The Plantagenet’s Episode 1

Welcome to the official launch of The Heritage Hunters Podcast!!!

In the first season episode 1, the discussion on the table is the Plantagenets!

Do you know the difference between Lady Elizabeth Grey and Elizabeth Plantagenet?

Tune in and find out now who is who, when, where, and how! And while you read the blog and interact, browse my original digital artwork of all the ancestors discussed that I have made. Please do not copy or reuse. They are made specifically by me, copyrighted for my podcast, and blog and to pass into future generations of my own family.

It is so very easy to get Old School Monarchs mixed up. Easier than one could think! They are all related of course. But who is from who? When, and where makes a huge difference, especially when it comes to history! HISTORY, that ol’ dreaded word.

We shall have no dread here, they have all passed on, and we are here today as descendants to release strongholds, and let go, tell their stories so they can live on in their own time, and rest in peace, so I can continually move forward and tresure my gift 🎁 of the present moment. I want them to be remembered as not just Royals, but the individual humans they were. The mother, the daughter, the wife, grandmother, husband’s, sons and father’s. Some like in every family, better than others.

Elizabeth Plantagenet (1466–1503)

Also Known As: Elizabeth of York

Relationship: Daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville

Spouse: Henry VII (unites York and Lancaster factions, beginning Tudor dynasty)

Children: Henry VIII, Margaret Tudor, Mary Tudor

Notable For: Queen consort of England and symbolic union of the feuding Houses of York and Lancaster.

She is my 16th great grandmother. I will place how in a carousel below above source and reference links I have gathered together.

Lady Elizabeth Grey (1515–1564), daughter of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, is the aunt of Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554).

Lady Jane Grey’s father: Henry Grey (1517–1554), Duke of Suffolk

Henry Grey’s sister: Lady Elizabeth Grey (1515–1564)

👉 That makes Elizabeth Grey Jane’s paternal aunt and just happens to be my 13th Great Grandmother.

Then Elizabeth Grey married Thomas Audley, and their line eventually connects directly to you, making:

🌿Turning a leaf I found my relationship to Lady Jane Grey to be that she is my

1st cousin… 14x removed.

I will put a photo of how below in a carousel.

As we go through these historical Royal individuals, please remember they are wives, mothers, daughters, cousins, aunts, nieces, grandparents just like you. They just happen to rule countries, and had many hardships and atrocities also placed on them as individuals from being locked in cages, even tortured, forced into child marriages, and giving birth young, expected to rule over others when they had barely any clue to life itself, times were so different back then too, the men controlling them, whom I also am from direct, their mental health was the least of anyone’s concerns, also keep in mind, and remember they were forced to procreate in front of people watching to prove they consummated their marriages. Usually married as young as 8 years old, children giving birth as young as 12 years old. Back in these days, 12 and 14 years old was the normal age for Kings and Queens to have children. They had to secure our lines. And not only that, us women were made to give birth in front of spectators like ZOO animals. And, if we could not bare a son, we risked losing our heads!!!

I do not think people understand the cause and effect of what comes with that geneticallyin offspring? The trauma induced into our family I believe has traveled down over time, and many on my side continued to inflict their trauma onto new generations. I am stopping that. I learned a lot by studying who, what, why, and so much more.

What times are we living in?

Today they have it so different. Differnt circumstances, different, as in also a lot of travel, volunteering, community work, helping others.

Many of my ancestors, were hung, drawn, quartered, beheaded, burned alive, tortured over pettiness, jealousy, envy, hate, a throne, a castle, over winning a war. Over being born first in line. Many rightful heirs slaughtered and the offspring chased away, like Children of the Mist. We still exist. My ancestors immigrated to America. As in the 600 Royal Descendant IMMIGRANTS that came to America. I’ll put the photos below. I went in person to study. A whole other season I will get into Wyatts (an ancestor) Rebellion against Mary I Tudor of England also known as Bloody Mary, and those she executed with him, more on his descendants, and our line coming to America. Mary I is the half sister of Queen Elizabeth I by way of my 14th great grand Uncle and supposed ancestor (via Mary Bolyen/Henry Carey), King Henry VIII, she is the daughter him and of biological great grand aunt, Queen Anne Bolyen, she is also my 1st cousin. Almost all of King Henry’s wives are either my great grand aunts or 1st cousin’s. I will get into that next season. Below the carousel there is a bunch more information. Enjoy, while you listen to the podcast! So much tea 🍵. Links to all the refrences, sources and books to check out related to today and the people I speak on are below!

