The War of the Roses

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I'm reading a series by Phillipa Gregory entitled the Cousins War, which details the battle between the houses of York and Lancaster in 15th Century England.  Very interesting story that would make directors blanch to tell their stories on the big screen today.  For example, the two ladies at the center of the story commit vile acts to keep their families in power.  Everyone in England appears to have acted only for their own glory...if someone acted for honor, they were ridiculed as weak and ignorant.  Christian values went out the window as they all bent a knee to receive God's grace and favor.  Hypocrisy at it's best.  Although I'm not quite finished with The Red Queen, I couldn't help but share these people from the past and some of their actions that make them infamous. 



This is Elizabeth Woodville (House of York - White Rose)
She purposely used her rare beauty to woo the King into marriage.  Her mother openly practiced witchcraft and every girl in the family was said to have the "sight".  They believed that the mother's family line could be traced back to a river goddess.  Thus, her maiden name = Rivers.  She was known to use her "talents" to bring mist and floods to help her husband win battles or escape to safety.  In almost every portrait painted of her, I find her to be somewhat beautiful.  Therefore, she really must have been an attractive woman. Her oldest daughter, however, was just as beautiful but less cunning. She predicted she would marry for love and would one day be on the throne herself.  She was right.  She falls in love with her own uncle, the ruthless King Richard III who had her father killed.  After an important battle or two, she actually marries Henry Tudor and eventually gives birth to Henry VIII.  

Margaret Beaufort (House of Lancaster - Red Rose)
Okay, get a load of this lady!  Pay close attention, because her story is tricky.
She is not only crude looking in every portrait I could find, but she must have been a master of manipulation.  She thought she was born to be a nun and professed herself as a saint, the next Joan of Arc.  She spent untold hours in prayer, having four hours of scheduled prayer a day.  Whenever anyone would ask what her plans were, she would say whatever was "God's will".  I shuddered when I read the scene in which she suggests the Duke of Buckingham slaughter Elizabeth's sons, age 14 and 9.  According to legend, he did, although that cannot be proven.  They disappeared and their disappearance is still a mystery.  Her third husband, who was just as ruthless, saw her for what she was and called her out on it...he suggested that she thought that God worked for her.  As you can see in this portrait, she is holding a book of prayers.  Guess who wrote them?  Yep, Miss Margaret.  I wish I could say that the beautiful Elizabeth came out on top, but instead it is Margaret's son who inherits the throne.  Henry Tudor.  Recognize the name?  Ever heard of a fella named Henry VIII?  Her one and only bloodline.  Scary.  Oh, and did I mention that she fell in love with her first husband's brother?  That she married her third husband with a marriage contract that stated they would NOT consummate the marriage? 

This is The Tower of London, where much of this story takes place.  Also, if you're a Shakespeare fan, you'll recognize a lot of this story from Richard III.  The Tower is famous for holding Anne Boleyn before her beheading and for the legendary drowning of King Edward's brother, George, in a large vat of wine.  The Tower has been used as a prison, a sanctuary, and a fortress. Now, it holds the crown jewels.  In this story, the Tower is as much a character as any other. 

This handsome fella (cough, cough) is none other than Henry Tudor, Margaret Beaufort's baby boy.  He was protected most of his life by his uncle Jasper, and eventually becomes King Henry VII after winning an important battle.  He claims as his wife the daughter of Elizabeth Woodville.  Yep, that's right.  He's going to blend the rivaling houses together and bring peace to England.  The white and red rose no longer exist.  The Tudor rose is in fact, an authentic white/red blend.  Literally and figuratively.  Of course, he dies and leaves his kingdom to his son, Henry VIII.  And that's another story completely!!!

As promised, here's Henry Tudor's wife, young Elizabeth (you know, the one that had the hots for her uncle Richard? gag)  Despite all of her river talents, she couldn't keep her husband alive forever and her darling son eventually ruled the kingdom and took to him 6 wives.  You know the ones....

Perhaps the most important symbol taken from this story should be the Tudor Rose.  Here is an example I found and think it's quite an interesting combination.  Wonder if the houses fought over who would inhabit the center?  Probably.





Thank you for indulging my sudden need to see these people and record my thoughts.  To help meet my reading resolution, I'm attempting to read slower and absorb the details.  This helps.  Perhaps you'll try something visual like this.  I've used this before when the characters become too many to remember....created a word document with images taken from the Internet that "match" what I think the characters look like.

Now back to reading...even though I know the end of the story.  I just have to see what else Margaret has planned for Elizabeth!

Happy Reading!
RC