Isabella of Angouleme, Queen of England

A Victorian artist's engraving of Isabella.

My first post for this month is about an English queen from the Middle Ages: Isabella of Angouleme. Isabella was one of England's least popular queens consort. This was partly attributed to her husband's bad reputation and partly for her own indiscreet and troublesome ways. Her turbulent life perfectly mirrors the struggles between England and France during the 13th century.

She was described to be a stunningly beautiful woman and possessed the Middle Ages' ideal of beauty: blonde hair and blue eyes. She was called "The Fair Maid of Angouleme" and the "Helen of the Middle Ages". Despite her lovely face, Isabella was not a well-liked Queen during and even after her lifetime; she was described to be vain and capricious, and her marriage to the even more unpopular and disliked King John added more fuel to the people's growing hatred and dissatisfaction on his rule.

"Goodness was her fall"

Lady Jane Grey was one of the most learned women of her day. She was fluent in eight languages, among these are Latin, Hebrew and Greek. She was a very committed Protestant and her faith was her source of strength throughout her short and tumultuous life. Below is a poem about her by English writer William Hone (1780-1842) which was inscribed beneath a portrait of her. More about this fascinating lady in a future post. :-)

Young, beautiful and learned Jane, intent
On knowledge, fount it peace; her vast acquirement
Of goodness was her fall; she was content
With dulcet pleasures, such as calm retirement
Yields to the wise alone; — her only vice
Was virtue: in obedience to her sire
And lord she died, with them a sacrifice
To their ambition: her own mild desire
Was rather to be happy than be great;
For though at their request, she claimed the crown,
That they through her might rise to rule the state,
Yet the bright diadem and gorgeous throne
She viewed as cares, dimming the dignity
Of her unsullied mind and pur benignity.

The Rose of the World: Rosamund Clifford

One of the most enigmatic royal mistresses in English history was Rosamund Clifford, the favorite and long-time mistress of King Henry II of England. But she has always been surrounded in mystery, and her life and relationship with the king and his jealous wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has always been the stuff of legends.

Fair Rosamund painted by Herbert Sydney

Often called "the Fair Rosamund" or "the Rose of the World", Rosamund Clifford was famed for being both very beautiful and desirable. She was born sometime in 1150, one of the six children of a marcher lord named Walter de Clifford and his wife Margaret de Tosny. The family resided at the Clifford Castle in Hertfordshire, England, and it was here on a visit that King Henry met the teenage Rosamund for the first time. From there, a passionate affair began between England's king and the beautiful Rosamund.

King Henry II of England possessed an energetic and fiery nature. He was also described to be very good-looking and to have possessed a piercing glance. He was an intimidating and formidable warrior-king, a trait necessary for a King of England at that time. He was married to the equally beautiful and formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, Europe's wealthiest heiress. But their marriage was turbulent. When Henry met Rosamund, she was a breath of fresh air for the rambunctious king. She was gentle, pliant, and feminine, the complete opposite of the passionate and dynamic Eleanor.

It was said that Rosamund was the great love of Henry's life. Their affair started around the time when Queen Eleanor was pregnant with her last child, and as a result, Rosamund earned the Queen's hatred. Henry installed Rosamund at the Woodstock Palace and she lived quietly there while he was away in his continental possessions.

Although little is known about Rosamund, she was frequently mentioned in works about Eleanor. Nevertheless, there were countless stories and legends concerning her. There was a story that Henry constructed a labyrinth surrounding Woodstock Palace to protect his mistress from the wrath of his jealous wife. Another tale, which was certainly untrue, was that Queen Eleanor poisoned Rosamund.

Fair Rosamund and Queen Eleanor
by Frank Cadogan Cowper, 1920.

Henry's affair with Rosamund became public knowledge in 1174. It ended when she entered to a nunnery at Godstow in 1176. She died there in the same year and was believed to be also buried there. Her tomb was carefully maintained by the Clifford family and became a popular local shrine until 1191. After Henry's death, the Bishop of Lincoln, calling Rosamund a harlot, ordered her remains to be removed from the church and be buried outside. Her tomb was moved to the cemetery by the nuns' chapter house where it could be visited until it was destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII of England in the 16th century. The Latin inscriptions were still partly legible in 1599 and it read: "Let them adore ... and we pray that rest be given to you, Rosamund." It was followed by an epitaph, also in Latin: "Here in the tomb lies the rose of the world, not a pure rose; she who used to smell sweet, still smells - but not sweet."

