Familypedia
Register
Advertisement

  • 1503-1513: Queen Consort of Scotland
  • 1513-1514: Regent of Scotland
  • 1524-1525: Regent of Scotland

Lady Margaret Tudor was born 28 November 1489 to Henry VII of England (1457-1509) and Elizabeth of York (1465-1503) and died 18 October 1541 of unspecified causes. She married James IV of Scotland (1473-1513) 1 August 1503 JL in Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom. She married Archibald Douglas (1489-1557) 1 August 1514 JL . She married Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven (c1495-1552) 1 March 1528 JL .

Biography

Margaret Tudor was a notable figure in English and Scottish history, born on November 28, 1489, as the eldest daughter of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. She was also the sister of King Henry VIII, and the wife of James IV, King of Scotland.

Early Life

Margaret Tudor was born in Westminster, London, and was raised alongside her siblings in the royal court. She received an excellent education and was well-versed in languages, music, and literature.

1st Marriage: James IV

In 1502, Margaret married James IV of Scotland, as part of a treaty of peace between England and Scotland. The marriage was seen as a significant event, as it brought the two countries closer together. Margaret became Queen of Scotland and was highly respected by the Scottish people.

The marriage was completed by proxy on 25 January 1503 at Richmond Palace. The Earl of Bothwell was proxy for the Scottish king and wore a gown of cloth-of-gold at the ceremony in the Queen's great chamber. He was accompanied by Robert Blackadder, archbishop of Glasgow, and Andrew Forman, postulate of Moray. The herald, John Young, reported that "right notable jousts" followed the ceremony. Prizes were awarded the next morning, and the tournament continued another day.[1]

The new queen was provided with a large wardrobe of clothes, and her crimson state bed curtains made of Italian sarcenet were embroidered with red Lancastrian roses. Clothes were also made for her companion, Lady Catherine Gordon, the widow of Perkin Warbeck.[2] The clothes were embroidered by John Flee.[3] In May 1503, James IV confirmed her possession of lands and houses in Scotland, including Methven Castle, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Newark Castle in Ettrick Forest, with the incomes from the corresponding earldom and lordship lands.[4]

Later in 1503, months after the death of her mother, Margaret came to Scotland; her progress was a grand journey northward. She left Richmond Palace on 27 June with Henry VII, and they travelled first to Collyweston in Northamptonshire. At York a plaque commemorates the exact spot where the Queen of Scots entered its gates. After crossing the border at Berwick upon Tweed on 1 August 1503, Margaret was met by the Scottish court at Lamberton. At Dalkeith Palace, James came to kiss her goodnight. He came again to console her on 4 August after a stable fire had killed some of her favourite horses. Her riding gear, including a new sumpter cloth or pallion of cloth-of-gold worth £127 was destroyed in the fire.[5]

At a meadow a mile from Edinburgh, there was a pavilion where Sir Patrick Hamilton and Patrick Sinclair played and fought in the guise of knights defending their ladies. On 8 August 1503, the marriage was celebrated in person in Holyrood Abbey. The rites were performed by the archbishop of Glasgow and Thomas Savage, archbishop of York, and Margaret was anointed during the ceremony.[6] Two days later, on St Lawrence's day, Margaret went to mass at St Giles', the town's Kirk, as her first public appointment.[7] The details of the proxy marriage, progress, arrival, and reception in Edinburgh were recorded by the Somerset Herald, John Young.[8]

Margaret and James had six children, including the future King James V of Scotland. Margaret was very devoted to her children and played an active role in their upbringing. Only one child survived infancy.

  1. James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (1507-1508)
  2. Unnamed daughter Stewart (1508-1508)
  3. Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (1509-1510)
  4. James V of Scotland (1512-1542)
  5. Unnamed daughter Stewart (1512-1512)
  6. Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross (1514-1515)

Regency

After James IV's death in the Battle of Flodden in 1513, Margaret became regent of Scotland on behalf of her son, who was only a toddler at the time. She faced many challenges during her regency, including conflicts with powerful Scottish nobles and tensions with England.

