Biography of Elizabeth of York, Queen of England

Elizabeth of York (February 11, 1466–February 11, 1503) was a key figure in Tudor history and in the Wars of the Roses. She was the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville; Queen of England and Queen Consort of Henry VII; and the mother of Henry VIII, Mary  Tudor, and Margaret Tudor, the only woman in history to have been daughter, sister, niece, wife, and mother to English kings. Fast Facts: Elizabeth of York Known For: Queen of England, mother of Henry VIIIBorn: February 11, 1466 in London, EnglandParents: Edward IV and Elizabeth WoodvilleDied:  February 11, 1503 in London, EnglandEducation: Trained in the palace as a future QueenSpouse: Henry VII  (m. January 18, 1486)Children: Arthur, Prince of Wales (September 20, 1486–April 2, 1502); Margaret Tudor (November 28, 1489–October 18, 1541) who married King James IV of Scotland); Henry VIII, King of England (June 18, 1491–January 28, 1547); Elizabeth (July 2, 1492–September 14, 1495); Mary Tudor (March 18, 1496–June 25, 1533) married King Louis XII of France; Edmund, Duke of Somerset (February 21, 1499–June 19, 1500); and Katherine (February 2, 1503) Early Life Elizabeth of York, known alternatively as Elizabeth Plantagenet, was born on February 11, 1466, at Westminster Palace in London, England. She was the eldest of the nine children of Edward IV, king of England (ruled 1461–1483) and his wife Elizabeth Woodville (sometimes spelled Wydeville). Her parents marriage had created trouble, and her father was briefly deposed in 1470. By 1471, likely challengers to her fathers throne had been defeated and killed. Elizabeths early years were spent in comparative calm, despite the disagreements and battles going on around her. She likely began her formal education in the palace by age 5 or 6, and learned history and alchemy from her father and his library. She and her sisters were taught by ladies-in-waiting, and by observing Elizabeth Woodville in action, the skills and accomplishments considered appropriate for future queens. That included reading and writing in English, mathematics, and household management, as well as needlework, horsemanship, music, and dancing. She spoke some French, but not fluently. In 1469, at the age of 3, Elizabeth was betrothed to George Neville, but it was called off when his father supported Edward VIIs rival, the Earl of Warwick. In August 29, 1475, Elizabeth was 11 and, as part of the Treaty of Picquigny, she became betrothed to Louis XIs son, the Dauphin Charles, who at the time was 5 years old. Louis reneged on the treaty in 1482.   Death of Edward IV In 1483, with the sudden death of her father Edward IV, Elizabeth of York was at the center of the storm, as the eldest child of King Edward IV. Her younger brother was declared Edward V, but because he was 13, his fathers brother Richard Plantagenet was named regent protector. Before Edward V could be crowned, Richard imprisoned him and his younger brother Richard in the Tower of London. Richard Plantagenet took the English crown as Richard III, and had the marriage of Elizabeth of Yorks parents declared invalid, claiming Edward IV had been betrothed before the marriage had occurred. Though Elizabeth of York was by that declaration made illegitimate, Richard III was rumored to have had plans to marry her. Elizabeths mother, Elizabeth Woodville, and Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian claiming to be heir to the throne, planned another future for Elizabeth of York: marriage to Henry Tudor when he overthrew Richard III. The two princes, the only surviving male heirs of Edward IV, disappeared. Some have assumed that Elizabeth Woodville must have known, or at least guessed, that her sons, the Princes in the Tower, were already dead because she put her efforts into her daughters marriage to Henry Tudor. Henry Tudor Richard III was killed on the battlefield in 1485, and Henry Tudor (Henry VII) succeeded him, declared himself King of England by right of conquest. He delayed some months in marrying the Yorkist heiress, Elizabeth of York, until after his own coronation. They were married in January 1486, gave birth to their first child, Arthur, in September, and she was crowned Queen of England in November 25, 1487. Their marriage established the Tudor dynasty of the British crown. Her marriage to Henry VII brought together the House of Lancaster which Henry VII represented (though he grounded his claim to the crown of England in conquest, not birth), and the House of York, which Elizabeth represented. The symbolism of a Lancastrian king marrying a Yorkist queen brought together the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York, ending the Wars of the Roses. Henry adopted the Tudor Rose as his symbol, colored both red and white. Children Elizabeth of York apparently lived peacefully in her marriage. She and Henry had seven children, four surviving to adulthood—a fairly decent percentage for the time. Three of the four became kings or queens in their own right: Margaret Tudor (November 28, 1489–October 18, 1541) who married King James IV of Scotland); Henry VIII, King of England (June 18, 1491–January 28, 1547); Elizabeth (July 2, 1492–September 14, 1495); Mary Tudor (March 18, 1496–June 25, 1533) married King Louis XII of France; Edmund, Duke of Somerset (February 21, 1499–June 19, 1500); and Katherine (February 2, 1503). Their oldest son, Arthur, Prince of Wales (September 20, 1486–April 2, 1502) married Catherine of Aragon, a third cousin of both Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, in 1501. Catherine and Arthur became ill with sweating sickness soon after, and Arthur died in 1502. Death and Legacy Its been surmised that Elizabeth became pregnant again to try to have another male heir for the throne after Arthurs death, in case the surviving son, Henry died. Bearing heirs was, after all, one of the most crucial responsibilities of a queen consort, especially to the hopeful founder of a new dynasty, the Tudors. If so, it was a mistake. Elizabeth of York died in the Tower of London on February 11, 1503, at the age 37, of complications of the birth of her seventh child, a girl named Katherine, who died at birth on February 2. Only three of Elizabeths children survived at her death: Margaret, Henry, and Mary. Elizabeth of York is buried at the Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey. The relationship of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York is not well-documented, but there are several surviving documents which suggest a tender and loving relationship. Henry was said to have withdrawn in sorrow at her death; he never remarried, though it might have been advantageous diplomatically to do so; and he spent lavishly for her funeral, though he was usually quite tight with money. Fictional Representations Elizabeth of York is a character in Shakespeares Richard III. She has little to say there; she is merely a pawn to be married to either Richard III or Henry VII. Because she is the last Yorkist heir (assuming her brothers, the Princes in the Tower, have been killed), her childrens claim to the crown of England will be more secure. Elizabeth of York is also one of the major characters in the 2013 series  The White Queen  and is the key character in 2017 series The White Princess. Elizabeth of Yorks picture is the usual depiction of a queen in card decks. Sources License, Amy. Elizabeth of York: The Forgotten Tudor Queen. Gloucestershire, Amberley Publishing, 2013.Naylor Okerlund, Arlene. Elizabeth of York. New York: St. Martins Press, 2009.Weir, Alison. Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World. New York: Ballantine Books, 2013.

