Henry Stafford (died 1471) facts for kids

Sir Henry Stafford (born around 1425 – died 4 October 1471) was an important English nobleman. He was the second son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Lady Anne Neville. His family was very powerful during the 15th century.

Henry Stafford is best known for being the third husband of Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond. Margaret was the mother of Henry Tudor, who later became King of England. Their marriage was long and successful. Both Henry and Margaret were related to John of Gaunt, a son of King Edward III.

At first, Henry Stafford supported King Henry VI and the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. This was a series of civil wars fought over who should rule England. However, Henry later changed his support to the House of York and helped Edward IV become king again.

Early Life and Family Connections

Henry Stafford was likely born around 1425. His parents, Humphrey Stafford and Anne Neville, married in 1424. Henry was their second son. His younger brother, John Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, was born in 1427. The Stafford family was closely linked to the town of Stafford, which is where they got their name. Henry's father became the Duke of Buckingham in 1444.

Henry's older brother, also named Humphrey, died before their father. This meant that Henry's nephew, another Henry Stafford, became the 2nd Duke of Buckingham.

Marriage to Margaret Beaufort

On 3 January 1458, Henry Stafford married Margaret Beaufort. Margaret was only 14 years old at the time, and Henry was in his early thirties. She had already been married once before to Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond. Margaret had given birth to her son, Henry Tudor, after Edmund's death.

The wedding probably took place at Maxstoke Castle, a property owned by Henry's father. Because Henry and Margaret were second cousins, they needed special permission from the Church to marry. This permission was granted in April 1457.

Henry's father left some land to the couple in his will. However, most of their money came from Margaret's own lands. Records and letters from that time suggest that Henry and Margaret had a happy marriage. They lived for a while at Bourne Castle in Lincolnshire.

Role in the Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses were a big part of Henry Stafford's life. Both Henry and Margaret were descendants of John of Gaunt. Because of this, they first supported the Lancastrian side, led by King Henry VI.

Fighting for the Lancastrians

Henry fought for the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton on 29 March 1461. This was a major battle that the Lancastrians lost. Even though he was on the losing side, Henry quickly made peace with the new Yorkist king, Edward IV. King Edward gave him a pardon on 25 June 1461, meaning he was forgiven for fighting against him.

Soon after, King Edward IV bought the right to look after Henry Tudor (Margaret's son) for £1000. He placed young Henry Tudor in the care of William Herbert, a strong supporter of the Yorkist cause.

Changing Sides to the Yorkists

In 1466, King Edward IV gave Henry and Margaret the manor of Woking in Surrey. This was possibly to celebrate the marriage of Henry's nephew, Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, to Catherine Woodville. Catherine was the sister of the queen, Elizabeth Woodville.

Woking Old Hall, also known as Woking Palace, became Henry and Margaret's main home. Living there allowed Henry to become more involved in politics. He also bought land in Old and New Windsor. His brother John often visited Woking to hunt and play cards.

In May 1467, Henry was asked to attend the Royal Council. In May 1468, Henry and Margaret were in London when King Edward announced his plan to invade France. King Edward IV even visited Woking on 20 December 1468 for a hunt and dined with Henry and Margaret.

On 5 January 1470, Henry's brother John was made Earl of Wiltshire. Henry, however, remained a knight. This might suggest that the King was not entirely sure of Henry's loyalty.

Despite being ill, Henry was with King Edward IV at the Battle of Losecoat Field on 12 March 1470. The King's forces defeated the rebels led by Sir Robert Welles. Before the battle, Robert's father, Richard Welles, 7th Baron Welles, who was Margaret's stepbrother, had been executed by the King. After the battle, Henry visited Maxey to tell Margaret's mother, Lady Welles, about her stepson's death.

Supporting Edward IV's Return

In the autumn of 1470, Warwick and Clarence returned to England. King Edward IV was forced to leave the country. Henry Stafford was arrested but was soon released after his wife, Margaret, asked for his freedom.

After Henry VI was put back on the throne in October, Henry and Margaret, along with Henry Tudor and his uncle Jasper Tudor, met with the restored King. They also dined with the King's chamberlain.

In March 1471, Edward IV returned to England with a small army. The Lancastrian leader, the Duke of Somerset, visited Henry and Margaret at Woking. He tried to convince Henry to join the Lancastrian army. Henry was hesitant at first. However, on 12 April, he firmly decided to support Edward IV and join him. He traveled to Barnet with his men.

The Yorkists won a major victory at Barnet on 14 April 1471. The day before the battle, Henry had quickly written his will. In it, he called Margaret "my most entire belovyd wyff" (my most entirely beloved wife).

Henry's Illness

Henry Stafford is thought to have suffered from a skin disease called erysipelas. At the time, this illness was sometimes called "St Anthony's Fire" and was mistakenly thought to be a type of leprosy. In the last few years of his life, Henry was sometimes so ill that his assistant, Reginald Bray, had to take over his duties.

Death

Even though Henry had chosen the winning side at the Battle of Barnet, he was seriously wounded. He did not return to London with the victorious army. On 17 April, Margaret rushed from Woking to London and sent someone to Barnet to get news of her husband. Henry was taken home, but he never recovered from his injuries. He died in his bed on 4 October 1471. Reginald Bray arranged for him to be buried at Pleshey.

Henry Stafford in Fiction

Henry Stafford appears as a character in Philippa Gregory's series of novels called The Cousins' War. He is played by Michael Maloney in the BBC drama The White Queen, which is based on these novels. In the TV series, Henry's relationship with Margaret is shown as difficult. He cares for her but is also frustrated by her strong beliefs, especially since he supported the Yorkists while she remained loyal to the Lancastrians.