argaret of Anjou (1430-82), queen consort
of Henry VI of England. Owing to Henry’s imbecility,
Margaret’s authority was supreme. She strove to uphold the
rights of her son Edward in the wars of the Roses. [World Wide
Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1935]argaret of Anjou (1430-82), queen consort
of Henry VI of England. Owing to Henry’s imbecility,
Margaret’s authority was supreme. She strove to uphold the
rights of her son Edward in the wars of the Roses. [World Wide
Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1935]
Owing to Henry’s weak intellect, Margaret was virtual sovereign. In 1447, she and the Beaufort party had Gloucester arrested for treason; five days later he was found dead in his bed, but there is no there is no proof that he was murdered. The war of 1449, in which Normandy was lost, was laid to her charge. Margaret took up leadership of the Lancastrian faction until her capture at the Battle of Tewkesbury. She lay in the Tower for 4 years until ransomed by Louis XI, retiring to France. {Chamber’s Biographical Dictionary} [GADD.GED]
Margaret of Anjou (1430?-82), queen consort of Henry VI, king of England, a member of the house of Lancaster. Born in France, she was the daughter of René I, duke of Anjou, and was married to Henry in 1445 to confirm a truce between France and England during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). Margaret soon gained power over her weak-minded husband and through him ruled England. She was unpopular because of her autocratic reign and lost much support among the nobility to Richard Plantagenet, 3rd duke of York, who had a strong claim to the English crown.
The birth of Margaret's son, Edward, Prince of Wales, destroyed York's claim to the throne; in 1455 an armed struggle for power, the Wars of the Roses, began between the houses of Lancaster and York (see Roses, Wars of the). During the next 16 years Margaret used the financial and military assets of the Lancastrians to ensure the succession of her son. By 1461 she was forced to go to France to seek financial aid. Although her forces temporarily gained ascendancy, in 1471 the Yorkists triumphed at Tewkesbury and Margaret's son was killed. Richard's son was crowned as King Edward IV, and Margaret was imprisoned. She was ransomed by Louis XI of France, after agreeing to surrender her French possessions to him. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]
