#she only gave it up after she learned that edward iv was also fleeing. it's SO important and interesting

[wishesofeternity]

“Warwick launched his final bid at kingmaking, this time in alliance with Margaret of Anjou to restore Henry VI. He and Clarence landed in Devon while the King was in Yorkshire. Elizabeth (Woodville)’s initial reaction was to prepare for a siege in the Tower of London where she had already retired in expectation of the imminent birth of another child. But on 1 October news reached the capital that the King was preparing to set sail from Bishop’s Lynn, abandoning his kingdom. With no hope of imminent rescue, Elizabeth moved swiftly into the Sanctuary of Westminster Abbey with her mother and her daughters. She sent Abbot Thomas Millyng to advise the Mayor and Aldermen that she was surrendering the Tower, and consequently Henry VI, into their custody.

- J.L Laynesmith,  “Elizabeth Woodville: The Knight’s Widow” in “Later Plantagenet and Wars of the Roses Consorts” / “The Last Medieval Queens, English Queenship 1445-1503″

"Elizabeth (Woodville) at first fortified the Tower of London against the approaching Lancastrians, but then decided instead to hand over custody of the Tower to the mayor and aldermen of London while she went into sanctuary at Westminster Abbey. It was a move which not only protected her daughters, who were with her, but also saved London from attack, which perhaps explains some of the praise she later received. The author of 'The Historic of the Arrival of Edward IV, who claimed to have witnessed much of what he recorded, stressed

the right great trowble, sorow, and hevines, whiche [the queen] sustayned with all manar pacience that belonged to eny creature, and as constantly as hathe bene sene at any tyme any of so highe estate to endure; in the whiche season natheles she had browght into this worldc, to the Kyngs grcatystc joy, a fayrc son.

...When Edward (IV) arrived, there was a scene of family bliss, in which the queen's vulnerability and domesticity could be contrasted with his heroism.  The king was thus presented in an unusually human guise, which might appeal to readers familiar with such partings themselves throughout the civil wars:

The king comfortid the quene, and other ladyes ckc;  His swete babis ful tendurly he did kys;  The yonge prynce he behelde, and in his armys did bere. Thus his bale turnyd hym to blis.

[aethelfleds]

Victims of the Childbed - Elizabeth of York, Queen of England

Often referred to as the daughter, sister, niece, wife, and mother of a king. Elizabeth of York was the first Tudor queen of England. Her influence was quiet but always present, and her sudden death left a king and country bereft. 

Much, much more below the cut: 

       From the moment of her birth, Elizabeth of York was enveloped in a large and, unusually so for the era, close knit royal family. She was named after her mother, the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Woodville. Her father, Edward IV of England, was a giant of a man both in person and persona. Edward had won the English crown five years prior to Elizabeth’s birth and would fight to retain it throughout her childhood. Princess Elizabeth was one of the first children born into a new generation of the House of York. She was the firstborn of the new king and his consort and though the birth of a son had been predicted, she was still welcomed by her parents and doted on at their merry court. Edward IV’s account book for 1466, the year of Elizabeth’s arrival, records the purchase of a jeweled ornament “against the time of the birth of our most dear daughter Elizabeth.”

       The young Elizabeth was soon followed by two sisters, Mary and Cecily. In addition, the princesses also had two elder half-brothers, Thomas and Richard Grey, born of Elizabeth Woodville’s first marriage. Queen Elizabeth preferred to keep her children near her at court, as well as members of her own large family. As a result, Elizabeth of York enjoyed the close company of her siblings and Woodville relations for the rest of her life.

       It was the influence of the Woodville family at court and their involvement in politics which contributed to a boiling over of tensions between Edward IV and his cousin and adviser Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, who allied himself with Edward’s brother George, Duke of Clarence. Warwick and Clarence rebelled against Edward, forcing him to flee into exile on the continent. The rebellion claimed the lives of four-year-old Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather and uncle, Richard and John Woodville, who were executed by Warwick. The rebellion would be the little princess’s first experience with the traumatic and deeply personal world of politics in late medieval England. Queen Elizabeth took her children into sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, where she gave birth to Elizabeth’s brother Edward, the future ill-fated Edward V. This would not be the only time Princess Elizabeth would find herself in sanctuary at the Abbey during uncertain times.

Edward IV’s restoration to power in the spring of 1471 also restored domestic peace for a time. He brought his family out of sanctuary and Elizabeth of York re-assumed her place as “Elysabeth the Kyngys Dowther.”

       Elizabeth of York was well educated. She became fluent in both English and French and could perhaps write better than was expected for noblewomen of her day. Her maternal family, the Woodvilles, were a literary bunch. Books were shared among Elizabeth, her siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. King Edward maintained an impressive library and often purchased new volumes and illuminated manuscripts to add to his collection, which his daughter no doubt enjoyed perusing. As well as an appreciation for the written (and newly printed, thanks to Caxton and his press, which her family avidly supported) word, Princess Elizabeth also cultivated a love of music and dancing. She learned to play several instruments and is recorded dancing with her father as early as the age of six. Elizabeth would pass on this passion for musical persuits to her children, namely her son Henry VIII, whose own compositions are still known today.

