situation in Europe at the time it was not until December that she learned of her good fortune. This title, previously reserved almost exclusively for queens, granted Beaufort considerable legal and social independence from men. In November, Margaret devised a code for letters sent to Henry VIII, saying that those signed "Your loving sister, Margaret R" would be genuine, and others might be the result of coercion by her enemies.[27]. Margaret Tudor (28 November 1489 – 18 October 1541) was Queen consort of Scotland from 1503 until 1513 by marriage to James IV of Scotland and then, after her husband died fighting the English, she became regent for their son James V of Scotland from 1513 until 1515. She sent for King James, who was at Falkland Palace, but he did not come in time. At York a plaque commemorates the exact spot where the Queen of Scots entered its gates. [2] She was named after Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, her paternal grandmother.[3]. Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor and descendant of King Edward III. Two days later, on St Lawrence's day, Margaret went to mass at St Giles', the town's Kirk, as her first public appointment. Here in early October she gave birth to Lady Margaret Douglas, the future Countess of Lennox and mother of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, cousin and second husband to Mary, Queen of Scots, and father of the future James VI. Relationships Known to be whimsical and passionate in nature, Margaret’s biggest concern, throughout her life, was her own survival. Margaret was well received by Henry and, to confirm her status, was lodged in Scotland Yard, the ancient London residence of the Scottish kings. Watch an exclusive clip for OprahMag.com from episode five, entitled "Plague," to see if she can. Before long a pro-French party took shape among the nobility, urging that she should be replaced by John Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany, the closest male relative to the infant prince, and now third in line to the throne. In March 1527, Pope Clement VII granted her petition. By July 1514, she had managed to reconcile the contending parties, and Scotland – along with France – concluded peace with England that same month. She was the eldest surviving daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, and was the sister of Henry VIII. [4] It was a bold and popular move. James' experience during this time left him with an abiding hatred of both the house of Douglas and the English. Born at Westminster Palace in 1489, Margaret Tudor didn't need a silver spoon in her mouth because, according to biographer Sarah-Beth Watkins, the infant princess was baptized in a silver font "lined with fine linen cloth of Rennes. With Albany once more in France (where he was to die in 1536), Margaret, with the help of Arran and the Hamiltons, brought James, now 12 years old, from Stirling to Edinburgh. In August, Parliament declared the regency at an end, and James was elevated to full kingly powers. Her descent was actually illegitimate, through Edward III’s son, John of Gaunt and his mistress Catherine Swynford. Sordid Facts About Margaret Tudor, The Scandalous Sister Of Henry VIII 1. On 8 August 1503, the marriage was celebrated in person in Holyrood Abbey. Margaret died at Methven Castle on 18 October 1541. Pregnant with Angus' child, Margaret feared for her life under the rule of the Privy Council of Scotland. Margaret, after some initial defiance, surrendered at Stirling in August. Henry VII died on 21 April 1509, having designated his mother chief executrix of his will. Angered by his attitude, Margaret drew closer to the Albany faction and joined others in calling for his return from France. [28] She left valuable costume and jewels behind at Tantallon, including several velvet hoods embroidered with pearls with jewel-set front borders called "chaffrons", and a silk hat with a diamond jewel that had been a present from Louis XII of France. "While it takes a village to raise most children, for Margaret, it took a villa. Just thirteen years old at the time, the birth was extremely difficult for Margaret, as she was not yet physically mature. Fiction: Henry Fitzroy Died Young, But Not That Young. Angus went into exile while the Regent – with the full cooperation of the queen dowager – set about restoring order to a country riven by three years of intense factional conflict. They brought peace to England after 150 years of virtually continuous warfare, encouraged new … Having defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, gained parliamentary approval … On 30 September 1497, James IV's commissioner, the Spaniard Pedro de Ayala concluded a lengthy truce with England, and now the marriage was again a serious possibility. As a child, Margaret shared a household with her older brother, Prince Arthur. [37] It was rumoured – falsely – that the Queen favoured a marriage between her son and her niece Mary, but she was instrumental in bringing about the Anglo-Scottish peace agreement of May 1534. A woman was rarely welcome in a position of supreme power, and Margaret was the sister of an enemy king, which served to compound her problems. [33] However, all of Angus's power, wealth and influence was in Scotland; to abandon the country would mean possible forfeiture for treason. The Tudors (Find out more about the Tudors) The Tudors were Welsh. But no sooner was Albany off the scene than she set about organising a party of her own. