by Alison Weir
Jaspar had the following illegitimate issue:
By Mevanvy (d. by 1485?), a Welshwoman:
1 Helen or Ellen; she married William Gardiner of London, and had issue.
Jaspar married, before 7 November, 1485:
Katherine
She was the daughter of Richard Wydville, 1st Earl Rivers, by Jacquetta of Luxembourg ( see here, under Henry IV), and sister to Elizabeth, wife of Edward IV. She was born before 1458. She married firstly Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (1455?–executed 1483), in c.February, 1466, and had issue:
1 Edward, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478–executed 1521); he married Eleanor (d.1530), daughter of Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland, and had issue.
2 Henry, Earl of Wiltshire (1479?–1523); he married firstly Muriel or Margaret, daughter of Edward Grey, Viscount de Lisle, and secondly Cecilia (d.1529), daughter of William Bonville, Baron Harington.
3 Humphrey (d. young).
4 Anne; she married first Sir Walter Herbert (d.1507), and secondly George Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon (1488–1544), and had issue.
5 Elizabeth (d.1532); she married Robert Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex (d.1542). She was also the first recorded mistress of Henry VIII. After the death of Jaspar, Katherine married thirdly Sir Richard Wingfield of Kimbolton Castle, Hunts. (1468–1525). She died before 1513.
(d) Daughter (name not known)
Polydore Vergil, Henry VII’s official historian, says she became a nun, and there is no reason to doubt this, although no other source mentions her.
(e) Margaret or Katherine
She was born in January, 1437, at the Abbey of St Saviour, Bermondsey, London, where she died shortly after her birth.
Katherine died on 3 January, 1437, at the Abbey of St Saviour, Bermondsey, London, in childbirth, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Issue of marriage:
1 Henry VI ( see here).
HENRY V
He died on 31 August/1 September, 1422, at the Castle of Bois-de Vincennes, France, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
He was succeeded by his son Henry.
Henry VI
* * *
FATHER: Henry V ( see here).
MOTHER: Katherine of France ( see here, under Henry V).
SIBLINGS: Henry VI did not have any legitimate siblings.
HENRY VI
He was born on 6 December, 1421, at Windsor Castle. He is said to have been designated Duke of Cornwall from birth. He succeeded his father Henry V as King of England on 1 September, 1422, and his grandfather, Charles VI of France, as King of France on 11 October, 1422, in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Troyes (1420) which settled the French succession upon Henry V and his heirs. Henry VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 5/6 November, 1429, and at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris on 16/17 December, 1431. He assumed personal rule on 12 November, 1437.
Henry VI was deposed in favour of Edward, Duke of York (Edward IV), on 4 March, 1461. He was restored to the throne on 30 October, 1470 – this was known as ‘the Readeption’ – but deposed again in favour of Edward IV on 11 April, 1471.
Henry VI married, by proxy on 24 May, 1444, at the Cathedral of St Martin, Tours, France, and in person on 23 April, 1445, at Titchfield Abbey, Hampshire:
Margaret
She was the daughter of René, Duke of Anjou and King of Naples and Sicily, by Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine, daughter of Charles I, Duke of Lorraine, and she was born on 23 March, 1429, at Pont-à-Mousson, Lorraine. She was crowned on 30 May, 1445, in Westminster Abbey. She died on 25 August, 1482, at Château Dampierre, Anjou, and was buried in St Maurice’s Cathedral, Angers, Anjou.
Issue of marriage:
1 Edward
He was born on 13 October, 1453, at the Palace of Westminster, and was Duke of Cornwall from birth. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 15 March, 1454, and invested with the principality of Wales on 9 June, 1454, at Windsor Castle. He was also made a Knight of the Garter. He was killed, or perhaps murdered by the Yorkists, on 4 May, 1471, at the Battle of Tewkesbury, and was buried in Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucs.
Edward married on 13 December, 1470, at Château d’Amboise, France:
Anne
She was the daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, by Anne, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and she was born on 11 June, 1456, at Warwick Castle. After the death of Edward, she married Richard, Duke of Gloucester ( see here, under Richard III, for further details of her life).
