Queen Consort of England Margaret of Anjou: biography, interesting facts and history

One of the key figures in the dynastic civil wars, which are better known as the Wars of the Roses, was Marguerite of Anjou. She personally led the Lancaster faction. Being the wife of Henry VI, she because of the constant bouts of madness of her husband took his place. In fact, the country was led by the Queen Consort of England.

Margarita of Anjou: biography

The future ruler was born in the east of France, in the feudal imperial possession of the Pont-a-Mousson of the Duchy of Lorraine in March 1430. She was the fifth child in the family of Rene Anjou. Her mother Isabella, the Duchess of Lorraine, paid great attention to the education of her children. Antoine de La Salle himself, a well-known French writer, who now belongs to the late Middle Ages, dealt with it.

Marguerite's father, better known as the "good King René," was the titular king of Sicily, Naples and Jerusalem. He was considered a man who has several crowns, but not one kingdom. The daughter was baptized in Lorraine. While in the care of her father's wet nurse, Marguerite of Anjou spent her childhood in a castle on the River Rhone, and when she was six years old, she was transferred to Capua, to the old royal palace in the kingdom of Sicily. As a child, the future wife of King Henry was called la petite creature.

Marriage

In April 1445, in the county of Hampshire, Marguerite of Anjou married Henry VI, who was eight years older than she. Then he only claimed the throne. The future king controlled some areas of northern France. Henry's uncle, Charles VII, also claiming the crown, agreed to the marriage of Margarita with his rival relative under one condition: the father of the bride instead of the usual dowry was to give him the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine.

Coronation

The government of England, fearful of an extremely negative reaction of society, decided to keep this treaty secret. May 30, 1445 in Westminster Abbey, Archbishop of Canterbury was crowned Margarita of Anjou. The Queen of England, as her contemporaries described her, although she was too young, but differed in those features that should be inherent in the ruling person. She was considered beautiful and passionate, but strong-willed and proud. At the court, many hoped that Queen Marguerite of Anjou will justify their expectations and understand their duty.

Interesting Facts

Henry VI was always more interested in religion and doctrine than in military matters. Apparently, therefore, he was not considered a successful ruler. Becoming king at an early age, he was under the control of his guardians and regents from the very beginning. Moreover, when Henry married, his mental state, judging by the chroniclers, was very unstable. And the birth of Edward, his only son with Margarita, in 1453, finally undermined the health and psyche of the king.

Even at the court there were rumors that he was not able to produce an heir, and therefore the newborn Prince of Wales is the result of an adultery. According to some data, Edward's father could be either the Duke of Somerset, or Earl of Wiltshire. Both of them considered Marguerite of Anjou as their loyal allies.

The biography of the English queen, who completely shared her husband's predilection for culture and science, was closely connected with Cambridge University. Here she founded a college sponsored until her death.

Victory over the Duke of York

Moving from the capital to the luxurious Greenwich Palace, Marguerite Anjou was completely dedicated to caring for her son. But once she realized that her husband was threatened with the overthrow of the Duke of York, appointed during his husband's mental incapacity (1453-1454) by his regent, she decides to preserve the crown for her descendants. On the throne of England, a strong contender did not unreasonably claim, especially since there were many powerful relatives on his side who were preparing to support him.

Historians say that at that time Marguerite of Anjou, although provocatively unpopular, was nevertheless considered a powerful enough force in politics. The trusty, bent and unstable Heinrich became plasticine in the hands of his wife, when she wanted to do something. Margarita was able not only to persuade him to recall the Duke from his post as governor in France, but also to send him to Ireland. It was she who repeatedly tried to kill her husband's rival in 1449 and 1450. However, she did not succeed.

History of the Wars of Roses

Ambition and power Margarita of Anjou became one of the main reasons for the uprising of the Yorkists. It was with him that the Wars of the Roses and the Roses began, lasting thirty years - from 1455 to 1485. The causes of this internecine feudal conflict between two powerful representatives of the royal dynasty of England, Lancaster and York are not only the difficult economic situation after the Hundred Years' War, but also the discontent of the society with the policies pursued by Marguerite of Anjou with their favorites. King Henry himself, who suffered from dementia, periodically fell into unconsciousness, personally could not rule the country.

The open war between two aristocratic families - the Scarlet and White Roses in the coat of arms of England, began in 1455. In the first battle, held at St. Albans, the victories were made by representatives of Yorkists. They were able to achieve that the parliament declared the Duke of York the heir of Henry VI. Margarita had to flee to the north of the country. Here, the consort queen was able to gather a large enough army. In one of the following battles, Richard was killed. His severed head with a paper crown mounted on it was exposed on the tower of the city wall in the county of York.

Defeat

After the death of Richard at the head of the party of Yorkers Edward got up - his own son. In early 1461, he, supported by Count Warwick, was able to defeat twice the troops of the Lancastrians. He managed to occupy London, where he declared himself king of England. Edward IV concluded the Tower of the Deposed Henry VI. And Queen Marguerite of Anjou fled from England.

Coming to power in the wake of the Rose War, King Edward IV, in order to strengthen his power, began to restrict the freedom of the feudal nobility. Thus, he deserved the mistrust of his former comrades-in-arms. Former allies led by Count Warwick rebelled. The king had to flee England, and the deposed Henry VI was released from prison and again returned to the throne.

But Edward, who returned to England in 1471, was able to defeat the troops of Warwick and Marguerite of Anjou, who had become allies among themselves, twice. During the fighting, both the earl and the son of the queen died, Prince Edward. Henry was again imprisoned in the Tower, where he died in May 1471.

Death

Margarita until the last attempted to fight for the throne of her husband. And only the death of her only son forced the queen to abandon the war. She was taken prisoner by Yorkists, but was in 1475 bought by Louis XI. About this the king asked her father. Her last years of life Marguerite Anjou in France. These seven years she lived as a poor relative at the court. The queen-consort died in August 1482. She was only fifty-two years old. They buried Marguerite in the cathedral of Angers, next to their parents, but during the years of the French Revolution, both the cathedral and her grave were looted.