Elizabeth of Somerset-Lancaster (Full name: Elizabeth Anne Beaufort of Somerset-Lancaster; 8 October 1443 - 23 July 1505) was Queen consort of England as the second spouse of the Yorkist King Edward IV of England, who's first wife was Elizabeth's elder sister Rosaline I of England. Elizabeth is known for her generosity and religious opinions. Despite being from a cadet branch of the House of Lancaster, she with Rosaline and her younger sister Anna of Somerset-Lancaster are known as the Three Queens of York due to their successive marriages.
Early Life[]
A manuscript miniature of the three Queens of York and their most notable brothers. Elizabeth is on the far left next to Rosaline and Henry.
Elizabeth was born in 1443 in Somerset as the third daughter of Edmund Beaufort and his wife, Eleanor Beauchamp. Elizabeth, like her sisters, was styled "of Somerset-Lancaster" to symbolise their heritage. Many Beaufort's at that point had started styling themselves with the additional Lancaster. Upon her birth, Elizabeth had one older sister, Rosaline of Somerset-Lancaster, and in 1552 Anne of Somerset-Lancaster was born.
Duchess of York[]
Elizabeth's sister, Rosaline Beaufort, had recently inherited the title of Duchess of York from Edward's father. Since the two hadn't had children yet, their heir became Elizabeth. When the two became King and Queen in 1461, their titles merged with the crown. Rosaline however gave Elizabeth the title with the approval of Edward later in the year
The War of the White King and the Red Queen[]
The Duchess of York getting married to the King of England.
In 1469, the War of the White King and the Red Queen took place. The reasoning for this was due to the rumours heard by Queen Rosaline about her husband wanting to make Elizabeth his mistress. It was the quiet Elizabeth who first used the term 'The War of the White King and the Red Queen' due to her family originally being Loyal Lancastrians. Elizabeth allied herself with Edward due to her Pro-Yorkist beliefs and convinced Anne to do the same. This was the first time that Rosaline would be fighting against Elizabeth and Anne. When Rosaline was defeated, she took Anne with her to Calais. She didn't take Elizabeth. Rosaline then annulled her marriage to Edward IV, and Elizabeth received the news on 5 February 1470.
Marriage and Queen Consort[]
Elizabeth of Somerset-Lancaster drawn as Queen in 1475 by Joanna I of Castile and Portugal.
After The War of The White King and Red Queen, Rosaline annulled her marriage to King Edward IV of England. Elizabeth heard the news the same time Edward had, on 5 February 1470. Edward was in need of an heir, as his marriage to Elizabeth's sister had only produced daughters. After spending one day looking for suitors, it was on 6 February 1470 that Edward proposed to Elizabeth. Elizabeth accepted his proposal, something she feared would be much looked down upon by Edward's first wife and Elizabeth's sister Rosaline Beaufort. Edward promised Elizabeth that Rosaline would be in good care and still be allowed at court. The two married on 10 February 1470, 5 days after the annulment of Edward and Rosaline's marriage. Elizabeth was crowned Queen Consort on 25 February 1470. 8 months later, Edward was deposed and Elizabeth fled with him to Burgundy.
Queen Elizabeth receiving the Chronicle of Anne Beaufort from Duchess Anne of Gloucester.
Elizabeth's time as Queen Consort is more documented than her sister's. Unlike Rosaline, Edward commissioned many manuscripts for Elizabeth and it is widely accepted that Elizabeth was Edward's one true love. It was Elizabeth who supported and funded the manuscript Chronicle of Anne Beaufort for her sister. Queen Elizabeth was thought to be very kind and caring. Alongside this, the new queen was very religious and had funded many monasteries across England. Alongside her sister's Anne and Rosaline, Elizabeth founded Eltham Abbey, a religious order near the castle. Upon her marriage, Elizabeth wasn't made Edward's co-monarch, as he was still distraught from the annulment of his marriage to Rosaline I of England.
Dowager Queen[]
Edward died in 1483, leaving his son Edward as King. Elizabeth fled to Somerset to be with her sisters following the death of her husband, and nobody saw the dowager queen until May 1483. She let her youngest son, Richard, join his brother Edward in the Tower of London in hopes they would get looked after. She was heartbroken to find out that they had disappeared. Elizabeth still had good luck however, with her sister Anne now Queen Consort. Elizabeth was given back the title of Duchess of York and her old estates she had once acquired. She received many letters of support, these coming from the Duchess of Buckingham, Joanna of Castile, the Duchess of Fotheringhay, Lilliana Lilycrest, the dowager Duchess of Burgundy, Cecily of Burgundy and Joanna's sister, Isabella I of Castile. She was also thought to have received letters from Alice Neville, Countess of Docking. Elizabeth also received many of her husband's grand late estates.
Reign of Richard III[]
Elizabeth returned to court in late 1483. Richard was forced to accept his Queen's Beaufort relatives back into court. Elizabeth and Rosaline were usually secluded off from Anne during Richard's reign, as the king wasn't that fond of them. Elizabeth eventually seeked help from Joanna of Castile. Joanna told her to give up the hiding spot of her brother's illegitimate son for the king's favour. Elizabeth refused, but helped Richard capture key Lancastrian figures. Elizabeth kept her first cousin Henry Tudor captive for two months in 1484 before he was bailed out by Elizabeth's cousin Margaret Beaufort.
Reign of Rosaline[]
Elizabeth was appointed as one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting in 1486 and helped her study political and key foreign affairs. She and Anne raised Rosaline's remaining daughters; the one's who didn't marry. In 1486, Rosaline accepted a marriage proposal from her first cousin Henry for her daughter Elizabeth. Henry had originally wanted Eleanor, however she was already married to Edmund Rutland. Elizabeth also encouraged Rosaline to enter alliances with Sicily and Castile. Rosaline was good friends with Joanna of Castile, which also meant she could be on good terms with Isabella I of Castile. Elizabeth was officially appointed the Queen's foreign affairs officer in 1491.