HENRY VI
He was murdered on 21 May, 1471, almost certainly on the orders of Edward IV. Henry was buried in Chertsey Abbey, Surrey, but was removed to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in 1485. He had already been succeeded by his distant cousin Edward IV.
Edward IV
* * *
FATHER: Richard
He was the son of Richard, Earl of Cambridge (son of the fourth surviving son of Edward III), by Anne Mortimer (great-granddaughter of the second surviving son of Edward III), and he was born on 21 September, 1411/12. He married Cecily Neville before 18 October, 1424. Although the dukedom of York had been forfeited when his father was executed in 1415, Richard was allowed to style himself Duke of York from 2 February, 1425. He was not formally restored in blood to the dukedom of York until 19 May, 1426, and was recognised as Earl of March, Earl of Ulster and Earl of Cambridge by hereditary right on 12 May, 1432. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 22 April, 1433. In 1448, he assumed the surname Plantagenet, which had not been used since it was borne as a nickname by Geoffrey of Anjou, father of Henry II, in the 12th century; during the Wars of the Roses, York would use this surname to emphasise that his claim to the throne was stronger than that of Henry VI. York was attainted on 20 November, 1459, and all his titles and honours were declared forfeit. The Attainder against him was nullified in October, 1460, when he was restored to all his titles and honours, but he continued to press his claim to the throne, and was killed on 30 December, 1460, at the Battle of Wakefield. He was buried at Pontefract, but was later removed to the Collegiate Church of Fotheringhay, Northants.
MOTHER: Cecily
She was the daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, by Joan Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster ( see here, under Edward III), and she was born on 3 May, 1415, at Raby Castle, Co. Durham. She died a Benedictine nun on 31 May, 1495, at Berkhamstead Castle, Herts., and was buried in the Collegiate Church of Fotheringhay, Northants.
SIBLINGS:
1 Joan
She was born in 1438, and died the same year.
2 Anne
She was born on 10/11 August, 1439, at Fotheringhay Castle, Northants. She married firstly Henry Holland, 4th Duke of Exeter (1430–drowned at sea 1475), before 30 July, 1447, and had issue.
1 Anne (c.1455–1475); she married Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset (1455?–1501), son of Elizabeth Wydville, wife of Edward IV.
Anne was divorced from her first husband on 12 November, 1472. She married secondly Sir Thomas St Leger (executed 1483) in 1472/3, and had issue:
2 Anne (1476?–1526); she married George Manners, Lord Roos (d.1513).
Anne died on 12 or 14 January, 1476 (or 1482?), in childbirth (?), and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
3 Henry
He was born on 9/10 February, 1441, at Hatfield, Herts., and died young.
4 Edmund
He was born on 17 or 27 May, 1443, at Rouen, France. He was created Earl of Rutland on 29 January, 1446. He forfeited his earldom by Act of Attainder in 1459, but was restored to it in October, 1460. He was killed on 30 December, 1460, at the Battle of Wakefield, Yorks., and was buried at Pontefract. His remains were later removed to the Collegiate Church of Fotheringhay, Northants.
5 Elizabeth
She was born on 22 April, 1444, at Rouen, France. She married John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (d.1491), in c.August, 1461 (or, less probably, before October, 1460), and had issue:
1 John,
Earl of Lincoln (1462/4?–1487: killed at the Battle of Stoke); he married Margaret (d. after 1493), daughter of Thomas FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, and had issue.
2 Edmund, Earl of Suffolk (1471/2?–executed 1513); he married Margaret (d.1515), daughter of Sir Richard Scrope, and had issue.
3 Humphrey, Rector of Leverington, Cambs., and of Hingham, Norfolk (1474?–1513).
4 Edward, Archdeacon of Richmond, Yorks. (d.1485?).
5 Richard, styled ‘Earl of Suffolk’ or ‘The White Rose’ (killed at the Battle of Pavia in 1525).
6 Geoffrey.
7 William (1478?–1539), a knight; he married Katherine (d.1521), daughter of William, 2nd Baron Stourton.
8 Anne (d. after 1495); she was a nun at Sion Abbey, Middlesex.
9 Katherine; she is said to have married William, Baron Stourton (1457–1524).
10 Elizabeth (d. after 1489); she married Henry Lovell, Baron Morley (d.1489).
11 Dorothy (d. unmarried).
Elizabeth died between 7 January, 1503, and 3 May, 1504, and was buried in Wingfield Church, Suffolk.
