Margaret Tudor - Blog Posts

On this day in history, 9th of September 1513, The Battle of Flodden / James IV is killed

Honoring his agreement with King Louis XII of France to divert English troops who were required in France to fight for Henry VIII, King James IV of Scotland crossed into England, with the battle of Flodden (Hill) taking place at Branxton, Northumberland on September 9th 1513. The Scots numbered about 30,000 men supported by artillery, including approximately 5000 French troops, sent to Scotland to assist. Though they were outnumbered, the English were better equipped and by nightfall had won a major victory. Anywhere from 10,000 - 12,000 Scots, including King James IV, were killed. Shortly after the battle Queen Margaret Tudor was made regent to her and James’ infant son who was crowned James V on 21 September 1513. [x]

Her life story is very interesting--both of Henry’s sisters are just as fascinating and entertaining as he is! I know Philippa Gregory wrote a book on Margaret (Three Sisters, Three Queens), but I’ve heard it’s not as good as her other ones. Plus she hasn’t written a book about Mary, though she appears in The Other Boleyn Girl. 

Give Margaret Tudor her own show 2k19

Margaret was born in Westminster Palace on November 28th, 1489, she was the second child and first daughter of Henry VII and his queen Elizabeth of York. She was named in honor of her grandmother, Margaret Beaufort. Margaret was betrothed to James IV, King of Scots in 1502 when Margaret was 12, her mother and grandmother insisted that her marriage wait until she was older and so Margaret was married by proxy on 25 January 1503. Her younger brother Henry succeeded their father in 1509 and tensions between England and Scotland began to rise which came to a head with the battle of Flodden in 1513, where Margaret’s husband James would be killed in battle leaving Margaret a young widow and their young son James as king.

Margaret was made regent to her son, but Margaret would make an ill fated marriage with Archibald Douglas the earl of Angus which would make Margaret flee to England in 1515 where she gave birth to her daughter and only other surviving child, Margaret Douglas. Margaret returned to Scotland in 1517, she would marry for the third time in 1528 to Henry Stewart, Lord Methven. Margaret was never able to achieve peace between England and Scotland, her brother and her son James would never be true allies and the relationship between her two countries would remain tense.

Margaret died in 1541, her son would outlive her for only a year and Margaret’s granddaughter, Mary, become queen at only a week old. Margaret’s great grandson through both her son and daughter, James VI, would follow her nice Elizabeth as the next king of England in 1603, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland, Margaret is the ancestress of every British monarch since.