Born – 31st May 1443
Died – 29th June 1509
Father – John Beaufort (1404 – 1444)
Mother – Margaret Beauchamp (c1410 – c1482)
Spouses – m. 1450 annul. 1453 – John de la Pole (1442 – 1492); m. 1455 – Edmund Tudor (1430 – 1456); m. 1458 – Henry Stafford (1425 – 1471); m. 1472 – Thomas Stanley (1435 – 1504)
Children – by Edmund Tudor – King Henry VII (1457 – 1509)
Known to History – Mother of King Henry VII
1443 (31st May)
Margaret Beaufort, was born to Margaret Beauchamp and John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset at Bletsoe Castle, Bedfordshire. She was styled Lady Margaret Beaufort.
1444 (27th May)
Margaret’s father died. It is thought that he may have committed suicide after a failed campaign in France for which he was about to be charged with treason.
1444 (after 27th May)
Margaret, a wealthy heiress to her father’s fortune, became the ward of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, chief advisor to King Henry VI.
1447 (during)
Margaret’s mother married Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles.
1449 (28th January)
Margaret was contracted to marry John de la Pole, son of her guardian.
1450 (February)
A marriage ceremony for the marriage of Margaret to John de la Pole took place.
1450 (August)
A papal dispensation allowing the marriage of Margaret and John de la Pole, who were related, arrived from Rome.
1452 (during)
Henry VI removed Margaret from the guardianship of William de la Pole and instead placed her as a ward of his two half-brothers, Edmund and Jasper Tudor.
1453 (before 24th March)
Margaret’s marriage to John de la Pole was annulled.
1455 (during)
Margaret married Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond, half brother of King Henry VI being the son of Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois, widow of Henry V. Margaret was styled Countess of Richmond.
1455 (22nd May)
The Wars of the Roses began. This was a conflict between the York and Lancastrian branches of Edward III’s descendants. Margaret’s family and her new husband supported the Lancastrians.
1456 (3rd November)
Margaret’s husband, Edmund Tudor died of the plague in prison at Carmarthen Castle. He had been captured by the Yorkists and imprisoned. Margaret became known as the Dowager Countess of Richmond.
1456 (November)
Margaret, who was seven months pregnant asked her brother-in-law Jasper Tudor for protection. She took up residence with Jasper at Pembroke Castle.
1457 (28th January)
A son, Henry, was born to Margaret Beaufort and posthumously Edmund Tudor at Pembroke Castle. He inherited his father’s title Duke of Richmond from birth. The birth was difficult for 13 year old Margaret and she never conceived again.
1457 (6th April)
A dispensation was granted that allowed Margaret to marry her second cousin Henry Stafford.
1458 (3rd January)
Margaret married Henry Stafford, her second cousin, son of the Duke of Buckingham at Maxstoke Castle. She was styled Lady Stafford.
1461 (4th March)
The Yorkist Edward, Duke of York, took the throne as King Edward IV.
1462 (February)
Edward IV gave Pembroke Castle to William Lord Herbert and arranged for Margaret’s son, Henry Tudor aged five years, to become his ward. Margaret was able to keep in touch with her young son through letters and occasional visits.
1466 (during)
Edward IV granted Margaret and Henry Stafford the former Beaufort manor of Woking in Surrey.
1467 (during)
Margaret visited her son, Henry Tudor at Raglan Castle.
1470 (30th October)
Henry VI was restored to the throne after Edward IV was forced to flee to Burgundy.
1470 (after 30th October)
King Henry VI allowed Margaret to spend more time with her son.
1471 (14th April)
Margaret’s husband, Henry Stafford, was badly injured fighting for Edward IV in the Battle of Barnet.
1471 (22nd May)
Edward IV returned as King. It is believed Henry VI was murdered on the same day.
1471 (June)
Margaret’s son, Henry Tudor, was taken to Brittany for his own safety by his uncle Jasper Tudor.
1471 (4th October)
Margaret’s husband, Henry Stafford, died of injuries sustained in battle in April. Margaret took steps to ensure that her estates would remain in trust for her son.
1472 (12th June)
Margaret married Thomas Stanley. Stanley was steward to Edward IV and it is thought that Margaret chose to marry him in order to gain favour with Edward IV and so protect her son’s interests. She was styled Lady Stanley.
1472 (after June)
Margaret became good friends with Edward IV’s widow Elizabeth Woodville.
1480 (late November)
Margaret was given the honour of carrying Princess Bridget to her christening. Bridget was the youngest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville.
1482 (June)
Margaret’s mother, Margaret Beauchamp, died.
1483 (during)
Margaret commissioned a book to be printed by William Caxton. The book was a a French romance entitled ‘Blanchardin et Englantine’.
1483 (9th April)
King Edward IV died at the Palace of Westminster. He was succeeded by his young son Edward V and his brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester, was named Protector.
1483 (after 9th April)
Richard III placed the two sons of Edward IV, Edward and Richard in the Tower of London. They were seen playing in the early summer but then disappeared.
1483 (26th June)
Richard Duke of Gloucester took the throne as King Richard III. It had emerged that Edward IV had been contracted to marry Eleanor Butler when he married Elizabeth Woodville and so their marriage was invalid and their children illegitimate. Margaret and her husband supported Richard III at this point.
