#thewarsoftheroses

Robert Sheehan in “The Wars of the Roses”!

We stan a sassy king

On this day 11th of February marks the birth and death of the first Tudor Queen consort Elizabeth of York.

Born on the 11th of February 1466 in Westminster Palace, London, Elizabeth was the first child of Elizabeth Wydeville and Edward IV. She was hope that Elizabeth could deliver healthy children.

She was a happy child who was known for her beauty. She was her father's favourite daughter. She was first betrothed to George Neville (1461- 4th of May 1483) bit due to the rebellion against Edward IV led by the 16th Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville the engagement was cancelled.

In 1475 the 9 year old Elizabeth was betrothed to Charles, the Dauphin of France as apart of a peace treaty with England. The French called off the engagement in 1482 leaving Edward IV disappointed and worried about his oldest daughter's future. At 11, she was named a Lady of the Garter in 1477, along with her mother and her paternal aunt Elizabeth of York, Duchess of Suffolk. This was a high honour and Elizabeth was reported to have been overjoyed.

On the 9th of April 1483 Edward IV suddenly died. His oldest son Edward, Prince of Wales was only 12 years old making him to young to rule alone. He was housed in Ludlow in the Welsh Marshes as apart of his education.

Upon her father's death she became the King's sister. Richard Plantagenet the Duke of Gloucester was named Lord Protector and went to fetch Edward V.

Elizabeth along with her sisters and youngest surviving brother Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York were brought into sanctuary with their mother who was now the Dowager Queen of England. She was afraid for her children's safety above all.

Richard demanded his younger nephew be handed over for his protection to be with his older brother. Elizabeth Wydeville reluctantly handed her youngest son over to Richard. This would be the biggest mistake of her life.

Two months after Edward's death his marraige to Elizabeth's mother Elizabeth Wydeville was declared invalid due to a previous engagement to a Lady Eleanor Butler. Elizabeth and her siblings were declared illegitimate and had no claim to the throne. Edward V could not take the throne any longer.

Elizabeth Wydeville would never see her sons again as they disappeared. Upon the declaration of Edward's children and the disappearance of the Princes, Richard named himself Richard III. He took the crown. This angered Elizabeth of York as well as her mother.

To protect her children's right to the throne, Elizabeth's mother devised a plan with Lady Margaret Beaufort mother of Henry Tudor the future Henry VII. The scheme to put Henry on the throne with Elizabeth of York by his side.

Elizabeth of York and her sisters left Westminster Abbey and returned to court when Elizabeth Wydeville reconciled with Richard III. Some beleive she thought Richard was innocent of her sons' rumoured demise in the Tower of London.

When Elizabeth of York returned to court rumours spread that Richard III intended to put his wife Anne Neville aside to marry his young niece. Anne was dying and the couple's son Edward died a few months previously.

Upon the death of Queen Anne, Elizabeth of York was sent to the castle of Sheriff Hutton and opened negotiations with King John II of Portugal to marry his sister, Joan, Princess of Portugal, and to have Elizabeth marry their cousin, the future King Manuel I of Portugal.

The negotiations went nowhere as Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. Richard wanted heirs and knew Henry Tudor's army would land any day for the throne.

On the 7th of August 1485 Henry Tudor landed in Wales. He was saod to have touched the sand of his homeland and prayed to god to triumph over Richard who he seen as a usurper.

On the 22nd of August 1485 Richard III was defeated in the Battle of Bozworth Feild and Henry Tudor became Henry VII.

Elizabeth was the oldest surviving child of Edward IV. Since she had no surviving brothers she had the strongest claim in all of England. This is why Henry needed her hand in marriage. Although he recognised he needed Elizabeth he didn't plan on sharing power. He had the throne due to his ancestry and Right of Conquest.

Henry was crowned on the 30th of October 1485 as King Henry VII in Westminster Abbey. This was his stamp on England that he was the rightful sovereign, not the heir to the house of York.

Henry repealed the act that named the children of Edward IV illegitimate and gave them back their rights. Although they were never as high as they once we're the princesses were well taken care of and married off to loyal followers of Henry.