6 Margaret
She was born on 3 May, 1446, at Fotheringhay Castle, Northants., and married Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (1433–killed at the Battle of Nancy, 1477), on 3 July, 1468, at Damme, Flanders. She died on 16 April or 28 November, 1503, at Malines, Flanders, and was buried in the Church of the Cordeliers, Malines.
7 William
He was born on 7 July, 1447, at Fotheringhay Castle, Northants., and died young.
8 John
He was born on 7 November, 1448, at The Neyte, a house near Westminster, and died young.
9 George
He was born on 21 October, 1449, at Dublin Castle, Ireland. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1461, and a Knight of the Bath on 27 June, 1461. He was created Duke of Clarence on 28 June, 1461. He was created Earl of Salisbury and Earl of Warwick, in right of his wife, on 25 March, 1472. He was attainted on 8 February, 1478, and by this Act of Attainder forfeited all his estates and titles and the rights of himself and his heirs to the succession. He was privately executed on 18 February, 1478, in the Tower of London: tradition has it that he was drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. He was buried in Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucs.
George married, on 11 July, 1469, at the Church of Our Lady, Calais, France:
Isabella
She was the daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, by Anne, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick; her sister Anne married firstly Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VI, and secondly Richard III. Isabella was born on 5 September, 1451, at Warwick Castle. She died, it was rumoured by poison, on 21 December, 1476, at Warwick Castle, and was buried in Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucs.
Issue of marriage:
(i) Anne (?)
She was born on 16 April, 1470, in a ship off Calais. She was either born dead or died soon after birth, and was buried at Calais. Some sources state that the child born at sea in 1470 was a son.
(ii) Margaret
She was born on 14 August, 1473, at Farleigh Castle, near Bath, Wilts. She married Sir Richard Pole (d.1505) on 22 September, 1494, and had issue:
1 Henry, Marquess of Montagu (1495?–executed 1538); he married Jane (d.1538), daughter of George Neville, Lord Bergavenny, and had issue.
2 Reginald, Cardinal-Archbishop of Canterbury (1500–1558).
3 Geoffrey, a knight, of Lordington, Sussex (1501–1558); he married Constance, daughter of Sir John Pakenham, and had issue.
4 Ursula (d.1570); she married Henry, Lord Stafford (1501–1563), and had issue.
5 Arthur (d.1570); he married Jane, daughter of Sir Roger Lewkmor, and had issue.
Margaret was restored to her father’s earldom of Salisbury on 14 October, 1513. She was attainted on 12 May, 1539, and all her titles were declared forfeit. She was executed on 28 May, 1541, in the Tower of London, and was buried in the Royal Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula within the Tower.
(iii) Edward
He was born on 21 or 25 February, 1475 (or 1474?), at Warwick Castle, and was styled Earl of Warwick from birth, in right of his mother. He succeeded his mother as Earl of Salisbury in December, 1476, but was never so styled. He was confirmed as Earl of Warwick in 1490. He spent the greater part of his life in confinement, Henry VII resenting his proximity to the throne, and was executed for treason on 24 or 28 November, 1499, on Tower Hill, London. He was buried in Bisham Abbey, Berks.
(iv) Richard
He was born on 6 October, 1476, at Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucs., and died on 1 January, 1477, at Warwick Castle. He was buried in Warwick Church, by the Castle.
10 Thomas
He was born in 1450/1, and died young.
11 Richard III ( see here).
12 Ursula
Described as the youngest child, she was born on 22 July, 1455, at Fotheringhay Castle, Northants., and died young.
