Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth Woodville 1437-92, queen consort of Edward IV of England. She was the daughter of Richard Woodville (later the 1st Earl Rivers ). Her first husband, Sir John Grey, was killed fighting on the Lancastrian side at the battle of St. Albans (1461) in the Wars of the Roses. By him she had two sons, Thomas, 1st marquess of Dorset, and Richard. Edward IV married her in secret in 1464, partly because the powerful Richard Neville, earl of Warwick , had other marriage plans for him and partly because of Elizabeth's Lancastrian connections. The marriage was soon made public, however, and Elizabeth's large family received numerous royal favors. At the death (1483) of Edward IV, Richard, duke of Gloucester (later Richard III ), seized custody of the young Edward V , Elizabeth's eldest son by the late king, and destroyed the power of the Woodvilles (Elizabeth's brother the 2d Earl Rivers and son Richard Grey were executed). The queen mother again took sanctuary in Westminster and soon surrendered her second son by Edward, Richard, duke of York, to Gloucester. He then placed both boys in the Tower of London and declared them illegitimate, asserting that Elizabeth's marriage to Edward was voided by a precontract of marriage on Edward's part. (The boys were subsequently murdered.) After Henry VII seized the throne from Richard, he married (1486) Elizabeth's eldest daughter, who was also named Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Woodville (c. 1437–92), queen of Edward IV. Elizabeth was a widow with two children when she married Edward IV secretly on 1 May 1464. She was the daughter of Earl Rivers. Almost certainly a love match, the unwise marriage to a woman considered beneath the king's dignity caused political tension, and later allowed Richard III to claim that their children were illegitimate. In truth she was far more sinned against than sinning, by both her unfaithful husband and ambitious brother‐in‐law. After Bosworth, although her daughter Elizabeth became queen, she was excluded from court and retired to Bermondsey abbey.

Elizabeth Woodville (c.1437–92), queen of Edward IV. Elizabeth was a widow with two children when she married Edward IV secretly at Grafton Regis (Northants) on 1 May 1464. She was the daughter of Earl Rivers and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. Almost certainly a love match, the unconventional and unwise marriage to a woman whom contemporaries considered beneath the king's dignity caused political tension, and later allowed Richard III to claim that their children were illegitimate. Her reputation has suffered from the hostile propaganda of her enemies, especially Richard III, who accused her of witchcraft. Yet the Croyland chronicler, the best-informed contemporary, described her as benevolent. In truth she was far more sinned against than sinning, by both her unfaithful husband and ambitious brother-in-law. After the disappearance of her son Edward V in 1483, she endeavoured, ineptly, to play one side against the other. After Bosworth, although her daughter Elizabeth became queen, she was excluded from court and induced to retire to Bermondsey abbey. In her prosperity she was the second founder of Queens' College, Cambridge, where her portrait hangs.

Anthony James Pollard