Margaret Beaufort: life of the week

Hello and welcome to Life of the Week, where leading historians delve into the lives of some of history's most intriguing and significant figures, from ancient Egyptian pharaohs and medieval warriors to daring 20th century spies. Born in the tumultuous 15th century, Margaret Beaufoot's mother of Henry VII, endured personal tragedy, dynastic danger, and the ever-shifting fortunes of power. Yet she emerged as one of the most influential figures of late medieval England. In this episode, I spoke to historian Lauren Johnson, author of a new biography on Margaret, to delve into her remarkable life as both a mother and patron whose autonomy, determination and political acumen helped forge the Tundra dynasty.

Thank you for joining me today to talk all about Margaret Beaufort. Margaret was born into a really turbulent period of English history. Could you just start by setting the scene for us for her very early years and explain a little bit about her family background? Sure. Margaret is born into the Hundred Years' War.

Which is kind of surprising, I think, to lots of people because we sort of divide up history, I think, in our heads and we think Margaret Beaufort wars the roses, or we think her son is Henry VII ultimately, so Tudors. But actually, like she is born into the very tail end of this terrible conflict between England and France that's gone on for a hundred years even by the time she's born. And she is in quite an unusual position. She comes from this Beaufort family line who are illegitimate descendants of Edward III through John of Gaunt.

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