When her father died, Elizabeth of York was 17 and a powerful political bargaining chip. She was the oldest child of Edward IV which put her in the position to make a marriage to secure the fate of her family.
Her younger brother Edward had been pronounced King Edward V, however he was not crowned and vulnerable to challengers. Edward's main challenger was his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard said that Edward IV was engaged to marry someone else therefore his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was not legal and Edward V was illegitimate and unable to rule England.
Richard took Elizabeth's two sons, Edward V and Richard to the Tower of London where they slowly vanished from public view. Their bodies have still never been found and it is a mystery who killed them.
Richard declared himself King Richard III and soon after he took the throne his wife Queen Anne, the Earl of Warwick’s daughter died. It was soon proposed that he should marry Elizabeth of York to secure his claim to the throne.
Her younger brother Edward had been pronounced King Edward V, however he was not crowned and vulnerable to challengers. Edward's main challenger was his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard said that Edward IV was engaged to marry someone else therefore his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was not legal and Edward V was illegitimate and unable to rule England.
Richard took Elizabeth's two sons, Edward V and Richard to the Tower of London where they slowly vanished from public view. Their bodies have still never been found and it is a mystery who killed them.
Richard declared himself King Richard III and soon after he took the throne his wife Queen Anne, the Earl of Warwick’s daughter died. It was soon proposed that he should marry Elizabeth of York to secure his claim to the throne.
Elizabeth Woodville was plotting, she made a pact with Henry Tudor that if he could defeat Richard, Elizabeth of York would marry him. Elizabeth Woodville shows here that she knew that her sons were dead otherwise she wouldn’t have moved to put Elizabeth and Henry on the throne.
Richard III was defeated by Henry Tudor who declared himself King of England, King Henry VII. Elizabeth of York and Henry were married in January, 1486 and had their first son Arthur in September and she was crowned Queen Elizabeth next November.
This marriage ended the War of the Roses. Elizabeth the white rose and Henry, the red rose were together. Henry created the Tudor rose as his symbol and as a symbol of the country’s unification.
Elizabeth Woodville died almost penniless and in bad terms with her daughter and son-in-law on June 8th, 1492. She died having seen 6 of her 12 children die, her daughter become Queen of England and having fought her way for every inch of her position. (I really like Elizabeth, okay?)
Henry and Elizabeth of York had a loving relationship by all accounts. They had seven children of whom the most notable is Henry, their second son who became King Henry VIII. Elizabeth of York died during the birth of her seventh child in 1503.
That's it for lesson four! Head over to the homework to go earn points!
Richard III was defeated by Henry Tudor who declared himself King of England, King Henry VII. Elizabeth of York and Henry were married in January, 1486 and had their first son Arthur in September and she was crowned Queen Elizabeth next November.
This marriage ended the War of the Roses. Elizabeth the white rose and Henry, the red rose were together. Henry created the Tudor rose as his symbol and as a symbol of the country’s unification.
Elizabeth Woodville died almost penniless and in bad terms with her daughter and son-in-law on June 8th, 1492. She died having seen 6 of her 12 children die, her daughter become Queen of England and having fought her way for every inch of her position. (I really like Elizabeth, okay?)
Henry and Elizabeth of York had a loving relationship by all accounts. They had seven children of whom the most notable is Henry, their second son who became King Henry VIII. Elizabeth of York died during the birth of her seventh child in 1503.
That's it for lesson four! Head over to the homework to go earn points!