As we move into more Royal ancestors this season on The Plantagenet lines which is a very small amount to hightlight, I’m bringing those in around them you’ve most likely never even heard of, at least until now…

Ask yourself:

In this podcast episode we will also touch on the case of Thomas Howard, and others affected by Wyatts Rebellion which will be a whole other season as to why im only touching base due to it being related at the time, the end of The War of the Roses, into the Tudor Dynasty, and also another that I do want to discuss of is the Ridolfi Plot. Thomas Howard died over that one.

Summary of The War of the Roses

🏰 The War of the Roses Summary (1455–1487)

The Wars of the Roses were a series of English civil wars fought for control of the throne between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet:

House of Lancaster (symbol: red rose)

House of York (symbol: white rose)

These wars lasted from 1455 to 1487 and were named after the floral emblems of the two houses.

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⚔️ Background

The conflict was rooted in the weak reign of King Henry VI (House of Lancaster), whose bouts of mental illness and weak leadership led to discontent and power struggles among the nobility. The Yorkist claim to the throne was championed by Richard, Duke of York, a descendant of Edward III through both his parents.

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🩸 Major Conflicts & Turning Points

1. First Battle of St. Albans (1455) – Marks the start of the war. Yorkist victory; Somerset killed.

2. Battle of Wakefield (1460) – Richard, Duke of York killed; his son Edward of York takes up the cause.

3. Battle of Towton (1461) – One of the bloodiest battles; Edward IV (Yorkist) takes the throne.

4. Readeption of Henry VI (1470–1471) – The Lancastrians temporarily restore Henry VI.

5. Battle of Tewkesbury (1471) – Edward IV crushes the Lancastrians; Prince Edward of Westminster is killed; Henry VI dies in the Tower shortly after.

6. Death of Edward IV (1483) – Leads to the brief reign of his son Edward V, and the rise of his uncle Richard III.

7. Buckingham’s Rebellion (1483) – An early failed revolt against Richard III.

8. Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) – Henry Tudor defeats Richard III, ending the Plantagenet line.

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👑 Key Figures

House of Lancaster:

King Henry VI – Gentle and pious but mentally unstable king.

Queen Margaret of Anjou – Fierce Lancastrian leader, wife of Henry VI.

Prince Edward of Westminster – Son of Henry VI, killed at Tewkesbury.

House of York:

Richard, Duke of York – Initially sought to be Lord Protector, later claimed the throne.

Edward IV – Son of Richard, crowned king after Towton.

Richard III – Brother of Edward IV; became king after allegedly having his nephews (the Princes in the Tower) killed.

Nobles & Power Players:

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (“The Kingmaker”) – Initially supported York, later backed the Lancastrians.

Thomas Stanley – Crucial in the defeat of Richard III; stepfather to Henry Tudor.

House of Tudor:

Henry Tudor (Henry VII) – Lancastrian heir in exile, defeated Richard III.

Elizabeth of York – Daughter of Edward IV, married Henry VII.

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🌹 The Union: Elizabeth of York

After Henry VII’s victory at Bosworth Field, he strengthened his claim and ended the wars by marrying Elizabeth of York in January 1486.

This marriage united the warring houses of Lancaster and York and gave rise to the House of Tudor (symbolized by the Tudor Rose, a red and white rose combined).

Their son was Henry VIII, and their granddaughter was Elizabeth I — ending one of the most brutal dynastic struggles in English history.

Moving into The Ridolfi Plot (1571) by the end of the 1st episode, it was a major Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and place Mary, Queen of Scots, my 12th and 13th great aunt, and supposed direct ancestor on the English throne, my mtDNA test puts me at subclade 0 to her, so it has to be one of my 10 missing lines in the first 7 generations that goes there. More will be revealed.

