Elizabeth of York (11 February 1466 – 11 February 1503) was Queen consort of England from 1486 until her death in 1503 as the wife of Henry VII of England. The daughter of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville, she united the houses of York and Lancaster through her marriage, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses and founding the Tudor dynasty.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Elizabeth was born on 11 February 1466 at Westminster Palace, the eldest child of King Edward IV of England and Queen Elizabeth Woodville. As a Yorkist princess, she grew up in the political turbulence of the Wars of the Roses.
Her father’s sudden death in 1483 left her brother Edward V of England as king, but the crown was usurped by their uncle Richard III of England. Her two younger brothers, the “Princes in the Tower,” disappeared, and Elizabeth became the senior Yorkist heir.
Marriage to Henry VII[]
After Richard III’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, Henry Tudor claimed the throne as Henry VII of England. To strengthen his rule and reconcile warring factions, he married Elizabeth of York in January 1486.
This marriage symbolized the union of the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York, creating the iconic Tudor rose and establishing a new royal dynasty.
Queen Consort[]
As queen, Elizabeth was respected for her grace, piety, and diplomacy. While Henry VII maintained a tight grip on governance, Elizabeth played an important ceremonial role and was central to legitimizing the Tudor claim to the throne.
She bore seven children, though only four survived infancy:
- Arthur, Prince of Wales
- Margaret Tudor, later Queen of Scotland
- Henry VIII of England
- Mary Tudor, Queen of France
Her dynastic importance cannot be overstated: through her, the Tudor line claimed legitimacy from the House of York.
Death[]
Elizabeth died on 11 February 1503, her 37th birthday, at the Tower of London, shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Katherine, who did not survive. She was buried in Westminster Abbey beside Henry VII.
Her death deeply grieved the king, who was noted to have withdrawn from court in mourning.
Legacy[]
Elizabeth of York is remembered as the queen who ended decades of dynastic strife by uniting Yorkist and Lancastrian claims. She was the mother of Henry VIII, grandmother of Mary I, Elizabeth I, and James V of Scotland, making her a pivotal figure in shaping both English and Scottish royal history.
Gallery[]
| Queen consort of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Anne Neville |
1486–1503 | Succeeded by: Catherine of Aragon |