Important Tudor Women: Margaret Beaufort

Born May 31st, 1443, Margaret Beaufort was the mother of king Henry VII, and grandmother to Henry VIII. She was descendant of Edward III through John Of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford. She was the wife of Edmund Tudor, and at the age of only 13, fell pregnant. She would never have another child, and she had ambitious dreams for this one. The boy would go to rule England. She had four husbands: John de la Pole, Edmund Tudor, Sir Henry Stafford, and Thomas Stanley. At the moment of her birth, Margaret's father was preparing to go to France and lead an important military expedition for King Henry VI. Her life would be Chaos, but one she would not regret. She held great power at court, and was one of the most influential women of her time. If you’re like me and like to deep– dive into historical figures, I definitely would say to check her out. Despite being forced to have a child at 13, despite her hardships, she powered through it. She lived to the age of 66, and died in 1509, just after the coronation of Henry VIII. She lived through multiple monarchs, namely:

1. Henry VI
2. Edward IV
3. Edward V
4. Richard III
5. Henry VII
6. Henry VIII

She lived through the Wars of the Roses, or as they were called then; ‘The War of the Cousins’. A time when being powerful, royal, or of royal descent could be deathly. This woman was, above all, a fighter. The matriarch of a dynasty that would change England forever. 

Through ambition, courage, and sheer determination, Margaret Beaufort forged a legacy that even kings could not ignore