The Queen Over the Water

Mary Beatrice of Modena,
Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Mary Beatrice of Modena is the only Italian ever to become Queen of England. During her tenure as queen, she was unpopular with the people because of her being a Catholic in a staunchly Protestant country. The people never forgave her for her religion, and although she was a lesser-known figure in history, she was one of those queens whose character was one of the best. She was known as "the Queen over the water" because of her being exiled in France after the Glorious Revolution.

She was born on 25 September 1658 in Modena, a small duchy lying in fertile plain south of the Alps. Her father, the Duke of Modena, died in the prime of his life when Mary was only two. Her mother Laura ruled as a regent for Mary's two-year-old brother, Francesco. Strictly brought up by their imposing mother, they were given a stern religious and moral education. Mary learned how to speak and write in Italian, French, English, and Latin. She was a constant travelling companion of her mother, and became a frequent visitor in Paris, where she became a favorite of King Louis XIV. However, court life held little charm for the deeply religious and reflective Mary. She was sent to a convent for Carmelite nuns to finish her education, and by the time she was nine, Mary conceived an idea to become a nun. That was her ultimate goal in life, and throughout her lifetime, she would remain a devout and pious Roman Catholic. Her future, however, lay elsewhere.

In England, James, Duke of York, the younger brother of Charles II, had been a widow for two years. His wife, Anne Hyde, had died of breast cancer, leaving him with two adolescent daughters, Mary and Anne. Left to himself, James would have probably remained a widower or married another non-royal English lady, but he was now heir to the throne. His brother, Charles II, had no legitimate child to succeed him, and so Charles persuaded James to stop making a fool of himself and marry a suitable princess.

"The good and pious Queen of England... She
kept nothing to herself, and gave all she
had to the poor..."

Envoys were sent throughout Europe, but there was a specific agreement that James's future bride must be beautiful in order to placate him to an arranged marriage, and also to prevent the temptation of extramarital affairs. He also wanted a Catholic bride because he was a Catholic himself, although a secret one. When the Earl of Petersborough arrived in Modena and saw the Mary Beatrice, he was enchanted. The fourteen-year-old Mary was beautiful, tall and well-shaped, with a dazzling fair complexion in perfect contrast to her jet-black hair and lustrous dark eyes. When she was told of the Earl's mission, she vehemently protested against the marriage. She told him that she had vowed to become a nun. And although Mary was exceptionally well-educated, she had a very sheltered life that she did not know where England was and had never heard of the Duke of York. When she learnt that he was 40 years old, she screamed and wept for two days, and entreated that her youngest aunt might marry him instead. The marriage negotiations were conducted with much difficulty, with Mary being adamant, until the Pope finally intervened and sent a letter written in Latin to Mary, 'commanding' her to marry the Duke of York. She finally acquiesced, and the marriage agreement was signed. She was married by proxy - a Catholic ceremony - in Modena, and then set off  for England, accompanied by her mother. James met them at Dover and there Mary and James had a second wedding, but this time a Protestant one. He was delighted with his very young and beautiful wife. But Mary had a different opinion. She was shocked by his ugly features, and for weeks, she cried every time she saw him. But James was very kind towards her, and with time, she gradually soften and finally accepted her husband.

The first five years of Mary's married life were the happiest she had ever known. As the new Duchess of York, she tried her innocent best to adjust to King Charles II's licentious court, and in response, the King showed great kindness to her. She also gained the friendship of Queen Catherine, but tried to be civil to the King's numerous mistresses. She was a kind and loving stepmother to Mary and Anne. Only a few years older than them, she was introduced to them by James with the words: “I have brought you a new play-fellow.” The elder one, Mary, responded well and would maintain a close and warm relationship with her stepmother, but Anne disliked her stepmother. Mary also became deeply attached to her husband, and was a loyal and supportive wife to him. His infidelities greatly offended her, however, and Charles II once said that "She is much better than my brother deserves."