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Beaufort’s efforts ultimately culminated in Henry’s decisive victory over King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As queen dowager she married Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. At Dalkeith Palace, James came to kiss her goodnight. In seeking allies Margaret turned more and more to the powerful House of Douglas. James created Stewart Lord Methven "for the great love he bore to his dearest mother". For, in the face of huge obstacles and sometimes mortal peril, Margaret played the 15th-century game of power-politics with bravery and determination. She gave a French knight Antoine d'Arces a gold salt cellar with an image of the Virgin Mary. Margaret and James had six children, of whom only one survived infancy: By her marriage contract, Margaret was allowed a household with 24 English courtiers or servants. Albany, seemingly in no hurry to return to the fractious northern kingdom, suggested that she resume the regency herself. Through this superb revisionist biography, Margaret Beaufort emerges as a fascinating and often surprisingly sympathetic matriarch." James was suspicious of Henry, especially because of his continuing support for Angus, a man he loathed with a passion. She is considered to have acted calmly and with some degree of political skill. Consultant editor for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. [9], Later in 1503, months after the death of her mother, Margaret came to Scotland; her progress was a grand journey northward. The Tudor dynasty ended with in 1603 when Queen Elizabeth I died without any heirs … The official site of the SHOWTIME Original Series The Tudors. Her situation was not eased when her brother, Henry VIII, allowed Angus to return to Scotland. His successor, the young Henry VIII, had little time for his father's cautious diplomacy, and was soon heading towards a war with France, Scotland's historic ally. [21] Another custom was to give gifts on New Year's day, and in 1507 James IV gave Margaret a "serpent's tongue" set in gold with precious stones, which was believed to guard against poison. One unfortunate truth of King Henry's history … As she thought she would recover she did not trouble to make a will. Albany finally arrived back in Scotland in November 1521 and was warmly received by Margaret. John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (Spouse). Read more: the ultimate history guide to the Tudors; That she would go on to take full advantage of these opportunities is beyond doubt. Margaret had opposed the war, but was still named in the royal will as regent for the infant king, James V, for as long as she remained a widow. While still in the north of England, Queen Margaret learned of the death of her younger son, Alexander. Henry VII. She hoped the King would give her possessions to her daughter, Lady Margaret Douglas. The central aim of Margaret's political life – besides assuring her own survival – was to bring about a better understanding between England and Scotland, a position she held to through some difficult times. Season 2 of The Spanish Princess follows Margaret "Meg" Tudor's life after her husband, King James IV of Scotland, is killed during the Battle of Flodden. This was bad enough; what was worse, he had been living on his wife's money. The herald, John Young, reported that "right notable jousts" followed the ceremony. She is buried in Westminster Abbey. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. [6], The marriage was completed by proxy on 25 January 1503 at Richmond Palace. [8] In May 1503, James IV confirmed her possession of lands and houses in Scotland, including Methven Castle, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Newark Castle in Ettrick Forest, with the incomes from the corresponding earldom and lordship lands. She arranged her son's funeral and her grandson's coronation. In this regard he would have had before him the example of his kinsman James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas, who fled to England the previous century, living out his life as a landless mercenary. After crossing the border at Berwick upon Tweed on 1 August 1503, Margaret was met by the Scottish court at Lamberton. The Tudors Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. It was soon rumoured that their cordial relations embraced more than politics. Even so, in early 1536 his mother persuaded him to meet with her brother. Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (20 October 1509. After Elizabeth’s death due to child birth complications in 1503. Beaufort and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth worked together when planning the marriages of the royal children. For two days after the death of her son, Margaret scrambled to secure the smooth succession of her grandson, Henry VIII. [24] Margaret went on pilgrimages to Whitekirk in East Lothian, and in July 1507, after recovering from a period of ill-health, to Whithorn in Galloway, dressed in green velvet and riding on a saddle covered with the pelt of a reindeer, accompanied by her ladies and the court musicians.[25]. [11] The details of the proxy marriage, progress, arrival, and reception in Edinburgh were recorded by the Somerset Herald, John Young.