The Theme of Freedom and Childhood in Jane Eyre - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 455 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/04/29 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Childhood Essay Freedom Essay Jane Eyre Essay Did you like this example? Jane Eyre From her trials during childhood with her abusive Aunt and relatives, to her time at Lowood, her affection for Mr. Rochester, and her teaching and encounters with the Rivers. Jane learns many valuable and worthwhile lessons throughout the book. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Theme of Freedom and Childhood in Jane Eyre" essay for you Create order From childhood Jane was forthright, and slowly she learned how to stand up for herself; starting with her reproaching John Reed for hitting her. The outcome of this unfortunately lead to Jane being sent to Lowood an institution for orphans; there it was very harsh, cold, and mean, but Jane was lucky enough to make friends with Helen and also Miss Temple. Jane remained at the school for eight years, six as a student and two as a teacher. Finally with the education she had gained she became a governess at Thornfield Manor for a French girl named Adele. Jane worked under the command of Mr. Rochester. The many events that happen at Thornfield cause Jane to feel many different emotions; joy, despair, frustration, love and hope. She finally becomes a teacher and lives with the Rivers. Later finding out she has an inheritance from her uncle. Which she shares with the Rivers. Theres a lot to this book and Jane changes a lot. from Gateshead to Lowood school, Jane freedom andwas no longer confined to her cruel aunts house. No more bully, no more ignorance and no more loneliness, Jane was able to adjust herself into a normal girl. Through learning from Helen and God, since Lowood School was Christian, Jane realized the sense of obedience. This learning helped her attitude to accept challenges and difficulties, instead of complaining. Her life at Lowood gave her peace even with the poor living condition. From Lowood to Thornfield, even freedom was given both mentally and physically since there were less rules. Jane had to set her own rules and give direction to herself. Her confidence and thoughts caught Mr. Rochesters attention. After the outbreak of Mr. Rochesters former marriage, Jane remained calm. Jane kept aware of her self-worth and left Thornfield to keep learning and to keep searching for her own meaning of life. From Thornfield to Moor house, she lost everything herself. Without the job at Thornfield, she was poor. While she stayed at the Moor House, Jane was given a job to help St. John to manage the school. From Moor House to Ferdean Manor, with her uncles fortune, Jane had become a wealthy, independent, woman. Instead, great difference was made when she was back to help Mr. Rochester. Compared to how she went to him before poor and needing help to now going to the opposite. I told you I am independent, sir, as well as rich: I am my own mistress.

The Road Not Taken Free Essays

The poem â€Å"Road Not Take;† by Robert Frost explores decision making as part of a complex nature of human race involving contradictory emotions of fear for unknown future, regret for the possible wrong choice and acceptance and pride in defining an individual. The lack of foresight and fear for choosing wrongly result the hesitance in making choices. The diverged roads symbolises choosing between two decisions. We will write a custom essay sample on The Road Not Taken or any similar topic only for you Order Now The inverted word order â€Å"long I stood† emphasizes the length of time Frost has taken to try and speculate about the features about each path. However, he fails to comprehend what lays beyond as the second path is â€Å"just as fair† as the first one, revealing the lack of insight contributing to the uncertainty in making decisions. Although the alliteration, â€Å"wanted wear†, hints the second road is not a popular choice, Frost has chosen it to be different, yet his insecurity about the future still makes him doubting his decision with the word choice of â€Å"perhaps†. Although eventually a choice is made, Frost is still unsure his decision and the regret for choosing possibly wrongly. In the title, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the word â€Å"not† shows him wandering the result of choosing the well accepted road thus illustrate his regret in choosing the probable harder path. The emotional attachment with â€Å"knowing way leads on to way†, his acknowledges the impossibility to face the same decision again and regret the hardship faced in the unconventional path. The exclamation mark in â€Å"Oh, I kept the first for another day† expresses his desire to have an opportunity to re-choose. After experiencing the fear and regret in making decision, the tone of poem turns and accepted towards end of the poem. The phrase of road â€Å"less travelled by† illustrates his gratification to be different and accept his unique choosing. The enjambment of â€Å"I-/ I took the one less travelled by† emphasises on â€Å"I†, which demonstrates a sense of pride in being who he is. The poem ends with â€Å"all the difference† reveals his recognition of his less accepted choice defining who he is as an individual. The complex nature of decision making is explored in â€Å"Road Not Taken† thoroughly with effective techniques. Lack of foresight results fear for choosing wrongly and ambivalent decisions. Regrets for making the less chosen road leaves one to wander the result of the widely accepted road. Making decision involves acceptance and pride also as it defines an individual separate from others. Decision making can happen uncountable times in a lifetime and determination and unique thoughts are required no matter which road one chooses. How to cite The Road Not Taken, Essay examples