JACQUETTA OF LUXEMBOURG
A scandalous and forbidden marriage, surviving witchcraft charges, the mother of a queen, and much, much more…..
Meet Jacquetta of Luxembourg.
Born in Luxembourg around 1415, Jacquetta was the eldest daughter of Peter I of Luxembourg and his wife, Margaret of Baux.
Though not originally a native of England, Jacquetta was descended from English royalty on both sides of her family.
Jacquetta’s paternal Great Grandmother was a descendant of England’s King Henry III, and her maternal grandmother was a descendant of England’s King John.
Born during the 100 Years War between England and France, Jacquetta spent much of her time in France with her uncle on her father’s side, John II of Luxembourg.
John was the head of the military company that captured Joan of Arc.
He kept her at his castle for months before selling her to the English – who later eXecuted her on charges of witchcraft.
While there is no proof, there is much speculation that Jacquetta’s time spent with her uncle, brought her into contact with Joan of Arc, during her captivity at Jacquetta’s uncle’s castle.
Jacquetta’s impeccable royal lineage, made her a perfect match for the uncle of England’s King Henry VI, John of Lancaster – the Duke of Bedford.
At 17, Jacquetta and John were married.
John was the most powerful man in England at the time, since the king was still just a child.
Jacquetta’s marriage to John gave her the title of the Duchess of Bedford – and at that point, she was the highest ranking lady in England.
Dukes and Duchesses were second in rank to the royal family.
Her marriage to the Duke legally gave her the right to retain her royal title of Duchess, after his death.
Jacquetta used the title of Duchess, for the rest of her life.
John had been married before, and was interested in companionship, rather than producing an heir.
His first marriage was also childless, but his powerful position in England was secure.
Very few records remain of their marriage, but it would seem that they were happy.
John died two years into the marriage, leaving Jacquetta a young, beautiful, and powerful widow at 19.
During her marriage to John, she met his Squire, Richard Woodville.
Jacquetta and Richard quickly fell in love.
After John died, Jacquetta married Richard Woodville in secret.
However, there was now a law requiring all ladies related to the royal family by blood or marriage, to get the king’s permission before marrying.
Jacquetta and Richard ignored it, and married anyway.
This infuriated the King, and he took away Jacquetta’s lands and refused to see her.
Jacquetta and Richard were ordered to pay a £1,000 fine.
Over time, the King welcomed them back to court, giving Jacquetta her lands back, and making Richard a Knight.
Eleven years later, due to services to the King, Richard Woodville was made a Baron.
Richard Woodville became known as Baron Rivers, elevating all 14 of the children he and Jacquetta had together, to the English nobility.
Because Jacquetta was a member of the royal family, she enjoyed close access to the king, as well as many special privileges.
When King Henry married Margaret of Anjou in 1445, Jacquetta lost her position as the first lady in England.
However, she was still the second lady, second only to the new queen, herself.
Jacquetta and Queen Margaret developed a close, special friendship.
When the Wars of the Roses broke out between those loyal to King Henry VI and Queen Margaret, and those loyal to Henry VI’s cousin, the Duke of York – Jacquetta and Richard remained firmly on the side of the king and queen.
They were family, after all.
Richard even fought in some of the initial battles of the war.
Jacquetta and Richard’s eldest daughter Elizabeth, married into a prominent Lancastrian family, the Greys.
Elizabeth bore two sons with Sir John Grey, Thomas & Richard.
When Elizabeth’s husband Sir John Grey was killed in battle, everything would change for the Woodvilles…..
While Jacquetta loved King Henry, and was close friends with the queen, her first loyalty was always to her husband and children.
Three years after Sir John Grey was killed, the King and Queen were overthrown by the Yorkists.
Edward, the Duke of York’s eldest son, was crowned King Edward IV of England.
Jacquetta’s daughter Elizabeth, was described as the most beautiful woman in England, and she decided to petition the new King for the release of her dower lands.
It’s been said, that as soon as Edward laid eyes on the beautiful Elizabeth, he fell madly in love with her.
Refusing to be his mistress, they married in a secret ceremony, witnessed only by Jacquetta, the Priest and a choirboy.
Jacquetta’s daughter was now the Queen of England.
The Yorks had been Jacquetta’s sworn enemies for years, and now her daughter was married to the York king!
Jacquetta knew she had to support her daughter.
Jacquetta and Richard abandoned their support of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou.
Jacquetta and her family were Yorks now, and Jacquetta herself was the Queen’s Mother.
Battles between the Lancastrians and Yorkists, raged on.
It was during one of these battles that Edward IV’s cousin, Richard Neville the Earl of Warwick, took Richard Woodville and his oldest son John captive.
Warwick eXecuted them without a trial.
Jacquetta’s husband and eldest surviving son, were dead, and Jacquetta was devastated.
Warwick drove Edward IV from the throne, and Queen Elizabeth and her children went into sanctuary, at Westminster Abbey.
Warwick briefly restored the Lancastrian King, and Jacquetta was brought up on witchcraft charges.
Jacquetta was accused of being in possession of two lead images of Edward IV and Elizabeth.
It was believed Jacquetta used these images to make Edward IV fall in love with Elizabeth, and elevate Jacquetta’s family to the throne.
Before the case could go any further, Edward returned with an army, and took his throne back.
The charges of witchcraft against Jacquetta were dropped.
Jacquetta died on 30th May 1472, three years after her husband and son were wrongfully eXecuted.
She was around fifty-six years old.
She left behind a large family of 12 surviving children out of 14, and numerous grandchildren.
Jacquetta’s legacy….
Jacquetta’s eldest grandaughter Elizabeth of York, married the conquering Henry Tudor, and became Elizabeth of York, Queen of England.
Their marriage effectively ended the Wars of the Roses.
Their daughter, Margaret Tudor, became queen of Scotland.
Their daughter Mary Tudor briefly became Queen of France.
Their son Henry, became Henry VIII of England.
Through her grandson Henry VIII, Jacquetta was the Great-Great Grandmother of both Mary I and Elizabeth I.
After a century and a quarter reign of the Tudors, the crown of England went to Jacquetta’s great-great-great grandson James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England.
All of the monarchs of England since then, have been descended from this line.
This means that every English monarch to sit on the throne from the moment Jacquetta’s daughter Elizabeth Woodville became queen, is a direct descendant of Jacquetta, including King Charles III of the United Kingdom……..
🌹 Janet McTeer as Jacquetta in ‘The White Queen’
