Tudor Matriarch: Mother-in-Law from Hell or The Good Wife? (ep 55)

As the first Tudor King, we recognize Henry VII as the patriarch,
so his wife Elizabeth of York could be seen as the natural
matriarch. Elizabeth represented the Yorkist claim to the throne,
so she was an essential part of the story of the Tudors
representing the union of York and Lancaster. She bore the King
four children who survived infancy and early childhood, providing
two sons—an heir and a spare. This guaranteed the continuation of
the dynasty. Definitely a successful matriarch! 

On the other hand, Henry VII’s mother Margaret Beaufort was the
driving force in keeping Henry Tudor alive and safe. She also
kept the possibility of his taking the throne a real thing. She
managed to be successful in the courts of both Lancaster and York
and to develop relationships with supporters of both sides.
Without her influence, it’s hard to imagine Henry Tudor being
able to assemble the level of support (including Stanley’s
troops) to defeat Richard III and be accepted as King. Also the
work of a successful matriarch.

These women weren’t traditional Queen Mothers. Margaret Beaufort
had never been Queen, married to the King. Although Henry Tudor’s
claim to the throne came through her, she never claimed the
throne for herself. Elizabeth of York was married to the King,
but she died before her husband and thus was never a Queen
Dowager or Queen Mother. 

Nevertheless, Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth of York shaped the
early Tudor monarchy and helped establish the strength of the
dynasty that would last more than a hundred years and continues
to capture and hold our attention. We’re going to consider them
in tandem and not in competition: two women, both mothers, who
put the family business on the fast track to success.

Henry VII had commissioned extraordinary tombs for himself and
Elizabeth and for Margaret in the beautiful Henry VII Lady Chapel
in Westminster Abbey. The grand tomb of Henry and Elizabeth was
designed by Italian sculptor Pietro Torrigiano. The tomb base is
topped by the bronze effigies of the King and Queen. Angels sit
at each corner of the tomb, supporting the royal coat of arms.
Margaret Beaufort’s tomb rests is to the right of Henry and
Elizabeth’s. Her effigy was also created by Torrigiano in gilt
bronze. She is dressed in a widow’s dress and hood; her
portcullis badge and the Tudor rose surround her. At the west and
east ends of her tomb chest are the arms of Edmund Tudor and
Thomas Stanley; on the south side are the arms of Henry VII and
Elizabeth of York, and on the north side are the arms of Henry
VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII, and Elizabeth of York created the
Tudor dynasty. Henry had been the monarch, but without the
extraordinary contributions of Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth of
York, the dynasty could not have succeeded. It was not a case of
the “Good Wife” versus “The Mother-in-Law from hell.” It was two
strong women leaving their own special mark on their family and
the nation.


History shows us what's possible.