Jacquetta of Luxembourg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jacquetta of Luxembourg |
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| Duchess of Bedford Countess Rivers |
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17th century sketch by Peter Paul Rubens labeled as Jacquetta (Jacqueline) of Luxembourg
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| Born | 1415 or 1416 |
| Died | 30 May 1472 (aged 56 or 57) |
| Spouse | John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers |
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| House | Luxembourg |
| Father | Peter I, Count of Saint-Pol |
| Mother | Margaret of Baux |
Jacquetta of Luxembourg (born 1415 or 1416, died May 30, 1472) was an important person during the Wars of the Roses. This was a series of battles for the English throne.
At first, Jacquetta was connected to the House of Lancaster. This was through her first marriage to the Duke of Bedford. He was the brother of King Henry V.
Later, after a big defeat for the Lancasters, Jacquetta and her second husband, Richard Woodville, joined the House of York. Three years later, her oldest daughter, Elizabeth Woodville, married Edward IV of England. He was the new King of England. This made Elizabeth the Queen. Jacquetta had 14 children with Richard Woodville. She was also accused of using magic, but she was found innocent.
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Her Family and Background
Jacquetta was the oldest daughter of Peter I of Luxembourg. He was the Count of Saint-Pol, Conversano, and Brienne. Her mother was Margaret of Baux. Her father was also the Count of Brienne from 1397 until he died in 1433.
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First Marriage and Royal Connections
When she was 17, Jacquetta married John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford. This happened on April 22, 1433, in Thérouanne. The Duke was the third son of King Henry IV of England. This made him the grandson of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster.
Jacquetta and the Duke did not have any children. The Duke died on September 15, 1435. After his death, Jacquetta kept his title, Duchess of Bedford. This was a higher title than Countess. She also received a part of the Duke's lands as his widow.
A Secret Second Marriage
After her first husband died, Jacquetta was traveling to England. She was escorted by Sir Richard Woodville. He was sent by Henry VI of England. During their trip, Jacquetta and Richard fell in love.
They got married in secret before March 23, 1437. They did not ask the king for his permission. Jacquetta was only allowed to keep her lands if she did not remarry without the king's approval. When King Henry VI found out, he was upset. But he agreed to forgive them if they paid a large fine of £1000.
Their marriage lasted a long time, and they had many children. One of their children was Elizabeth Woodville, who later became Queen. Jacquetta's first son, Lewis, died from a fever when he was 12 years old.
By the mid-1440s, the Woodville family became very powerful. Jacquetta was related to both King Henry VI and Queen Margaret. She was a favorite of the Queen and had special influence at court. In 1448, Queen Margaret convinced King Henry to make Jacquetta's husband, Richard, a Baron. Richard was a strong supporter of the House of Lancaster when the Wars of the Roses began.
The Wars of the Roses and Her Daughter the Queen
After Edward IV won the Battle of Towton, Jacquetta's daughter Elizabeth became the Queen of England. This brought great power and importance to the Woodville family. Elizabeth's influence helped her family a lot.
Jacquetta's husband, Richard, was made Earl Rivers in 1466. He was also given the important job of Lord High Treasurer. Jacquetta helped her children marry into rich and powerful families. She also helped her grandchildren get important positions. For example, she arranged for her 20-year-old son, John Woodville, to marry Katherine Neville, Duchess of Norfolk. Katherine was a rich widow and much older than John.
The quick rise of the Woodville family made many Yorkists angry. This included Warwick and the king's brothers, George and Richard. They felt that the Woodvilles, who used to support the Lancasters, were taking their place in the king's favor.
In 1469, Warwick openly turned against Edward IV and removed him from power for a short time. Earl Rivers and his son John were captured and executed by Warwick on August 12. Jacquetta lived for three more years after her husband's death. She died in 1472, when she was about 56 years old.
Facing Accusations
Soon after her husband was executed in 1469, Jacquetta was accused of using magic. A man named Thomas Wake, who followed Warwick, made the accusation. He claimed that Jacquetta had made small figures to use for magic against the king's family.
The case was dropped when Warwick released Edward IV. Jacquetta was officially cleared of all charges by the king's council on January 21, 1470. Later, in 1484, Richard III brought up these old accusations again. He claimed that Jacquetta and Elizabeth had used magic to make Elizabeth marry Edward IV. However, Richard never showed any proof for his claims.
Her Many Children
Jacquetta and Richard Woodville had many children:
- Elizabeth Woodville, Queen consort of England (born around 1437 – died June 8, 1492). She first married Sir John Grey, then Edward IV of England.
- Lewis Woodville (born around 1438), who died as a child.
- Anne Woodville (born 1438 or 1439 – died July 30, 1489). She first married William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier, then George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent.
- Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers (born around 1440 – died June 25, 1483). He first married Elizabeth Scales, 8th Baroness Scales, then Mary Fitzlewis.
- John Woodville (born around 1444 – died August 12, 1469). He married Catherine Neville, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.
- Jacquetta Woodville (born 1445 – died 1509). She married John le Strange, 8th Baron Strange of Knockin.
- Lionel Woodville, Bishop of Salisbury (born around 1446 – died June 1484).
- Eleanor Woodville (died around 1512). She married Sir Anthony Grey.
- Margaret Woodville (born around 1450 – died 1490 or 1491). She married Thomas Fitzalan, 17th Earl of Arundel.
- Martha Woodville (died around 1500). She married Sir John Bromley of Baddington.
- Richard Woodville, 3rd Earl Rivers (born 1453 – died March 1491).
- Edward Woodville, Lord Scales (born 1454 or 1458 – died July 28, 1488).
- Mary Woodville (born around 1456 – died 1481). She married William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke.
- Catherine Woodville (born around 1458 – died May 18, 1497). She first married Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, then Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford, and then Sir Richard Wingfield.