1483 (6th July)
Margaret carried Queen Anne Neville’s train at the coronation of Richard III and Anne.
1483 (after July)
Richard passed an Act that stripped Margaret of her titles and possessions.
1483 (Autumn)
Margaret and Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV, worked to effect Henry Tudor’s taking the throne. They agreed that Henry would marry Elizabeth of York once his position was secure.
1483 (Autumn)
Margaret persuaded the Duke of Buckingham, nephew of Margaret’s third husband, Henry Stafford, to support Henry Tudor and he raised an army ready to support Henry Tudor’s return later in the year.
1483 (2nd November)
Buckingham’s army was assembled ready for Henry Tudor’s arrival, but unfortunately bad weather had delayed this. Richard III’s army met Buckingham and defeated him. Buckingham was captured and executed by beheading.
1483 (December)
Henry Tudor publicly swore an oath stating that once he was King he would marry Elizabeth of York.
1483 (after December)
Margaret was placed in the custody of her husband and her property and her son’s inheritance were taken by Richard III.
1485 (7th August)
Margaret’s son, Henry Tudor, landed at Milford Haven at the head of an army.
1485 (22nd August)
Battle of Bosworth Field
This was a decisive battle between the forces of Henry Tudor and Richard III. Margaret’s husband, Lord Stanley, decided to switch allegiance and fight for Henry Tudor on the day of the battle. Richard was killed on the battlefield and Henry was proclaimed King on the battlefield.
This was a decisive battle between the forces of Henry Tudor and Richard III. Margaret’s husband, Lord Stanley, decided to switch allegiance and fight for Henry Tudor on the day of the battle. Richard was killed on the battlefield and Henry was proclaimed King on the battlefield.
1485 (30th October)
Margaret’s son, Henry Tudor, was crowned King Henry VII. Following the coronation Margaret regained the titles Countess of Richmond and Derby but was more usually styled ‘My Lady the King’s Mother’.
1486 (18th January)
Margaret’s son, King Henry VII, married Elizabeth of York, daughter of King Edward IV.
1486 (20th September)
Margaret’s grandson, Prince Arthur was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Saint Swithun’s Priory in Winchester.
1488 (during)
Margaret was made a Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter.
1489 (during)
Margaret commissioned an English translation of her favourite book Blanchardin et Englantine from William Caxton.
1489 (28th November)
Margaret’s granddaughter and namesake, Princess Margaret was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at the Palace of Westminster.
1491 (28th June)
Margaret’s grandson, Prince Henry was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Greenwich Palace.
1492 (2nd July)
Margaret’s granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Sheen Palace in Surrey.
1494 (during)
Margaret chose Catholic priest, John Fisher to be her Chaplain and Confessor
1495 (14th September)
Margaret’s granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth died of atrophy at Eltham Palace.
1495 (21st December)
Margaret’s brother-in-law, Jasper Tudor, died
1496 (18th March)
Margaret’s granddaughter, Mary was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Richmond Palace.
1497 (during)
Margaret Beaufort declared that she would like to build a free school in Wimborne.
1499 (during)
Margaret took a vow of chastity and made her home at Collyweston, Northamptonshire. Her husband gave her permission to take the vow and also to live independently.
1499 (21st February)
Margaret’s grandson, Prince Edmund, was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Greenwich Palace.
1500 (19th June)
Margaret’s grandson, Prince Edmund, died at the Old Palace, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
1501 (14th November)
Margaret’s grandson, Prince Arthur, married Catherine of Aragon at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
1502 (during)
Margaret set up the Lady Margaret’s Professorship of Divinity at Cambridge University.
1502 (2nd April)
Margaret’s grandson, Prince Arthur, died at Ludlow Castle.
1503 (2nd February)
Margaret’s granddaughter, Princess Katherine, was born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at the Tower of London.
1503 (11th February)
Margaret’s daughter-in-law, Elizabeth of York, died of complications following the birth of Princess Katherine at the Tower of London.
1503 (18th February)
Margaret’s granddaughter, Katherine, died at the Tower of London.
1503 (8th August)
Margaret’s granddaughter, Princess Margaret married James IV of Scotland.
1504 (29th July)
Margaret’s husband, Thomas Stanley, died at Lathorn, Lancashire.
1505 (during)
Margaret founded Christ’s College, Cambridge.
1509 (21st April)
Margaret’s son, King Henry VII, died of tuberculosis. He was succeeded by his son, Margaret’s grandson, King Henry VIII.
1509 (after 21st April)
Margaret made the arrangements for her son’s funeral. At the same time she planned her grandson, Henry VIII’s coronation. She also took control of government and formed a new council. Members of the council included Thomas Howard, Thomas Ruthall, William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry Marnay and Richard Fox.
1509 (11th May)
King Henry VII was buried in Westminster Abbey. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester led the service.
1509 (29th June)
Margaret died in the Deanery of Westminster Abbey. She was buried in the Henry VII Chapel.
1509 (after 29th June)
As directed by Margaret before she died, Wimborne School was built.
1511 (during)
St John’s College, Cambridge was founded with money from Margaret’s estate.
Published Aug 15, 2017 @ 8:24 am – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2017 – 2020). Margaret Beaufort 1443 – 1509 Timeline. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/margaret-beaufort-1443-1509 Last accessed [date]