       By 1480, Elizabeth was the eldest of ten royal children, eight of whom survived infancy. In addition to her two half-brothers, Elizabeth’s parents kept quite a brood. For the most part, Elizabeth’s childhood had been a happy one, but her early adulthood would prove to be very different. On April 9, 1483, Edward IV died suddenly, leaving his twelve-year-old son as King Edward V. The boy’s youth was potentially dangerous, as Queen Dowager Elizabeth was well aware, as were her enemies. Distrust was rampant among the rival factions at court and conflict soon erupted as it often did in 15th century England. Princess Elizabeth’s uncle, Edward IV’s youngest brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, took control of the boy king from Sir Anthony Woodville. The Queen Dowager acted decisively and once again fled to the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey with her daughters and remaining son, Prince Richard, who was soon taken to the Tower of London with his brother.

       Elizabeth, now seventeen, stayed in sanctuary with her mother for almost a year, her future prospects dwindling. During that time her remaining family received one tragic blow after another. Richard of Gloucester seized control over the realm. Both the young Edward V and Prince Richard were locked away in the Tower and soon disappeared altogether, their fate an enduring mystery. Gloucester executed Elizabeth’s beloved uncle, Anthony Woodville and her brother Richard Grey. To fully consolidate his power, Gloucester declared the children of Edward IV by Elizabeth Woodville illegitimate. Princess Elizabeth was now traumatized and bastardized with little hope for what lay ahead.

       In early 1484, however, the new King Richard III persuaded the Queen Dowager to allow Elizabeth to return to court. Elizabeth and her sister Cecily joined the household of Queen Anne Neville. Her life doubtlessly improved once she was away from the bleak seclusion of Westminster. Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth was one of the greatest beauties at Richard’s court, and soon rumors were circulating that the king intended to wed his lovely and charming niece. Queen Anne’s declining health and subsequent death only increased the suspicion surrounding Elizabeth and Richard’s relationship. Richard was eventually obliged to send Elizabeth to Sheriff Hutton Castle in Yorkshire along with Cecily and their cousins Margaret and Edward, Earl of Warwick, the children of the Duke of Clarence. Elizabeth’s thoughts on her uncle, the fate of her brothers, or indeed most of the momentous events of her life are often speculated but still remain quite unknown.

The subject of Elizabeth’s marriage had been controversial for some time at this point. Her hand was promised several times for various political expedient reasons. At the age of nine she was formally betrothed to the Dauphin of France and was called “Madame la Dauphine” in her adolescence. But the betrothal was broken by a rather slippery King of France not long before Edward IV’s death.

       Following Richard’s declaration of her illegitimacy, the potential for a glittering match seemed dim. But Elizabeth Woodville had allied herself with Margaret Beaufort and together, using a physician as a messenger, the two ladies would work towards supplanting Richard. Margaret’s son Henry Tudor, nephew of the late Henry VI, had spent half of his life in exile as the last Lancastrian heir. Aside from Richard III, according to the laws of primogeniture, Elizabeth of York was the Yorkist heir to Edward IV in the absence of her brothers. A union between the two would perhaps remedy the rift between the two houses made by the Wars of the Roses, at least partially satisfying both sides.

      While Elizabeth was residing at Sheriff Hutton, Henry Tudor landed in England and met Richard’s army at Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. The battle’s end found Richard III dead and Henry with the English crown. He had won his right in battle, but Henry Tudor’s claim to the throne was rather shaky. He was a descendant of Edward III only through his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, through the bastard line of John of Gaunt. Elizabeth of York, though still legally bastardized herself, also descended from Edward III, but through a legitimate male line. Thus it seemed that Henry Tudor would need her to lend stability to his throne, though he would forever fight to conceal it. Henry was crowned Henry VII on October 30, 1485 and immediately set about establishing his authority in his own right. England was an uncertain nation in need of stability, but that was difficult to achieve with so many Yorkist claimants and their adherents at large.

       The generation of Yorkists to which Elizabeth belonged was largely female, and for the next decade Henry would neutralize the threat they posed through marriage. Elizabeth of York, as the eldest surviving child of Edward IV, was regarded by many to be the rightful heir to his throne. Certainly no one expected Elizabeth to be queen regnant of England; the country was still not ready for such a concept. Once Henry Tudor was crowned and his first Parliament opened, Elizabeth’s legitimacy was reestablished. Finally, with the proper papal dispensation in acquired, Henry and Elizabeth were formally betrothed.

       Elizabeth of York became Queen of England when she married Henry VII on January 18, 1486. It has been suggested that Henry put off the marriage as long as possible to establish his rule in his own right without seeming to have accepted help from Elizabeth. Regardless, she would bring his reign stability that he could not have gained on his own. As queen, Elizabeth is not known to have taken an active role in political matters. She had been brought up to play the traditional role of a consort, which she did perfectly. Her kindness, generosity, and gracious nature were renowned. She was also known for her beauty, golden hair, and fine figure. She surrounded herself with her dearest relatives, most of whom were well provided for in her lifetime.

