What is elizabeth woodville?

Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth Woodville (c. 1437 – 8 June 1492) was the Queen consort of England as the wife of King <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Edward%20IV">Edward IV</a>. Her marriage was one of the most controversial royal marriages in English history.

  • Family and Early Life: Elizabeth was born into the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Woodville%20family">Woodville family</a>, who though of noble blood, were considered relatively minor figures at court. Her father, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Richard%20Woodville%201st%20Earl%20Rivers">Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers</a>, later became a powerful figure. Her mother was <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Jacquetta%20of%20Luxembourg">Jacquetta of Luxembourg</a>.

  • Marriage to Edward IV: Her secret marriage to <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Edward%20IV">Edward IV</a> in 1464 caused scandal. Edward had been expected to make a politically advantageous marriage, and Elizabeth was both a commoner (although of noble lineage) and a widow. This was seen as a huge misstep.

  • The Rise of the Woodvilles: The <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Woodville%20family">Woodville family</a> rose to prominence after Elizabeth's marriage, gaining titles, lands, and influence. This rapid ascent caused resentment among the established nobility, who saw them as upstarts.

  • The Wars of the Roses: Elizabeth's marriage and the rise of the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Woodville%20family">Woodville family</a> played a role in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Wars%20of%20the%20Roses">Wars of the Roses</a>. Her family became targets for the Yorkists' opponents.

  • Queen Consort: As <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Queen%20Consort">Queen Consort</a>, Elizabeth exercised considerable influence and advocated for her family's interests. She bore Edward IV ten children, including <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Elizabeth%20of%20York">Elizabeth of York</a>, who later married Henry VII.

  • Widowhood and Imprisonment: After Edward IV's death in 1483, Elizabeth's son, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Edward%20V%20of%20England">Edward V of England</a>, briefly became king, but he and his brother <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Richard%20of%20Shrewsbury%2C%201st%20Duke%20of%20York">Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York</a>, disappeared while in the Tower of London. Elizabeth was forced to seek sanctuary and lost much of her power.

  • Later Life: During Richard III's reign, Elizabeth reconciled with <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Margaret%20Beaufort%2C%20Countess%20of%20Richmond%20and%20Derby">Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby</a>, and agreed to marry her daughter <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Elizabeth%20of%20York">Elizabeth of York</a> to Henry Tudor (Henry VII). With Henry VII's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, Elizabeth's daughter became queen, and Elizabeth herself lived out her final years in relative seclusion.