"Her mien was the noblest, the most majestic
and imposing in the world, but it was also
sweet and modest."

James's marriage to a Catholic princess caused great alarm to the English people. From the moment she arrived to Britain, she was viewed with suspicion. Mary was branded as "the Pope's daughter", and it was feared that she would help restore Catholicism in the country. After five years of blissful marriage, religious controversies were now overshadowing her life. Protestant statesmen wanted to remove James from the succession and the Popish Plot of 1648 heighten anti-Catholic feelings. Amidst this controversies, Charles II sent James and Mary to live in Edinburgh. However, they were called back to London when the news arrived that Charles II had died. James ascended to the throne as King James II and Mary of Modena became Queen. They were crowned in Westminster Abbey in April 1685.

As a Catholic Queen, Mary did her best to reassure her husband's mostly-Protestant subject that she bore no ill will towards their religion or culture. It deeply hurt her that she could not win the hearts of her people, but this was nothing compared to another controversy that she would be subjected to. Mary had already given birth to five children, all had died in their infancy, when she became pregnant once again. This time, she delivered a healthy baby boy James, who would be known to posterity as "The Old Pretender". Now there was a rumor regarding baby James's birth. It was said that he was not actually the son of the King and Queen but that he was a changeling, smuggled into the Queen's bed with a warming-pan. People readily believed the rumors, but when witnesses denied them, James was accepted as the heir apparent.

James's birth imposed another problem to Parliament. Since the prince's parents were staunch Catholics, it surely means that he would be reared in the same faith. James and Mary's relationship with Princesses Mary and Anne soon deteriorated, and members of the Parliament and Church leaders secretly sent an invitation to the Protestant Princess Mary and her husband, William, Prince of Orange (also a Protestant), to accept the crown and lead an invasion to England in order to dethrone James and Mary. This invasion was henceforth known as the "Glorious Revolution".

Without the support of the army, the King would not stand a chance against William, and so he and Mary escaped to France. With the king away from England, he was now considered deposed, and William and Mary were crowned as the new monarchs. James and Mary lost their status and title as King and Queen of Britain.

"She was the model of what a queen should be,
and she bore her misfortunes heroically."
-Demertius C. Boulger

The exiled couple and their infant son went to live in Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye where they were very much provided for by King Louis XIV of France and were to set up a court in exile. The French people loved and continued to honor Mary. She was admired for her intelligence, wit, amiability, gentle manners, and generosity. Her husband, however, was disliked.

The rest of Mary's life was spent in protecting and trying to make her son the rightful King of Great Britain. However, he would always remain as a pretender to the throne and living out his days as an exile. James II died in 1701, but Mary continued to give her money in support to the Jacobite cause. When Louis XIV died, her financial support was brought to a halt, and she lived out the rest of her life in sadness and poverty. She died from cancer in 1718, seventeen years after her husband, and and she was buried in the Convent of Visitation.

It is fascinating to think how religious bigotry could dramatically alter the fate of a country, and turn its people against their rulers. Mary's unyielding Catholic faith practically prevented her son from gaining the throne, and caused her and her husband's downfall. It was a personal tragedy; for someone who conducted herself with much dignity throughout her life and was widely considered a "saint", it was a poignant end.

Berengaria of Navarre: The English Queen Who Never Set Foot in England

Berengaria of Navarre, Queen of England.
Engraving from c.1890.

Berengaria of Navarre, consort to one of England's most beloved and best remembered kings, Richard I (the Lionheart), had a distinction in history as the only Queen of England never to set foot in England, well at least during her husband's lifetime. Just as in the case of early medieval English queens consort, little is known about Berengaria's life, and this what makes her more intriguing for me. She lived in a time of many historical events and yet she was overshadowed by more forceful personalities of that time (Richard the Lionheart and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine). Berengaria is one of my favorite historical character, and I have always looked up to her as a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and courageous woman, deeply devoted to her husband. But beauty and devotion were all seemed wasted. Richard, although undoubtedly the ideal warrior-king and the epitome of a chivalrous knight, was far from being the ideal husband (and the ideal king), and his treatment of Berengaria reveals a rather cold and callous side of his personality.