Second Marriage: Earl of Angus

In 1514, Margaret married Archibald Douglas (1489-1557), 6th Earl of Angus, a Scottish nobleman. However, the marriage was not a happy one, and Margaret eventually separated from him in 1524.


Third Marriage: Lord Methven

In 1528, Margaret married Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven. They had no issue.[9]

Margaret's coup

In most essentials, Margaret remained an Englishwoman in attitude and outlook, and at root, she genuinely desired a better understanding between the land of her birth and her adopted home. Necessity demanded an alliance with Albany and the French faction, especially after the devastating border wars with England in the early 1520s.

But no sooner was Albany off the scene than she set about organising a party of her own. In 1524, the Regent was finally removed from power in a simple but effective coup d'état. With Albany once more in France (where he was to die in 1536), Margaret, with the help of Arran and the Hamiltons, brought James, now 12 years old, from Stirling to Edinburgh.[10] It was a bold and popular move.

In August, Parliament declared the regency at an end, and James was elevated to full kingly powers. In practice, he would continue to be governed by others, his mother above all. When Beaton objected to the new arrangements, Margaret had him arrested and thrown into jail. In November, Parliament formally recognised Margaret as the chief councillor to the King.


Children


Offspring of James IV of Scotland (1473-1513) and Lady Margaret Tudor
Name Birth Death Joined with
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (1507-1508)
unnamed daughter Stewart (1508-1508)
Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (1509-1510)
James V of Scotland (1512-1542) 10 April 1512 Linlithgow Palace, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, United Kingdom 14 December 1542 Falkland Palace, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom Madeleine of Angoulême (1520-1537)
Mary of Guise (1515-1560)
Margaret Erskine (bef1515-1572)
Helen Stewart (c1518-1564)
Euphemia Elphinstone (1509-aft1541)
unnamed daughter Stewart (1512-1512)
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross (1514-1515)


Offspring of Archibald Douglas (1489-1557) and Lady Margaret Tudor
Name Birth Death Joined with
Margaret Douglas (1515-1578) 18 October 1515 9 March 1578 Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516-1571)


Offspring of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven (c1495-1552) and Lady Margaret Tudor
Name Birth Death Joined with
Dorothea Stewart (1528-c1528)



Siblings


Offspring of Henry VII of England (1457-1509) and Elizabeth of York (1465-1503)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486-1502) 19 September 1486 Winchester Cathedral Priory, Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom 2 April 1502 Ludlow Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)
Margaret Tudor (1489-1541) 28 November 1489 18 October 1541 James IV, King of Scotland (1473-1513)
Archibald Douglas (1489-1557)
Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven (c1495-1552)
Henry VIII of England (1491-1547) 28 June 1491 Greenwich Palace, England, United Kingdom 28 January 1546 Palace of Whitehall, London, England, United Kingdom Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)
Elizabeth Blount (c1502-bef1541)
Mary Boleyn (1503-1543)
Anne Boleyn (c1505-1536)
Jane Seymour (c1509-1537)
Anne of Cleves (1515-1557)
Catherine Howard (c1521-1542)
Catherine Parr (1512-1548)
Elizabeth Tudor (1492-1494) 2 July 1492 Surrey, England, United Kingdom 14 September 1495 Eltham Palace, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Mary Tudor (1496-1533) 18 March 1496 Richmond Palace, Surrey, England, United Kingdom 24 June 1533 Westhorpe Hall, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom Louis XII of Orleans (1462-1515)
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (c1484-1545)
Edmund, Duke of Somerset (1499-c1500) 21 February 1499 Greenwich Palace, Greenwich, Greater London, England, United Kingdom 19 June 1500 Royal Palace of Hatfield, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Katherine Tudor (1503-1503) 2 February 1503 Tower of London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom 10 February 1503 Tower of London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom


Offspring of Henry VII of England (1457-1509) and Unknown Breton concubine (c1455)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Roland de Velville (1474-c1533) 1474 1533 Agnes Griffith (c1474)


