Lady Margaret Beaufort (31 May 1443 – 29 June 1509) was a powerful figure in the late fifteenth century and a key player in the politics of the Wars of the Roses. She was the mother of Henry VII, the first Tudor king, and was related by blood to several English monarchs, including Henry VI, Edward IV, and Richard III.
Descending from King Edward III, Margaret carried a contested royal claim that she helped pass to her son, Henry Tudor. In an era marked by instability and shifting alliances, she worked persistently—through negotiation, planning, and strategic partnerships—to advance Henry’s cause. Her efforts helped lead to Henry’s victory over Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, the turning point that brought the Tudor dynasty to the throne. After Henry became king, Margaret enjoyed unusual influence and independence for a woman of her time, and she became a major patron of religion, education, and culture.
Origins
Margaret was the only child and heiress of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, and Margaret Beauchamp. Through the Beaufort line—descended from John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford—she inherited both great wealth and a politically sensitive connection to the royal family. She was born at Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire, most likely on 31 May 1443.
Early life and marriages
After her father’s death, Margaret became a wealthy ward whose marriage and lands were controlled by others under the feudal system. As a child she was contracted in marriage to John de la Pole, but that union was later dissolved and Margaret did not consider it binding. King Henry VI then arranged her marriage to his half-brother Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Margaret formally agreed to the match while still very young, and she married Edmund in 1455 when she was twelve.
Edmund died in 1456 while Margaret was pregnant. At just thirteen, she gave birth to Henry Tudor at Pembroke Castle on 28 January 1457. The birth was difficult and likely left her unable to have more children. To protect her position and her son’s future, she later married Sir Henry Stafford, and after his death, she married Thomas Stanley, a powerful noble.
Role in the Wars of the Roses
During the Yorkist reign of Edward IV, Margaret had limited access to her son, who was kept under the control of others. After renewed conflict and Lancastrian defeat in 1471, Henry Tudor was taken into exile, and Margaret would not see him again for many years.
Following Edward IV’s death and Richard III’s seizure of the throne in 1483, Margaret became deeply involved in plans to remove Richard. She helped coordinate alliances, including cooperation with Elizabeth Woodville, and supported the proposal that Henry Tudor would marry Elizabeth of York—a match designed to unite Lancastrian and Yorkist factions. After the failure of early uprisings, Richard III moved against Margaret’s property and status, but she continued to communicate and organize support.
In 1485, Henry Tudor returned and defeated Richard III at Bosworth. After Henry became king, Margaret was honored at court as “the King’s Mother” and gained legal independence through a special status that allowed her to hold property and act in law largely as though she were unmarried.
Influence under Henry VII
Margaret remained a central figure in the early Tudor court. Contemporary observers noted that Henry VII relied heavily on her counsel. She took a strong interest in royal family affairs, including household organization and marriage planning, and after her daughter-in-law Elizabeth of York died in 1503, Margaret became the leading female presence at court.
When Henry VII died in April 1509, Margaret helped manage the transition of power, arranging key details surrounding his funeral and the coronation of Henry VIII.
Death and burial
Margaret died on 29 June 1509 at Westminster, only weeks after her grandson Henry VIII’s coronation. She was buried in Westminster Abbey, in the chapel associated with Henry VII, beneath an elaborate tomb created by Pietro Torrigiano.
Legacy
Margaret Beaufort is remembered not only for helping secure the Tudor dynasty, but also for her lasting contributions to education and religion. She founded Christ’s College, Cambridge (1505) and initiated the establishment of St John’s College, Cambridge (completed after her death). She also supported scholarship through endowed professorships in divinity and became known for her religious devotion, patronage of printing, and support for learning. Institutions such as Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, were later named in her honor, reflecting her enduring influence on English academic and cultural life.
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