Wife to the Conqueror: Matilda of Flanders, Queen of England

Matilda of Flanders
Queen of England and Duchess of Normandy

Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, and the first woman to be crowned and titled Queen of England after the Norman Conquest, was born sometime in 1031. She was of illustrious descent: her father, Baldwin V, was the Count of Flanders, and her mother Adela, was a daughter of the King of France. On one side or the other, Matilda was related to most of the royal families of Europe.

She was extremely well-educated, and said to be very beautiful - though modern research shows that she never exceeded 5 feet in height. According to old chroniclers, she had a refined, delicate features, a well-set head, and a graceful figure. And when she was in her state dress, she would have compared favorably with a Greek statue. Matilda spent her early years in Lille, a town that was built by her own father in Northern France. She inherited his talent for architecture which she would later turned to such good account. It was also in Lille that Matilda met an English ambassador named Brihtric, the Earl of Gloucester. The youthful Matilda fell in love with him, but Brihtric never returned her affections. He returned to England, perhaps even forgot about her, but her pride was wounded, and she was said to take her revenge years later.

Although Matilda's father Baldwin V possessed no higher title than Count, he ruled over a realm which was one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Europe. So it is no wonder that his daughter was a much sought-after bride. One of her numerous suitors was her own cousin, William of Normandy, the illegitimate and only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy and a woman named Herleva, a daughter of a tanner. William was called by his enemies as "William the Bastard", but he had no problem with it. Even though he was illegitimate, his father made him heir, and when Robert died, William succeeded as Duke of Normandy at the tender age of seven.

William grew up to be a handsome and athletic man, according to all accounts. By the age of nineteen, he was already a toughen man and a reputable warrior who had successfully defended his title. But the Count of Flanders had misgivings regarding William's position, and this view was shared by Matilda. She didn't want him as her husband. She considered herself too high-born to be considered marrying a bastard even though he was a Duke. But William was not the sort of man to easily give up.

Matilda was the smallest Queen of England.
Her height never exceeded beyond five feet.

He had fallen in love with Matilda when he saw her for the first time at the French court. He was said to be so passionately enamored of her that he would do anything to obtain her, whether it means by using force. Nevertheless, her words reached him and he felt slighted. And so one day, while Matilda and her ladies were on their way home from church, she was met by William. Her ladies were alarmed by his wild demeanor, but Matilda remained calm. She remained adamant that she would not marry a bastard, and upon hearing this, William dragged her off her horse by her long braids, and threw her down in the mud-covered street in front of her flabbergasted attendants. He did not abduct her; he rode away.

The Count of Flanders took offense at this, and prepared to attack William's dominions, but Matilda intervened. She may had found William's violent behavior "macho" and likable because she finally agreed to marry him, to the astonishment of all. "His request pleases me well," she said. When her father laughingly asked her how she consented to the marriage after her scornful refusal, she was said to reply: "Because I did not know the Duke then so well as I do now; for he must be a man of great courage and high daring who could venture to come and beat me in my father's place."

William and Matilda were married at the Angi Castle in Normandy, when they were 25 and 21, respectively. Soon after their marriage, the Pope expressed his displeasure at this marriage between cousins and excommunicated them. William indignantly appealed to the Pope, and finally relented but with conditions. They must build two abbeys. And so William founded St. Stephen's Abbey for monks, and Matilda, the Abbaye-aux-Dames for nuns.

Despite the rather violent nature of their meeting, William and Matilda went on to have a successful and happy marriage. William was especially proud of his wife. He made sure that he would take her with him on royal tours of his dominions, showing her off to his subjects. They settled in Rouen, and Matilda became popular with the people. The couple was devoted to each other, and both were noted to possess commanding tempers. She was faithful and affectionate to William, as he was to her, and was able to win and retain his affection, respect and esteem. She supported and sympathized with all his projects, whether they were social or political. They went on to have ten children.

Meanwhile, Edward the Confessor, King of England, died without issue, and the throne was fiercely disputed by three claimants. William, now 28 years-old and a hardened man of battle, press his claim through descent to Emma (mother of Edward). He also contended that Edward, when in exile in Normandy, had promised William the throne. But it was Harold who was crowned King of England, in accordance to Edward's last will.

