Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville (c.
Elizabeth Woodville (c. 1437–1492) was Queen of England as the wife of Edward IV, serving during the Yorkist period of the Wars of the Roses. Born into the Woodville family and previously married to Sir John Grey, she became the mother of Edward V and Elizabeth of York, linking the Houses of York and Tudor.
Early life and family
Elizabeth Woodville was the eldest daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers, and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. She came from a noble family and was born in England around 1437.
Marriage to Edward IV
After becoming widowed, Elizabeth married Edward IV, reportedly in secret, in 1464. She became queen consort and held the position during Edward's reign, with an interruption during the brief restoration of Henry VI.
Children and dynastic importance
Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV had several children, including Edward V and Elizabeth of York. Through Elizabeth of York's marriage to Henry VII, Woodville became an ancestor of later English and British monarchs.
Later life and death
After Edward IV's death and the rise of Richard III, Elizabeth's position changed as the Wars of the Roses continued. She later withdrew from public life and died in 1492 at Bermondsey Abbey.
Key facts
- Elizabeth Woodville was the wife of Edward IV and queen consort of England during the Wars of the Roses.
- She was born around 1437 at Grafton Regis in Northamptonshire.
- Her marriage to Edward IV was politically significant and often noted as being made in secret.
- She was the mother of Edward V and Elizabeth of York.
- Elizabeth of York later married Henry VII, connecting Elizabeth Woodville to the Tudor dynasty.
Frequently asked questions
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References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-WoodvilleSupports: Queen consort of Edward IV, death date, children, and political significance
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_WoodvilleSupports: Birth estimate, family background, marriages, reign dates, and burial
- Westminster Abbey — https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/elizabeth-woodville/Supports: Parentage, sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, later life, death, and burial context
- Simple English Wikipedia — https://www.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_WoodvilleSupports: Marriage to Edward IV and relationship to Edward V and Elizabeth of York