[12]. Capitalising on the political upheaval of the period, she actively maneuvered to secure the crown for her son. When Beaton objected to the new arrangements, Margaret had him arrested and thrown into jail. Margaret, even in her vulnerable state, refused to accept this, saying that if he really aimed at securing the throne for himself the death of James would have suited his purpose better. A descendant of King Edward III, Beaufort passed a disputed claim to the English throne to her son, Henry Tudor. She married Henry Stewart on 3 March 1528, ignoring the pious warnings of Cardinal Wolsey that marriage was "divinely ordained" and his protests against the "shameless sentence sent from Rome".[36]. The Thistle and the Rose: The Sisters of Henry VIII. Margaret was received by Thomas Dacre, Henry's Warden of the Marches, and taken to Harbottle Castle in Northumberland. When the two English ambassadors present at court, Thomas Magnus and Roger Radclyff, objected that she should not attack her lawful husband she responded in anger, telling them to "go home and not meddle with Scottish matters".[35]. These two women, among the most formidable in Scottish history, established a good understanding. After being exiled from Scotland, Margaret is desperate to reunite with her two sons, James and Alexander. A descendant of King Edward III, Beaufort passed a disputed claim to the English throne to her son, Henry Tudor. She was prepared to use all arguments, including the widespread myth that James IV had not been killed at Flodden. [5], On 24 January 1502, Scotland and England concluded the Treaty of Perpetual Peace, the first peace agreement between the two realms in over 170 years. James, Duke of Rothesay (21 February 1507. Margaret was baptised in St. Margaret's, Westminster on St Andrews day. She wore robes of the same quality as the queen consort and walked only half a pace behind her. Taken into the care of her brother-in-law Jasper Tudor, on 28 January 1457, the Countess gave birth to a son, Henry Tudor, at Pembroke Castle. It was also at this time that she at last began to get the measure of Angus, who, with an eye on his own welfare, returned to Scotland to make peace with the Regent, "which much made Margaret to muse". After her son's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the Countess was referred to in court as "My Lady the King's Mother". Margaret was an early beneficiary of the royal coup, she and her husband emerging as the leading advisors to the king. ― The Times of London. Margaret's marriage to James IV linked the royal houses of England and Scotland, which a century later resulted in the Union of the Crowns. As a girl in 15th century England and as a Princess, she learned from a young age that her main role in life was as a pawn in an arranged marriage. Margaret died on 29 June 1509. As arranged by their mothers, Henry married Elizabeth of York. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Incorporated. The dispute between husband and wife was set to dominate Scottish politics for the next three years, complicated even more by a bitter feud between Angus and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran; with bewildering rapidity Margaret sided with one and then the other. In practice, he would continue to be governed by others, his mother above all. [38] She was looking for a grand occasion on the lines of the Field of Cloth of Gold, and spent a huge sum in preparation. Rich fabrics were provided by an Italian merchant Jerome Frescobaldi. By the terms of the late king's will she had sacrificed her position as Regent of Scotland, and before the month was out, she was obliged to consent to the appointment of Albany. Lady Margaret Beaufort (31 May 1441/3 – 29 June 1509) was a major figure in the Wars of the Roses of the late fifteenth century. At the time of her birth, Margaret’s mother was trying to flee Scotland for England, while her father had quasi-abandoned them both and was scheming his way around Scotland. Margaret Beaufort: Mother of the Tudor Dynasty Paperback – October 15, 2011. by. Near the end she wished that the friars who attended her would seek the reconciliation of the King and the Earl of Angus. Both women also conspired to prevent Princess Margaret from being married to the Scottish king at too young an age; in this matter, Gristwood writes, Beaufort was undoubtedly resolved that her granddaughter "should not share her fate". For some time her brother had been urging her to flee to England with her sons; but she had steadily refused to do so, fearing such a step might lead to James's loss of the Scottish crown. She formed a new attachment, this time to Henry Stewart, a younger brother of Lord Avondale. Lady Margaret Beaufort, Margaret Tudor's paternal grandmother Despite Margaret and James’s marriage the relationship between England and Scotland was not a peaceful one, and in 1513, despite Margaret advising him not to go to the battlefield, King James IV became one of … The most damaging move of all was not. At her son's funeral she was given precedence over all the other women of the royal family. • Chapman, Hester (1969). Margaret died in 1541 at age 52 from a palsy-related illness. [4] The Italian historian Polydore Vergil said that some of the English royal council objected to the match, saying that it would bring the Stewarts directly into the line of