And so William finally set out on his greatest enterprise: the conquest of England. He was helped in his preparations by Matilda, convincing the barons to overcome to reluctance and follow William "beyond the sea". King Philip I of France treated William's idea of annexing England as absurd, and asked him who would be left in charge of Normandy while he was running a kingdom. To this William confidently replied that he had Matilda and his subjects, who were capable of securing the duchy during his absence.

Matilda returned this gesture of confidence by building and fitting out a secret ship to be added to William's navy. It was called the Mora. Upon seeing it, William was surprised. The ship's gold figure-head was an effigy of their youngest son holding a trumpet with one hand and with the other a bow, with its arrow pointed towards England. William took this as his flagship.

Before leaving Normandy, William appointed Matilda as the regent of his dominions. She was helped in this by her eldest son, Robert, who was only 13-years-old. She proved to be a capable and wise regent that when William had successfully landed in England and crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey, he arranged for her coming and had her crowned Queen of England at Winchester Cathedral in 1068.

Matilda remained in Normandy most of the time, looking after her husband's interests while he was detained in England by recurring revolts caused by the Saxons. Her revenue as Queen of England was considerable, this include money to provide oil for her lamp and wood for her hearth. She received tolls on goods landed at Queenhithe, and part of every fine voluntary paid to the crown.

William and Matilda enjoyed a happy marriage life throughout their lives, but the one cause of tension between husband and wife was their eldest son, Robert. He was his mother's favorite child, but he also inherited too much of his father's masterful spirit. He grew up to be arrogant and self-centered. He challenged his father and demanded to be the regent of Normandy. William acquiesced, and Robert acted as regent, while his father was in England busy subduing the rebellions. Then he demanded complete control of Normandy and broke into open rebellion. William was much surprised at his son's capacity as a leader, but he was still no match to him. William successfully suppressed the rebellion, and Robert sought pardon. But William was not to be easily propitiated; he refused to completely forgive his son. Throughout the quarrel between father and son, Matilda gave all her efforts at reconciliation, but to no avail. She was torn between husband and child. She supported Robert during the rebellion, secretly supplying him with money and jewels. William discovered her secret aid for Robert, but this did not seem to have made any difference in his affection for her.

Statue of Matilda of Flanders in the
gardens of the Luxembourg Palace in Paris

William and his son never had a full reconciliation, and this trouble seemed to have already preyed on Matilda's mind. She became ill and grew weaker. When William received the news that she was seriously ill, he hastened to Normandy to be at her bedside. He wrote a letter to Robert, who was by that time staying at Gerberol Castle because of his recent rebellion, and asked him to immediately travel to Rouen. Robert arrived, and William grant him full pardon. For a time, Matilda's health improved. But in 1098, her daughter Constance died, and there were troubles once again between William and Robert. She was deeply affected by these sad events, and died in November after a lingering illness. She was buried at the Abbey of Holy Trinity in Caen.

Matilda's death plunged William into deep depression. It was said that after her death, he became tyrannical, and people blamed it on his having lost her. He no longer went hunting, which was his favorite sport. After four years, William died, and was buried at St. Stephen's Abbey.


Read about other Queens-Consort of England:

Berengaria of Navarre
Isabella of Angouleme
Mary of Modena

Joan of Kent: The First Princess of Wales

Joan of Kent,
Countess of Kent and Lady Wake of Liddell
Countess of Salisbury,
Princess of Wales
(Modern portrait by Stephen Warde Anderson)

"The most beautiful woman in all England, and the most loving.”

-Jean Froissart, Medieval Chronicler

In modern times, the British courtesy title Princess of Wales has become synonymous to style, beauty and charm. The most well-known bearer of this title was the late Lady Diana Spencer, and she was the epitome of that title. There were over forty kings who occupied the British throne since William of Normandy conquered England in 1066, but the women who held the title Princess of Wales - a title reserved only for the wife of the heir to the throne - were only ten. Eight of them eventually became Queens Consort, but the remaining two were never crowned because they were predeceased by their husbands.