See Also

Bibliography

External Links

Ancestry Trees

Contemporary References

Some of the best contemporary references for Margaret Tudor, include:

  1. "Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII" - This collection of letters and papers from the reign of Margaret's brother, King Henry VIII, contains many references to Margaret and her activities.
  2. "The Correspondence of Reginald Pole" - Reginald Pole was a Catholic cardinal and theologian who corresponded extensively with Margaret during her time as regent of Scotland. His letters provide valuable insight into Margaret's political and religious views.
  3. "The Life of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland" by Margaret Sanderson - This biography, first published in 1903, remains one of the most comprehensive accounts of Margaret's life and reign.
  4. "Margaret Tudor: A Life" by Melanie Clegg - This more recent biography, published in 2018, offers a fresh perspective on Margaret's life, drawing on new research and archival sources.
  5. "The Tudors" - This television series, which aired from 2007 to 2010, includes a portrayal of Margaret Tudor by actress Gabrielle Anwar. While the series takes some liberties with historical accuracy, it offers an entertaining and visually stunning depiction of Margaret's life and times.

Original Citations

The Chronicles of Scotland

Here is a contemporary account of the marriage of Margaret Tudor to James IV of Scotland, as recorded by the Scottish chronicler, Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, in his work The Chronicles of Scotland. This account provides a vivid picture of the grandeur and ceremony surrounding Margaret Tudor's arrival and marriage to James IV of Scotland, as well as the enthusiasm and excitement of the Scottish people for the union of their king and queen. (Original Scots language)

"On the aught day of August, the king past to the abbay of Halierudhous, for to meit his bride, the princess of Ingland, and ressavit hir with gret reverens and gladnes. And the said king James was accompanyit with all the prelatis, erllis, lordis, baronis, and frehaldaris of his realme, cled in thair richast clething, and convoyit the said princes in the maist solempne maneir thai culd devyss, to the castell of Edinburgh, quhair ane royall feist was preparit for the haill cumpany. And eftir the said feist was endit, the said king and quene wer maryit in the gret hall of the said castell, with gret joy and triumphe, be the bischope of Dunkeld, and thair was sic rejoyssing, triumpheing, and banketing, as had not bene seine for mony yeris afore in Scotland."

English Translation: "On the 8th day of August [1503], the King passed to the abbey of Holyroodhouse to meet his bride, the Princess of England, and he received her with great reverence and gladness. And the said King James was accompanied with all the prelates, earls, lords, barons, and freeholders of his realm, clothed in their richest attire, and conveyed the said Princess in the most solemn manner they could devise to the castle of Edinburgh, where a royal feast was prepared for the whole company. And after the said feast was ended, the said King and Queen were married in the great hall of the said castle, with great joy and triumph, by the Bishop of Dunkeld, and there was such rejoicing, triumphing, and banqueting, as had not been seen for many years before in Scotland."

Royal Succession Chart

Margaret Tudor (1489-1541)
Born: 28 November 1489 Died: 18 October 1541
Scottish royaltyWp globe tiny
Vacant
Title last held by
Margaret of Denmark
Queen consort of Scotland
8 August 1503 – 9 September 1513
Vacant
Title next held by
Madeleine of France

References

  1. ^ Leland (1770, pp. 258–264)
  2. ^ Bain (1888, pp. 419–425)
  3. ^ Samuel Bentley, Excerpta Historica: Or, Illustrations of English History (London, 1831), p. 130.
  4. ^ Bain (1888, pp. 342–345), nos. 1707–1718.
  5. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 214–215.
  6. ^ Leland (1770, p. 294)
  7. ^ Buchanan (1985, pp. 30–32)
  8. ^ Leland (1770, pp. 258–300)
  9. ^ Douglas Richardson. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd Edition, 2011, pg 589
  10. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ashley


Footnotes (including sources)

Thurstan, Afil, Phlox, Rtol, MainTour


Advertisement