13 Katherine (?)
14 Humphrey (?)
Katherine and Humphrey are described by Cecily as her children in her will, although they are not included in any other contemporary list of the children of Richard, Duke of York. The entry in Cecily’s will may therefore refer in fact to her grandchildren, Humphrey and Katherine de la Pole, the issue of Cecily’s daughter Elizabeth.
EDWARD IV
He was born on 28 April, 1442, at Rouen, France. He was styled Earl of March during his father’s lifetime. In November, 1459, he forfeited all his honours by Act of Attainder, but was restored to them in October, 1460. He succeeded his father as Duke of York, Earl of Ulster and Earl of Cambridge on 30 December, 1460. He was proclaimed King of England by Parliament on 4 March, 1461, after the deposition of Henry VI, and was crowned on 28 June, 1461, at Westminster Abbey.
Edward IV was deposed in favour of Henry VI on 3 October, 1470, but restored to the throne on 11 April, 1471.
Edward IV married, on 1 May, 1464, at the Manor of Grafton Regis, Northants.:
Elizabeth
She was the daughter of Richard Wydville (or Woodville), 1st Earl Rivers, by Jacquetta of Luxembourg (v, see here), and she was born in c.1437 at Grafton Regis, Northants. She married firstly Sir John Grey of Groby (killed 1461) in c.1452, and had issue:
1 Thomas, Marquess of Dorset (c.1455–1501); he married firstly Anne (c.1455–1475), daughter of Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, by Anne, sister of Edward IV. He married secondly Cecilia, Baroness Bonville and Harington (d.1529), daughter of William Bonville, Baron Harington, and had issue.
2 Richard (1456?–executed 1483), a knight.
Elizabeth was crowned Queen Consort on 26 May, 1465, at Westminster Abbey. Her marriage to Edward IV was declared invalid by Act of Parliament in 1484, on the basis of Edward’s alleged precontract to Lady Eleanor Butler; her children were at the same time declared illegitimate, and unfit to inherit the crown. The marriage was ultimately recognised as valid in October, 1485, by the first Parliament of Henry VII, and its issue were restored in blood accordingly. Elizabeth died on 8 June, 1492, at St Saviour’s Abbey, Bermondsey, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Issue of marriage:
1 Elizabeth
(under Henry VII, whom she married, see here).
2 Mary
She was born on 11 August, 1467, at Windsor Castle. She was made a Lady of the Garter in 1480. She died on 23 May, 1482, at Greenwich Palace, Kent, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
3 Cecily
She was born on 20 March, 1469, at the Palace of Westminster. She married firstly John Welles, 1st Viscount Welles, K.G. (d.1498), between 25 November, 1487, and 1 January, 1488, and had issue:
1 Elizabeth (d. young before 1498).
2 Anne (d. young in c.1499).
Cecily married secondly Thomas Kyme, Kymbe or Keme, either of Wainfleet and Friskney, Lincs., or of the Isle of Wight, between 13 May, 1502, and January, 1504, by whom she may have had issue, although the earliest evidence for this is as late as 1602, and may be suspect:
3 Richard; he married a lady called Agnes, and had issue.
4 Margaret or Marjorie; she married John Wetherby, and had issue.
Cecily was made a Lady of the Garter in 1480. She died on 24 August, 1507, at Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight, where she was buried.
4 Edward V ( see here).
5 Margaret
She was born on 10 April, 1472, at Windsor Castle, and died on 11 December, 1472. She was buried in Westminster Abbey.
6 Richard
He was born on 17 August, 1473, at the Dominican Friary, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He was created Duke of York on 28 May, 1474, thereby establishing the tradition (which continues to this day) that the second son of the sovereign is always made Duke of York. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 15 May, 1475, and a Knight of the Bath during that same year. He was created Earl of Nottingham on 12 June, 1476, and Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Surrey and Warenne on 7 February, 1477. He was declared illegitimate and deprived of his titles by Act of Parliament in January 1484. York was probably murdered with his brother Edward V ( see here) on the night of 3 September, 1483, in the Tower of London, on the orders of Richard III. In 1674, bones discovered in the Tower were thought to be those of the two Princes, and were reburied in 1678 in Westminster Abbey.