At her son's funeral she was given precedence over all the other women of the royal family. She arranged her son's funeral and her grandson's coronation. For two days after the death of her son, Margaret scrambled to secure the smooth succession of her grandson, Henry VIII. Henry VII died on 21 April 1509, having designated his mother chief executrix of his will. When the death of Prince Arthur necessitated a new heir apparent, Margaret played a part in ensuring Prince Henry was raised appropriately by selecting some members of his new household. Margaret became the principal female presence at court. 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".Īfter Elizabeth’s death due to child birth complications in 1503. They wrote jointly of the necessary instruction for Catherine of Aragon, who was to marry Elizabeth’s son, Prince Arthur. 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.īeaufort and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth worked together when planning the marriages of the royal children. She wore robes of the same quality as the queen consort and walked only half a pace behind her. The Countess was reluctant to accept a lower status than the dowager queen Elizabeth or even her daughter-in-law, the queen consort. She was allowed to own property separately from her husband (as though she were unmarried) and sue in court – two rights denied her contemporary women.Īs arranged by their mothers, Henry married Elizabeth of York. This title, previously reserved almost exclusively for queens, granted Beaufort considerable legal and social independence from men. Beaufort was well rewarded for her lifelong endeavors her son’s first Parliament reversed the attainder against her and named her a “ feme sole”. Just thirteen years old at the time, the birth was extremely difficult for Margaret, as she was not yet physically mature.Īfter her son's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the Countess was referred to in court as "My Lady the King's Mother". Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, a nineteenth-century foundation named after her was the first Oxford college to admit women.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. She is credited with the establishment of two prominent Cambridge colleges, founding Christ's College in 1505 and beginning the development of St John's College, which was completed posthumously by her executors in 1511. She was also a major patron and cultural benefactor during her son's reign, initiating an era of extensive Tudor patronage.
With her son crowned Henry VII, Lady Margaret wielded a considerable degree of political influence and personal autonomy – both now considered unusual for a woman of her time. She was thus instrumental in orchestrating the rise to power of the Tudor dynasty. Beaufort's efforts ultimately culminated in Henry's decisive victory over King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Capitalising on the political upheaval of the period, she actively manoeuvred to secure the crown for her son. A descendant of King Edward III, Lady Margaret passed a disputed claim to the English throne to her son, Henry Tudor.
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