       The relationship between Elizabeth of York and Henry VII has been popularly portrayed as a love match. It was a marriage of political necessity which over time seems to have grown into a partnership of mutual respect and affection. Henry’s accounts show him buying small gifts and trinkets for his wife, and Elizabeth’s show that she undertook tasks such as sewing Henry’s garter mantle when she was not required to do so herself. There were still political aspects to the marriage. Elizabeth never had the financial independence enjoyed by most consorts, possibly because Henry never entirely got over an innate distrust of all things Yorkist.

      Elizabeth’s influence on the world of Tudor aesthetics that has fascinated many for five centuries may have been greater than previously assumed. Tudor pageantry was impressive, outlandish, and extravagant. The pageant stages, disguisings, and masques were inspired by Burgundian entertainments. Who had more experience with this style of revelry than she who had grown up at the center of a court heavily influenced by the court of Burgundy? From her infancy, Elizabeth would have been familiar with Burgundian style due to her own heritage through her maternal grandmother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg. The pageantry Elizabeth so enjoyed became a hallmark of Tudor entertainment. Tudor architecture, too, is thought to have some touch of Burgundian influence. Elizabeth of York is documented as being involved in at least the rebuilding of Greenwich Palace, a distinctly Tudor royal residence.

       The marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII was certainly successful in regard to their offspring. Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, a son and heir, only eight months after their wedding in 1486 (leading to speculation of consummation before the public wedding ceremony). The prince was christened Arthur and was greeted with national rejoicing. Princess Margaret followed three years later in 1489. Prince Henry and Princess Elizabeth, who died at the age of three, were born in 1491 and 1492. Another daughter, Mary, was born in 1496. Elizabeth may have given birth to a short lived boy named Edward, or this could be a confusion with Prince Edmund, who died in infancy.

       Elizabeth of York, like her own mother, was devoted to her children. As the heir to the throne, Prince Arthur was set apart from his siblings with his own household and rigorous education. The younger children lived near their parents at Eltham Palace, where they were frequently visited by their mother. Elizabeth doted on her fair daughters and boisterous son Henry, who took after his grandfather, Edward IV.

       Prince Arthur was married to Katherine of Aragon in November 1501 in a lavish ceremony. The teenage couple was sent to Wales to hold court as the future king and queen of England. Their future and the succession seemed secure until an unforeseen disaster occurred. On April 2, 1502, only five months into his marriage, the fifteen-year-old Prince Arthur suddenly died, possibly of the sweating sickness. Elizabeth and Henry grieved the loss of their son both as monarchs and as parents. But Elizabeth attempted to console her husband by reminding them that they still had a healthy son and were still young enough to have more children. They were indeed young enough to produce another heir to secure the Tudor Dynasty, and Elizabeth became pregnant with her seventh child soon afterwards. The queen spent the remainder of 1502 mourning her son and traveling in England and Wales. She experienced some health issue, but it is not known if it was pregnancy related.

       Elizabeth of York gave birth to her last child, a daughter, at the Tower of London on February 2, 1503. This baby may have been premature, as Elizabeth had not withdrawn from court to take to her chamber in preparation of the birth. In fact, she had traveled from Richmond to London only a week prior to the birth. For her previous births, Elizabeth had observed the rituals and preparations laid out by Margaret Beaufort in her ordinances for royal births. For this birth it seems almost nothing had been prepared, and one chronicle claims Elizabeth had intended to give birth at Richmond. Instead she delivered her daughter at the Tower of London. While the baby princess was quickly baptized Katherine, her mother became ill. Elizabeth had contracted childbed fever, or puerperal fever and was not strong enough to fight off the infection. She succumbed to her illness and died on February 11, 1503, her thirty-seventh birthday. Princess Katherine had died the day before.

       The royal family and country were plunged into grief. Elizabeth was given a funeral fit for a queen. Henry VII was much altered by the loss of his wife and two children in under one year. The illuminated manuscript Vaux Passional contains an illustration of Elizabeth’s bereft family. A rather sullen Henry VII is shown wearing the blue robes of royal mourning. The princesses Margaret and Mary wear black veils. Most moving of all is the image of eleven-year-old Prince Henry weeping on his mother’s empty bed. King Henry never dismissed Elizabeth’s court minstrels and continued to pay them until his death in 1509.

       Elizabeth of York was all but canonized in death. She was remembered as “one of the most gracious and best beloved princesses in the world in her time being.” She was the silent guiding hand behind Henry VII, the first Tudor queen from whom descended the next four Tudor monarchs as well as the Stuarts. Elizabeth of York also left her mark through the red-gold hair she passed on to her son Henry VIII and granddaughters, Mary and Elizabeth, queens regnant of England.

Arlene Naylor Okerlund, “Elizabeth of York”

Kavita Mudan Finn, “The Last Plantagenet Consorts: Gender, Genealogy, and Historiography, 1440-1627”