SOURCES & REFRENCES

👑 Elizabeth Grey (1515–1564), Lady Audley

📜 FamilySearch:
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/G8ZD-D2X/elizabeth-grey-1515-1561

📖 TudorsDynasty biography of Lady Audley:
https://tudorsdynasty.com/elizabeth-grey-lady-audley/

🖼️ Possible portrait on Wikimedia Commons:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth,Lady_Audley(2)_by_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger.jpg

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👨‍👩‍👧 Parents: Thomas Grey & Margaret Wotton

📖 Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Grey,_2nd_Marquess_of_Dorset

📖 Margaret Wotton, Marchioness of Dorset (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Wotton,_Marchioness_of_Dorset

📖 TudorPlace profile on Margaret Wotton:
https://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/MargaretWotton(MDorset).htm

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👧 Niece: Lady Jane Grey

📖 Wikipedia – Lady Jane Grey:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jane_Grey

📖 Eric Ives – Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery (book page):
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/760218.Lady_Jane_Grey

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⚖️ Spouse: Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden

📖 Wikipedia – Thomas Audley:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Audley,_1st_Baron_Audley_of_Walden

📖 Brief biography with references (All About History):
https://www.allabouthistory.co.uk/History/England/Person/Elizabeth-Grey-Baroness-Audley-1564.html

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👶 Daughter: Margaret Audley (Duchess of Norfolk)

📖 Wikipedia – Margaret Audley:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Audley,_Duchess_of_Norfolk

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📚 Books & Academic Sources

📘 English Aristocratic Women 1450–1550 – Barbara Jean Harris:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/english-aristocratic-women-14501550/B0E5BB6AF8243F86971E8AC75AD9E205

📘 Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery – Eric Ives:
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300115488/lady-jane-grey/

📘 The Lives of the Tudor Princesses – David Loades:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13538632-the-lives-of-the-tudor-princesses

Timeline of Elizabeth Plantagenet AKA Elizabeth of York

👑 Timeline of Elizabeth of York (1466–1503)

1466 – Birth and Early Life

11 Feb 1466: Born at Westminster Palace, eldest daughter of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville .

1470–1471: Following her father’s brief deposition, Elizabeth and her siblings take sanctuary in Westminster Abbey—her brothers become the “Princes in the Tower” .

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1483 – Turmoil and Survival

April 1483: Death of Edward IV; Elizabeth’s brother Edward V briefly becomes King, then is deposed by Richard III º Titulus Regius; Elizabeth’s family returns to court .

It is rumored Richard III planned to marry her, but no marriage occurred .

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1485–1487 – Dynastic Unification

22 Aug 1485: Henry Tudor defeats Richard III at Bosworth Field and marries Elizabeth to unite Lancastrian and Yorkist claims .

18 Jan 1486: Elizabeth marries Henry VII, formalizing the Tudor dynasty .

30 Oct 1485: Henry crowned; 25 Nov 1487: Elizabeth crowned queen consort .

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1486–1503 – Queenship and Motherhood

Elizabeth bears multiple children: Arthur, Margaret, Henry VIII, Elizabeth (Queen of France), Mary (Queen of France), and Edmund .

Her influence helps legitimize the Tudor succession and foster peace among Yorkist supporters .

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1503 – Death and Legacy

11 Feb 1503: Elizabeth dies at the Tower of London on her 37th birthday, likely post-complication of childbirth .

She is buried beside Henry VII in the newly completed Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey .

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📝 Notable People Supporting Her Story

Edward IV (father), Elizabeth Woodville (mother) — Yorkist royals .

Henry VII (husband), first Tudor king — instrumental in ending dynastic wars .

Children:

Henry VIII — Tudor monarch continuing the legacy .

Margaret Tudor — Queen of Scotland, Tudor line through Scone .

Richard III, uncle who usurped the throne ― a major figure in Elizabeth’s early turmoil .

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⚔️ Plots & Political Tactics

Sanctuary and Titulus Regius: Richard III’s claim to the throne precipitated the mysterious disappearance of the Princes in the Tower .

