#catherineofvalois

[whencyclopedia]

Owen Tudor

Owen Tudor, aka Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudor (c. 1400-1461 CE), was a Welsh courtier who secretly married Catherine of Valois (l. 1401 - c. 1437 CE), the former wife of Henry V of England (r. 1413-1422 CE) and mother of Henry VI of England (r. 1422-61 & 1470-71 CE). The couple had several children, one of whom was Edmund Tudor whose son Henry Tudor would become Henry VII of England (r. 1485-1509 CE) and so found the royal house of Tudor. The Tudors would rule England until 1603 CE in what many regard as the country's Golden Age. Owen Tudor, a staunch supporter of Henry VI during the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487 CE) dynastic dispute, was captured and beheaded by Yorkist forces in 1461 CE.

Catherine of Valois

Catherine of Valois was the daughter of Charles VI of France (r. 1380-1422 CE) and she married Henry V of England in Troyes Cathedral on 2 June 1420 CE. This marriage was a result of Henry's great victory against the French at Agincourt in 1415 CE during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453 CE). When the English king followed this up with the capture of Normandy and Paris, he was able to negotiate the favourable Treaty of Troyes in May 1420 CE. According to this treaty, Henry would be made the king of France following the death of Charles VI. The new regime would be tied to the old via the marriage of Henry to Catherine. Unfortunately, Henry died, probably of dysentery, in 1422 CE and he missed the chance to become the king of France by less than two months; Charles VI died on 21 October 1422 CE. Henry was succeeded by his infant namesake son, crowned Henry VI in November 1429 CE.

Catherine, now an ex-queen and mother of the reigning child-king, was not content to live a retired life for the rest of her days. She had a secret affair with a Welsh nobleman who was a member of her household. The historian Nigel Jones gives the following account of how their affair began:

Catherine of Valois was left bereft, a lusty young woman in the prime of life. She did not remain single for long. Owen Tudor, a handsome young Welshman of obscure origins, had become her Keeper of the Wardrobe. According to romantic rumour Owen had caught the queen's notice when he stumbled, incapably drunk, into her lap. Intrigued, she spied on him as he swam nude, liked what she saw…

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Owen's background may be obscure but we do know that he was born around 1400 CE, the son of Meredudd Tudor and Margaret, daughter of Dafydd Fychan. The Tudors, or Tewdwrs, were kings of Deheubrath and held estates in north Wales. They would soon rise even higher and come to hold two earldoms in England, granted to them by Henry VI, who acted as a generous protector of his half-brothers and sisters.

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[thebritishmonarchycouk]

On This Day In History . 3 January 1437 . Catherine of Valois died aged 35 shortly after childbirth, in London, & was buried in Westminster Abbey . About Catherine; . ◼ Catherine of Valois (born.27 October 1401) was the Queen consort of England from 1420 until 1422. . ◼ She was the descendant, consort, and ancestor of kings. A daughter of Charles VI of France, she married Henry V of England, and gave birth to his heir Henry VI of England. . ◼ Her liaison (and possible secret marriage) with Owen Tudor proved the springboard of that family’s fortunes, eventually leading to their grandson’s elevation as Henry VII of England. . ◼ Catherine’s older sister Isabella was queen of England from 1396 until 1399, as the child bride of Richard II. . Pictured on the left is a depiction of Catherine’s wedding with King Henry V . . . #OnThisDayInHistory #ThisDayInHistory #TheYear1437 #D3Jan #CatherineofValois #QueenConsort #London #Westminster #HenryVI #QueenofEngland #HistoryFacts #medieval #EnglishMonarchy #History #HouseofValois #BritishMonarchy #HenryV #Westminsterabbey #HenryVofEngland #KingHenryV #medievalhistory #RoyalWedding #OnThisDay #Instahistory #RoyalHistory #EnglishHistory #heritage #medievalart (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B64C4DtAkO5/?igshid=k6jehgxcb3hg

[sam-jack-loveforever]

The King || 2019 Historical drama movie about young King Henry V called "Hal" and the famous battle of Agincourt settled in 15th century England #theking #thekingnetflix #historicalmovies #timotheechalamet #kinghenryv #joeledgerton #falstaff #seanharris #williamgascoigne #lilyrosedepp #catherineofvalois #deancharleschapman #thomasoflancaster https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Q3nanjDj9/?igshid=1i0eskmf17xic

[thebritishmonarchycouk]

On This Day In History . 3 January 1437 . Catherine of Valois died aged 35 shortly after childbirth, in London, & was buried in Westminster Abbey . About Catherine; . ◼ Catherine of Valois (born.27 October 1401) was the Queen consort of England from 1420 until 1422. . ◼ She was the descendant, consort, and ancestor of kings. A daughter of Charles VI of France, she married Henry V of England, and gave birth to his heir Henry VI of England. . ◼ Her liaison (and possible secret marriage) with Owen Tudor proved the springboard of that family's fortunes, eventually leading to their grandson's elevation as Henry VII of England. . ◼ Catherine's older sister Isabella was queen of England from 1396 until 1399, as the child bride of Richard II. . Pictured on the left is a depiction of Catherine's wedding with King Henry V . . . #OnThisDayInHistory #ThisDayInHistory #TheYear1437 #D3Jan #CatherineofValois #QueenConsort #London #Westminster #HenryVI #QueenofEngland #HistoryFacts #medieval #EnglishMonarchy #History #HouseofValois #BritishMonarchy #HenryV #HenryVofEngland #KingHenryV (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsKvvpnFYHD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u3a4v3ovagy1