Joan of Kent was one of those two who never became Queen, and she was the first woman to become Princess of Wales. She was the consort of Edward, Prince of Wales or known famously as "The Black Prince", son of King Edward III. Joan was known in history as "The Fair Maid of Kent", a nickname that later historians ascribed because of her immense beauty. She was of royal blood, a Plantagenet, through her father, and because of her royal descent and beauty, she was a much sought-after bride. She was born around 1328, the third child of Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent (a son of King Edward I) and Lady Margaret Wake of Liddell.

During Joan's lifetime, three important historic events occurred: the Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, and the Peasants' Revolt. The backdrop of her story was the Hundred Years' War, the age when the Plantagenet monarchs of England claimed the throne of France and made many attempts to secure it. The Black Death reduced the able-bodied people of England, thus causing labor shortage. And finally, the Peasants' Revolt, a consequence of the Black Death.

When Joan was two years-old, tragedy struck her family. King Edward II was murdered at the instigation of his wife, Queen Isabella. Joan's father, a younger brother and a supporter of the king, began investigating the circumstances of his murder. This greatly infuriated Queen Isabella, and arranged to have Edmund charged with treason. Soldiers seized Arundel Castle and held Edmund's wife and children prisoner. Edmund was later executed, leaving a total of three children to his wife.

When the new king, Edward III became aware of the injustice done to his uncle, he banished his mother Queen Isabella to Anglia. The new queen, the virtuous Philippa of Hainault, set out to make amends, and arranged for the Kent Family to be brought to court so that the Joan and her siblings could be raised with their royal cousins. Joan was given a governess, Catherine Montague, Countess of Salisbury. The Countess and her husband the Earl were a very enterprising couple, and raised an ambition to wed Joan to their son and heir William. However, Joan had other ideas. At the age of twelve, she had fallen in love with Thomas Holland, a steward in the Salisbury household and a man eight years her senior. They contracted a secret marriage, without royal consent. The following year, Thomas Holland went overseas to fight in one of the many campaigns of Hundred Years' War. With Thomas absent, the Saliburys forced Joan to marry William. Joan later claimed she was afraid that disclosing her previous marriage would lead to Thomas's execution for treason on his return, and so did not disclose it. She may also have become convinced that the earlier marriage was invalid.

When Thomas returned from France he could do little to reclaim his wife, and he soon went off again serving with Edward, the Black Prince. Meanwhile, back at court, Joan was now Countess of Salisbury, since her father-in-law had died in 1347. She was a great favorite of Edward III and Queen Philippa. But Thomas Holland had not forgotten Joan. Now wealthy and influential, he appealed to the Pope to arrange Joan's divorce from Salisbury. The Pope decided in favor of Sir Thomas's claim and Joan was returned to him. She had no children by her previous marriage to Salisbury, but with Holland she soon became a mother of five.

Her cousin the Black Prince stood as godfather to her two children, and gave his cousin "Jeanette" a silver cup. By 1353, Joan became the Countess of Kent after the death of her brother. She inherited a substantial property, but her happy marriage with Sir Thomas ended in his death in December 1360.

Joan, now thirty-two years old, was a very sought-after prize. Suitors flocked around the beautiful and wealthy widow, but she was uninterested. By this time, she had her eyes only to her cousin, Prince Edward, to whom she shared a strong attachment ever since they were children. When Edward knew that she was in love with 'somebody', he entreated her to identify the object of her affection. Joan then revealed that she was in love with him, and Edward, who had been in love with her for quite a long time, asked his parents' consent for marriage. Although the King and Queen liked Joan, they were not pleased with Edward's choice. Queen Philippa was especially concerned about Joan's reputation and her flighty disposition. But Edward was adamant that if he was to marry, he would only marry Joan, his true love. Finally, the King and Queen acquiesced, a papal dispensation was sent (because of consanguinity), and Edward and Joan were married on October 10, 1361 at Windsor Castle.