Dynastic peace: Elizabeth’s marriage to Henry VII united two warring houses, symbolized by the combined Tudor rose .

Plotting during Elizabeth I’s reign (long after her death):
The later Ridolfi Plot (1571) aimed to overthrow Elizabeth I in favor of Mary, Queen of Scots, and restore Catholicism .
This plot links back to Elizabeth of York only as ideological legacy—not personal involvement.

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📚 Recommended Reading & Links

Quick References:

Elizabeth of York – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_York

Tower of London (HRP) profile: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/elizabeth-of-york/

Elizabeth of York – ThoughtCo: https://www.thoughtco.com/elizabeth-of-york-3529601

Henry VII & Elizabeth’s Lady Chapel: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/henry-vii-and-elizabeth-of-york/

Books & Scholarship:

Alison Weir, Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen

Nancy L. Lenz Harvey, Elizabeth of York, the Mother of Henry VIII

J. L. Laynesmith, The Last Medieval Queens: English Queenship 1445–1503

Arlene Naylor Okerlund, Elizabeth of York

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⚜️ Summary

Elizabeth of York’s life symbolizes the end of the Wars of the Roses and the beginning of Tudor England. Her marriage brought peace to England, her offspring shaped future dynasties, and the legacy of her bloodline lived on through her children—even amidst later Tudor-era conspiracies. I am greatful to be able to say she is my 16th great grandmother.

Timeline of Lady Elizabeth Grey & the Grey’s of Tudor England

👑 Timeline: Lady Elizabeth Grey & the Greys of Tudor England

1515 – Birth of Elizabeth Grey

Born to Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset (1477–1530) and Margaret Wotton (c. 1485–1535), Elizabeth became part of one of England’s most powerful noble families.

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1530–1535 – Early Adulthood & Family Conflicts

1530: Death of her father, Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset

Early 1530s: Elizabeth’s mother, Margaret Wotton, had public disputes with her son Henry Grey over finances and marriage contracts

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1538–1540 – Marriage to Thomas Audley

Elizabeth married Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden, Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII—a union likely arranged to favor Audley’s loyalty

This marriage created a financial and social burden for her mother-in-law, who complained about costs

1540: Birth of daughter Margaret Audley

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1544 – Thomas Audley’s Death

Audley died on 30 April 1544. Elizabeth became a widow at about age 29 and lived at Audley End until her death

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1540s–1550s – Rise of the Grey Family

1547–1550s: Elizabeth’s brother Henry Grey rose to Marquess and later Duke of Suffolk.

1553: Henry’s daughter, Lady Jane Grey, was proclaimed Queen for nine days following Edward VI’s death; Elizabeth was her aunt .

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1554 – Downfall of the Greys

February 1554: Execution of both Henry Grey and Lady Jane Grey following their roles in Wyatt’s Rebellion and succession crisis

Elizabeth survived but her family’s status was significantly damaged.

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1564 – Death of Lady Elizabeth Grey

She passed away in 1564 at Audley End and was buried in a family chapel nearby

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⚖️ Scandals & Plots Involving the Greys

💸 Family Financial Feuds

Margaret Wotton’s public arguable “unnatural” treatment of her son Henry over inheritance issues

👸 The Nine Days’ Queen (1553)

Orchestrated by Henry Grey, aided by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, to prevent Mary’s ascension. Prompted Elizabeth’s nephew and niece to royal power—and downfall

🔊 Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554)

Though led by Thomas Wyatt, Henry Grey was also involved—the uprising against Mary I’s Spanish marriage and Grey interests ended disastrously.

📝 Summary of Lady Elizabeth’s Role

Lady Elizabeth Grey lived through the apex— and collapse— of her family’s influence:

She started life in high status as part of the Grey–Woodville royal lineage.

Her marriage elevated her into the power circles via Thomas Audley.

She witnessed the rise— and tragic fall— of her brother and niece in Tudor succession drama.

She lived out her days in relative quiet after the 1554 executions, dying in 1564.

Below in the slide show you will see how and who I am from.