Elizabeth was born at Grafton Regis, her father’s estate, c1437—the eldest of sixteen children. [1]
The Wydville Family
Her mother, Princess Jacquetta of Luxembourg, caused a major scandal when she married Sir Richard Wydville in 1436. (He was created Baron Rivers in 1449.) Jacquetta married the Duke of Bedford, Henry V’s brother, in 1433, and she was widowed two years later.
Elizabeth was a maid of honour to Henry VI’s Queen, Margaret of Anjou. She married, aged 15, to Sir John Grey of Groby in 1452. They had two sons, Thomas and Richard. Sir John supported Henry VI during the Wars of the Roses. He was killed during the second battle of St Albans in 1461.
She waylaid the new King, Edward IV, in Whittlebury Forest, and pleaded for the restoration of her husband’s estates for her children’s sake.
Lust at first sight!
Edward was instantly attracted to Elizabeth. He persuaded Elizabeth to become his mistress. She refused, as Edward was a notorious philanderer.
The young handsome Edward was over six feet tall. He was an exhibitionist who showed off his physique, fashionably dressed and unusually accessible to his subjects. He was brave, energetic, intelligent, an excellent dancer and witty, but he was also extravagant and materialistic. Edward was ruthless when crossed. He also had a violent temper.
Elizabeth was an exceptionally beautiful woman of medium height with long pale gold hair, an alluring smile and ice-blue eyes. She was also calculating, ambitious, devious, greedy, ruthless and arrogant.[2]
He rode north to pursue Lancastrian rebels and stopped at Stony Stratford. He informed his attendants of his hunting trip before he rode to Grafton Regis. Edward married Elizabeth on 1 May 1464, with her mother and three witnesses. Edward returned to Stony Stratford.
Edward’s marriage was of national importance. The Earl of Warwick, Edward’s chief counsellor, negotiated a marriage with Bona of Savoy, Louis XI of France’s sister-in-law, to seal an alliance between England and France. Louis XI offered huge incentives if Edward agreed to marry.
Edward dropped his bombshell four months later.
His council declared Elizabeth was unsuitable because her father was not a duke or an earl.
Warwick was furious as his well-laid plans were thwarted.
The marriage divided the royal family. The King’s brothers disapproved whilst his mother Cicely resented giving precedence to a commoner. Elizabeth’s previous husband fought for their enemies!
Elizabeth was crowned Queen on 26 May 1465. She soon produced three daughters. Edward was unfaithful as he had numerous mistresses, including Jane Shore.
The marriage was unpopular as Edward also alienated many supporters.
Social-climbing upstarts
Elizabeth manipulated her husband for favours and promotions for her rapacious upwardly-mobile family and friends. Her father was created Earl Rivers.
Elizabeth further infuriated the nobles when she played matchmaker between her numerous relatives, especially her sisters, and the aristocracy. Her brother John, aged 20, married the elderly Duchess of Norfolk, aged 67—a “diabolical” union.
Edward formed his own policies and acted independently so Warwick formed an alliance with the Duke of Clarence in 1469. He planned making Clarence king and rule through him.
Deposed
Edward was deposed and taken prisoner after the Battle of Edgecote on 26 July. The Queen’s father and a brother (John) were both beheaded.
Warwick arrested Jacquetta in August. She was accused of witchcraft to arrange her daughter’s marriage to the King. (She was acquitted in February 1470).
Elizabeth was allowed to remain in the royal apartments in the Tower of London. She was soon forced to flee to safety.
© 2008 Carolyn M Cash
NB: Elizabeth's family name is often, and incorrectly, spelt "Woodville" according to Alison Weir, The Princes in the Tower, p 19
Will Edward IV regain his throne and rescue his Queen? Stay tuned for Elizabeth Wydville In Sanctuary (Part II)
Sources
Erickson, Carolly, Royal Panoply, St Martin's Press, New York, 2003
Falkus, Gila, The Life and Times of Edward IV, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1981
Lewis, Brenda Ralph, Kings & Queens of England: Murder, Mayhem, and Scandal--1066 to the Present Day, Reader's Digest, Pleasantville NY, 2003
Starkey, David, Monarchy: From the Middle Ages To Modernity, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 2006
Weir, Alison, Lancaster & York: The Wars of the Roses, Pimlico (an imprint of Random House), London, 1998
Weir, Alison, The Princes in the Tower, Pimlico (an imprint of Random House), London, 1992
Williams, Neville, The Lives of the Kings & Queens of England [edited by Antonia Fraser], Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London, (reprinted 2005), Edward IV
Williamson, David, Debrett's Kings and Queens of Britain, Webb & Bower (Publishers) Limited, London, 1986
[1] Weir, A, The Princes in the Tower, Pimlico (an imprint of Random House), London, 1992, p 20
[2] Weir, A, Lancaster & York: The Wars of the Roses, Pimlico (an imprint of Random House), London, 1998, p 33
 |
 |