The Black Prince owned several residences but Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire was his favorite. There the newly-weds went to stay, but not to long. The Prince was anxious to return to France to secure more territory. In February 1362, Edward and Joan sailed for France accompanied by her children. They set up their home in Bordeaux, and two years later Joan gave birth to a son they named Edward. The Black Prince was delighted. Another son was added in family on January 1367 and they named him Richard. Once assured that Joan had recovered, the Prince set out for the south, to check an advance over the Pyrenees by a Spanish army.

Edward and Joan appeared to be a very loving couple. Before Edward left for the south, the couple "very sweetly embraced and take farewell with kisses." And on his return, they went on an informal walkabout: "The Princess came to meet him, bringing with her her first born son...very sweetly they embraced when they met together. The gentle prince kissed his wife and son. They went to their lodging on foot, holding each other by the hand."

Upon his return to Bordeaux, the Prince was far from well. His health grew steadily worse after the death of the little six year-old prince Edward. The parents were grief-stricken with the loss, and decided to sail back to England. As he became increasingly ill, the Prince fretted over the succession, suspicious that his brother John of Gaunt would claim the throne on the death of the King. Edward feared that his son Richard might be set aside by John of Gaunt. Meanwhile, Joan did not involve herself in politics, but she showed no small skill when the future of her son might be in jeopardy.

Edward the Black Prince died in June 1376, when Richard was only nine years-old. One year later, King Edward III died, and Richard became King of England. Early in his reign, the young King faced the challenge of the Peasants' Revolt. The Lollards, religious reformers led by John Wyclif, had enjoyed the protection of Joan, but the violent climax of the popular movement for reform reduced the feisty Joan to a state of terror, while leaving the King with an improved reputation. As the power behind the throne, the now Dowager Princess of Wales was well-loved for her influence over the young king, She maintained a cordial relationship with her brother-in-law John of Gaunt for the sake of her son, and was supportive of her new daughter-in-law, Richard's wife, Anne of Bohemia.

Joan then retired to Wallingford, but she did not remain uninvolved. Richard was a peaceloving, artistic youth, clearly lacking the warlike qualities necessary in a successful 14th century monarch. These were present in John of Gaunt, and Joan felt compelled to continue as peacemaker between the young King and his grasping uncle. At the end of her life, Joan was disturbed by a quarrel between her two sons, Richard II and his half-brother John Holland. This eventually lead to a reconciliation between the two, thanks to the effort of their mother. But the strain proved too much for the Dowager Princess of Wales, now fragile at the age of fifty-seven, and died in August 1385 in her castle at Wallingford. According to her will, she was buried not near the Black Prince, but beside her first husband, Sir Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, at Church of the Grey Friars at Stamford.

Joan of Kent, the first Princess of Wales, was a strong character who exercised considerable influence in the years after the Black Prince died. She was a Plantagenet and an heiress, and through her children by Thomas Holland, the ancestress of many English aristocratic families.

Rebel Princess: Mary Rose Tudor

Princess Mary Rose Tudor,
Queen of France,
Duchess of Suffolk

"Nature never formed anything more beautiful." ~ Erasmus

Princess Mary Rose Tudor, the youngest and the favorite sister of England's Henry VIII, was widely considered one of the most beautiful princess of her time. Lively and energetic, she led a rather tempestuous life and the story of her romance with her brother's best friend inspired many novels and movies. Henry's eldest daughter, the future Mary I, and the warship Mary Rose, were named after this princess.

Mary was the baby of the Tudor family. She was the youngest child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York to survive childhood and she was born on March 18, 1496 in Richmond Palace. As a child, she was particularly close to her brother Henry and shared with him an exuberance for spectacle. She was the star of the court and she loved dancing, masques and parties. When she was 14, her father died. The young princess, who was praised for her clear complexion and long reddish-blond hair, enjoyed an unprecedented freedom at court. In the next five years after her father's death, she spent her time virtually unchaperoned in her brother's court, her brother openly encouraging her to participate in every event.

In 1507, when Mary was only 11, she was betrothed to Charles of Castle, the future Holy Roman Emperor. Charles was the nephew of Mary's sister-in-law, Catherine of Aragon, and the marriage was planned for May 1514. However, changes in the political alliances of the European powers meant this wedding didn't take place. Mary was apparently pleased with this, since she probably had no desire to marry a boy four years younger.

