Margaret Wotton, Marchioness of Dorset facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Margaret Wotton
Marchioness of Dorset
Sketch of Margaret by Hans Holbein the Younger
Spouse(s)	William Medley Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset
Issue
George Medley Lady Elizabeth Grey Lady Katherine Grey Lady Anne Grey Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk Lord John Grey Lord Thomas Grey Leonard Grey Lady Mary Grey
Father	Sir Robert Wotton
Mother	Anne Belknap
Born	1485 Boughton Malherbe, Kent
Died	1541 England

Margaret Wotton, Marchioness of Dorset (born 1485 – died 1541) was an important English noblewoman. She was the second wife of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset. Margaret was the mother of many children, including Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Her grandson, Henry, later became the father of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for a short time.

Margaret was known for having many disagreements with her son, Henry, especially about money. People at the time thought her actions were unusual for a mother. In 1534, she even had to explain why she was called an "unnatural mother."

Margaret was also a godmother to the future Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1533. The famous artist Hans Holbein the Younger drew two portraits of her.

Margaret Wotton's Family Background

Margaret Wotton was born in 1485. Her father was Sir Robert Wotton from Boughton Malherbe in Kent. Her mother was Anne Belknap.

Margaret had two brothers who held important jobs in the government.

• Sir Edward Wotton was the Treasurer of Calais. This was an important port city for England in France.
• Nicholas Wotton was a diplomat. He helped arrange the marriage of King Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves in 1539.

Marriages and Her Children

In 1505, Margaret married her first husband, William Medley. They had one son named George. William Medley died in February 1509.

Later in 1509, Margaret married Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset. He was the eldest son of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset. When she married him, Margaret became known as the Marchioness of Dorset.

Margaret and her second husband had four sons and four daughters:

• Elizabeth Grey (1510–1564). She married Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden. They had two daughters, including Margaret Audley.
• Katherine Grey (1512 – 1542). She married Henry Fitzalan, 19th Earl of Arundel.
• Anne Grey (died 1548). She married Sir Henry Willoughby.
• Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk (1517–1554). He married Lady Frances Brandon. They had three daughters, including Lady Jane Grey. Henry was later executed for his part in a rebellion in 1554.
• Lord John Grey of Pirgo (1523–1564). He married Mary Browne.
• Lord Thomas Grey (1526 – after 1554). He was executed along with his brother Henry for his part in a rebellion in 1554.
• Leonard Grey.
• Mary Grey.

In 1514, Margaret and her husband traveled to France. They were part of the group that went with King Henry VIII's sister, Princess Mary. Princess Mary was going to France to marry King Louis XII of France.

In October 1530, Margaret's husband died. She was put in charge of all his property. This was because their eldest son, Henry, was still too young to manage it himself.

On September 10, 1533, Margaret was one of the two godmothers for Princess Elizabeth. Princess Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She would later become Queen Elizabeth I. A few months before this, Margaret had ridden in Anne Boleyn's coronation parade. This parade went from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey.

Portrait of Margaret Wotton, Marchioness of Dorset, after Hans Holbein the Younger

Disagreements with Her Son

Margaret had many disagreements with her son, Henry. He became the Marquess of Dorset after his father died in 1530. One big problem started when Henry had to pay a large fine. This was because he broke an agreement to marry Katherine Fitzalan.

Because of this, Margaret tried to limit the money Henry received. This made many people upset. They thought her actions were "unmotherly" and not proper for a nobleman's mother. Margaret only agreed to Henry's marriage to Lady Frances Brandon if her father, Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, would support the couple.

In 1534, Margaret had to explain why people called her an "unnatural mother." She said she would help her son as much as she could.

Later, when Henry was an adult, he took his disagreement with his mother to the King's Council. Margaret finally admitted that her son's allowance was not enough. She offered to give him more money. However, Henry was still not happy. Margaret then moved out of the family home, Bradgate House. But Henry would not let her take her personal belongings. So, she wrote a letter to Thomas Cromwell, asking him to order her son to release her goods.

Margaret Wotton likely died in the 1540s. Some records suggest she died in 1541.