On This Day In 1466 and 1503: The Birth And Death of Elisabeth Of York

 

On this day, February 11th, 1466, the first child of Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward IV was born: a daughter, named Elisabeth. The firstborn of many children, Elisabeth was the sister of the infamous Princes In The Tower: Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, who disappeared in the care of their uncle, King Richard III. From historical records, we know that Elisabeth loved dancing, was a jovial child, and was at one time the center of a peace treaty with France. 

Elisabeth's official portrait

In 1483, Elisabeth became betrothed to Henry Tudor, the exiled heir to the House of Lancaster. The deal was brokered by both persons' mothers; some see it as an act of defiance, others as a plea that Henry might've returned safely home now that Edward IV was dead. Two years later, however, Richard III tried to nullify the agreement by engaging his niece to Manuel of Portugal, in a double marriage that would have seen his sister, Joanna, become Queen of England. However, after Juana publicly refused Richard, the agreement was off. 

In 1485, upon the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, Henry Tudor became king, and the engagement to Elisabeth was not only on, but vital to his reign, as his claim to England was flimsy at best. Elisabeth's blood ties to the House of York gave him the footing he needed to claim the throne, and in January of 1486, they wed. The couple welcomed their first child, Arthur, in September; whether the child was premature, or the marriage consummated before the ceremony is unclear. Henry and Elisabeth would go onto have 7 more children; many of them growing up to be massive political figures, specifically her son, who would grow up to become King Henry VIII of England. It is believed she taught her children equally how to read and write, and it is believed her tutorage is the origin of the unique-ness of Henry VIII's handwriting. In all of her writings, she spelled her name the name: Elisabeth with an "s," as per the French spelling.

Elisabeth's final pregnancy came at the age of 37, a year or so after the sudden death of her firstborn. The child- a girl- was born at the Tower of London, yet the child failed to thrive. The baby was named Katherine, and predeceased her mother. Elisabeth herself would catch childbed fever and on her birthday in 1503, she would draw her last breath. The funeral for her was elaborate, yet Henry was shattered by her passing. He would join her in their joint tomb at Westminster a scant 6 years later. 

A depiction of the aftermath of her death

Elisabeth of York was the mother, wife, daughter, niece, and sister of kings. Her reign brought an end to the Wars of The Roses, and she herself paved the way for how queens of England needed to act in the future. Truly a remarkable woman!