As a child, she had developed an attachment to the charming, attractive, robust and athletic Charles Brandon, her brother's best friend. In 1514, she was 19 years old, stunningly beautiful and willful. Her feelings for Charles Brandon had developed into love. Everyone at court knew of her affection. However, Cardinal Wosley negotiated a peace treaty with France and Henry VIII informed her sister that she must marry the widowed King of France. Louis XII was a man in his fifties, with gout and pock-marked face, and Mary was young and at the height of her beauty. Certainly, it was not a pleasing prospect for her. She was crying and sulking; she didn't want to marry Louis, but as a princess she would do her duty. She had her eyes only for the handsome Charles Brandon and he was obviously attracted to the princess. Mary told her brother that after the marriage was over, she would be free to marry the man of her choice. It was an extraordinary demand for any woman at that time, but Henry loved his sister and he agreed.

Mary believed her brother's promise and married Louis XII by proxy at the Greenwich Palace on August 13, 1514. She enjoyed herself at her wedding festivities and its attendant celebrations. She was given a splendid trousseau, marvelous jewels sent from France, and all the honors due to the Queen of France. All contemporary accounts remarked on her great beauty which made her husband all the more eager to see her.

After less than two months, Mary traveled to France. She was described by the Venetian ambassador as "tall, slender and grey-eyed, possessing an extreme pallor". She wore her glorious red-gold hair flowing loose to her waist. After days of travelling, she reached Abbeville and finally met her husband. They were married in that city, followed by weeks of celebration.

Throughout her marriage, Mary remained a complacent wife, biding her time. But her marriage lasted only for 82 days. Louis XII died suddenly on December 31, 1514. Despite his ill health, he had been notably 'active' during his marriage and this may have contributed to his demise. Now a widow, Mary was put in a strict seclusion in the Palace of Cluny for 40 days while they waited to see if she was with a child. She felt alone and terrified. But this gave Mary time to plan. She knew Charles Brandon would be among the contingent sent to France to escort her back to England. She had heard rumors that her brother intended for her to marry a Spanish prince, so she knew she would have to take matters into her own hands to be with the man she wanted. Luckily for Mary, she had an ally in Francis, the new king.

When Charles arrived in Paris, Francis confronted him about his feelings for Mary. Charles then met with Mary herself, where she told him about her plan. She wanted to marry him, but if he didn't feel the same, she would enter a convent rather than be married off for the second time to a man she didn't love. Charles gave in, even though he knew that his King would be very upset at the turn of events.
In the small chapel of the Palais de Cluny, Mary Tudor did the unimaginable for most princesses, she married the man she chose and defy one of the most powerful Kings in Europe. When Henry found out about the marriage, he was furious and blamed Mary for their impetuous decisions. But Mary was his favorite sister and Charles was his dearest friend. After some time, Henry's anger subsided and couple were forgiven. Mary and Charles were married publicly, with the King and Queen in attendance.

The couple lived an essentially happy and quiet life in Westhorpe Hall in Suffolk. Their first child was a son, Henry, who was named after the King. Their second was a daughter who was named Frances, a female version of the name of the King of France - who helped bring their marriage. Their third child was a daughter, Eleanor.

Good friends with her sister-in-law, Catherine of Aragon, Mary supported her against the King during his "great matter" and rejected her former maid-of-honor Anne Boleyn.

Mary's health began to fail in 1533. She died at the relatively early age of 38 in the spring of 1534. Her husband was not with her as he was arranging Anne Boleyn's coronation as Queen. While her brother ordered requiem masses for her, he showed no other signs of mourning. Her husband didn't even attend her funeral, although it was considered to be a marvelous affair. She is buried at the church of St. Mary, in Bury St. Edmonds in Suffolk.

Mary Tudor was an extraordinary woman who had the guts and determination to defy a powerful and sometimes even "feared" King and brother to follow her heart and marry the man she loved. She was brave and felt secure in her love for her older brother. Probably, in my opinion, she was the only Tudor who was completely satisfied with her life - albeit a struggle to achieve.

Further reading:

Mary Tudor, The White Queen by Walter C. Richardson
Henry VIII: King and Court by Alison Weir