Due to the fact that Henry and Elizabeth were cousins they needed a Papal Dispensation to marry her. They received that in December if 1485.

On the 18th of January 1486 the houses of York and Lancaster were joined in marriage. The Cousin's War was over as the rival houses were united on the throne.

Henry VII never took on a mistress which was unusual for a king. He was apparently devoted to Elizabeth but it's unclear if they grew to love one another.

The couple were overjoyed as on the 20th of September 1486 they welcomed a Son. Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales was born in Winchester Cathedral Priory shorty after midnight. Henry was said to have barged into the room and held his first born son. The couple had eight children together but only four survived infancy.

The royal couple welcomed Princess Margaret on the 28th of November 1489. Margaret was their first daughter and at the age of 13 she was married to James IV of Scotland as apart of a treaty of Perpetual Peace. She is the mother of James V of Scotland and grandmother of Mary Queen of Scots executed in 1587.

On the 28th of June 1491 the couple welcomed a prince. They named him Henry. This would be the future Henry VIII. The imfamous king who broke from Rome and married six times.

Their fourth child was a princess they christened Elizabeth on the 2nd of July 1492. Sadly Elizabeth died on the 14th of September 1495. It's not known of what but she is buried in Westminster Abbey in the Lady Chapel.

Their fifth child was Mary. She was born on the 18th of March 1496. She became the Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk. She was the grandmother of Queen Jane Grey, the 9 day Queen of England.

The couple welcomed another son they named Edward after Elizabeth's Father in 1498. Sadly he died in 1499. It's not know what of and not even if this little prince actually existed.

Edmund Tudor, Duke of Somerset was born the 21st of February 1499. He did not live long as he died in June of 1500.

In April of 1502 tragedy struck the royal family. Arthur Tudor died at Ludlow Castle. He and his wife Catalina De Aragon had became gravely ill. Their servants thought they would both die but Catalina recovered. The news shocked the royal family.

Elizabeth was sakd to have been inconsolable and her servants had called for her husband the king to comfort her. She'd only assured him they were still young enough to have children as she was only 36 and her mother had children well into her 40s. The couple tried again and Elizabeth fell pregnant much to their delight.

The couples final child was a girl named Katherine. She was born on the 2nd of February 1503. Sadly this poor child only lived eight days dying on the 10th of February 1503.

Sadly Elizabeth died on her 37th birthday. The 11th of February 1503. She had contracted a post partum infection and it took her life.

All of the following Tudor Monarchs inherited Elizabeth's fair hair and fair complexion. Her son Henry Tudor, Duke of York was devastated by her death. The future Henry VIII was a scarred boy. Death of numerous siblings and his mother drove him to crave the son and heir he needed for his father's dynasty.

Elizabeth of York was a beautiful, pious and humble woman. She was a gentle soul and gained the love of her husband and her people. The country went into deep mourning as well as her husband.

Henry wad never the same after Elizabeth's death. He had bouts of depression. He never remarried but entertained the prospect to renew a Spanish alliance although he never went through with it.

Henry and Elizabeth were the red and White rose. They united the houses of York and Lancaster and settled the country from civil war. Elizabeth gave the country heirs. She gave the country hope.

I actually admire Elizabeth of York. I always describe her as the Pure rose among the blood stained flowers. A York heir surrounded by Lancastrian loyalists. She did what was seen as her duty. Giving her husband heirs and being a charitable and loving Queen.

Her motto was Humble and Revenant and in my eyes, she made her family proud.

Elizabeth is buried with her husband in the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey.

Here's our first chapter of @Sheehangroupie's report, on the three plays: http://www.thesheehab.com/news/the-wars-of-the-roses-report-chapter-1-the-plays

Her second chapter, on all the stalking: http://www.thesheehab.com/news/the-wars-of-the-roses-report-chapter-2-the-tears

And @JudyJJ8's account of October 14th Q&A: http://www.thesheehab.com/news/hunchbacks-calipers-man-buns-and-maltesers-an-afternoon-with-rob-sheehan