English succession, to which the wily and astute Henry replied: What then? Roper had been Page of the Beds to Elizabeth of York. In 1513 James died in the Battle of Flodden, which was a contest between Scottish forces and Margaret's brother's English lads. A daughter, who was born prematurely and died shortly after birth, November 1512, Fradenburg, Louise O., "Troubled Times: Margaret Tudor and the Historians", in, This page was last edited on 22 February 2021, at 12:02. In 1513, James invaded England to honour his commitment to the Auld Alliance, only to meet death and disaster at the Battle of Flodden. The treaty of 1502, far from being perpetual, barely survived the death of Henry VII in 1509. Daughter (died shortly after birth 15 July 1508. He and Margaret traveled with their own households from Eltham to Westminster to Windsor and back again, visiting their parents as often as possible. In 1517, having spent a year in England, she returned north, after a treaty of reconciliation had been worked out by Albany, Henry and Cardinal Wolsey. https://tudors.fandom.com/wiki/Lady_Margaret_Beaufort?oldid=11226. [29][30][31] Her jewels were later collected by Thomas Dacre's agent, John Whelpdale, the Master of College of Greystoke.[32]. Upon his ascent to the English throne, Margaret's great-grandson, James VI and I, was the first person to be monarch of both Scotland and England after Elizabeth I died childless. After his death, she served as the regent for their son, James V of Scotland. Margaret Tudor wasn’t much interested in scholarly or religious pursuits, but the political skills she learned through careful study would prove much more helpful to her later in life. Although Margaret and Angus were temporarily reconciled, it was not long before their relationship entered a phase of terminal decline. That same November, when Parliament confirmed Margaret's political office, her war with Angus descended into a murderous farce. Margaret Douglas’ son Henry, Lord Darnley was the second husband of Mary Queen of Scots … But in her search for political allies amongst the fractious Scottish nobility she took a fatal step, allowing good sense and prudence to be overruled by emotion and the personal magnetism of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. She was promised in marriage to James IV of Scotland, part of the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between England and Scotland in 1502. Albany, who had been born and raised in France, was seen as a living representative of the Auld Alliance, in contrast with the pro-English Margaret. When Henry VIII learned that Angus would not be accompanying his sister to London he said, "Done like a Scot". Margaret ruled as regent Queen of Scotland for two years—but her secret marriage to the Duke of Angus caused problems. [18], On Maundy Thursday, known as Skyre Thursday or "Cena Domini", it was the custom for the monarch and consort to give gifts to the poor and symbolically wash their feet. Prizes were awarded the next morning, and the tournament continued another day. Foular also sent the queen medicinal spices including pepper, cinnamon, "cubebarum", and "galiga", with glass urinals. It was all the leverage he needed. Margaret, thought to have been drawn from life. In June 1528, James V finally freed himself from the tutelage of Angus – who once more fled into exile – and began to rule in his own right. She discovered that while she was in England her husband had been living with Lady Jane Stewart, a former lover. John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (Spouse)Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond (Spouse)Sir Henry Stafford (Spouse)Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby (Spouse), John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (father)Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso (mother), Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby (Spouse). The Countess was reluctant to accept a lower status than the dowager queen Elizabeth or even her daughter-in-law, the queen consort. The Tudors (TV Series 2007–2010) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Necessity demanded an alliance with Albany and the French faction, especially after the devastating border wars with England in the early 1520s. The girl was Margaret Tudor, the eldest daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, and still only 13 years old. Charles Brandon was the third son of Sir William Brandon. This was the day after her grandson Henry VIII's 18th birthday, and just over two months after the death of her son. Taking custody of James, he refused to give him up, exercising full power on his behalf for a period of three years. However, once Margaret's two sons were in the custody of their uncle, Margaret secretly accepted her brother's offer of her personal safety at the English Court. In fact, he was … While Margaret's position in the royal court was, to some extent, an expression of gratitude by her son, she was likely far less the passive recipient of Henry's favor one might expect. Her Dad Had A Plan You see, Margaret’s dad Henry Tudor … [7], The new queen was provided with a large wardrobe of clothes, and her crimson state bed curtains made of Italian sarcenet were embroidered with red Lancastrian roses. The marriage treaty was concluded the same day and was viewed as a guarantee of the new peace.