Mother Witch: Jacquetta of Luxembourg
Jacquetta of Luxembourg was the daughter of Peter I of Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol and his wife, Margaret del Balzo. Jacquetta was born around 1415, and was their second child. Not much of her early life is known, but Peter had many notable family connections, being a distant cousin of the Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg family also claimed they were descended from Melusine, a folkloric figure who was said to be the female spirit of a river. Some say she was a demon. Other noble families who claimed to be descendent from Melusine included the Angevins and the Lusignans.
When she was 17, Jacquetta was married to John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford. John was the son of King Henry IV. John died two years later without having any children. Jacquetta retained the title of Duchess of Bedford, despite being a widow, and she inherited 1/3 of John's estate.
King Henry VI hired Sir Richard Woodville to return his aunt, Jacquetta, to England. While making the journey, Jacquetta and Richard fell in love and secretly married due to their unequal ranks. As the widow of a royal, Jacquetta was required to obtain permission for her marriage, especially if she wanted to hold onto the inheritance she received. Henry VI was enraged when he found of about the marriage, but after the couple paid a fine, he relented and sanctioned their marriage.
Richard and Jacquetta had fourteen children. Their royal connection through Jacquetta brought them eminence. Jacquetta was the second highest ranking woman of the court, after the queen. Jacquetta was able to obtain for her husband the title of Baron Rivers from Henry VI. Due to Henry VI's patronage, the Woodvilles remained loyal to the Lancastrian family of Henry when the rival York faction began to rebel.
Jacquetta's oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Sir John Grey. John also fought in support of the Lancastrians, but was killed when the Yorks defeated their armies at the Second Battle of St. Albans. The Yorks defeated the Lancastrians entirely in 1461, Henry VI was deposed and and Edward, Duke of York, became King Edward IV of England.
Edward and Elizabeth became secretly engaged and married only in the presence of Jacquetta in 1464. This marriage enraged Yorkist supporters, who wanted to marry Edward off to a French princess to secure his throne. Elizabeth was crowned Queen in 1465, and her family's prominence increased. Her father, Baron Rivers, became Earl Rivers and High Treasurer of the kingdom. Jacquetta's other children were able to marry high ranking nobles as they were now siblings of the Queen. This further angered the Yorkists, including Edward's loyal brothers, George and Richard.
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, was one of the supporters annoyed by the Woodvilles. Warwick was known as the Kingmaker, because his support helped secure Edward's crown. Losing his influence over Edward to the Woodvilles, Warwick acted out. He briefly was able to depose Edward, and had Jacquetta's husband, Earl Rivers, and son, John, arrested and executed.
A follower of Warwick accused Jacquetta of witchcraft. Her displayed a lead figure that he alleged Jacquetta used for witchcraft. He said she had also made lead figures of the king and queen, and was trying to curse them. King Edward, however, was freed by Warwick and he pardoned his mother-in-law from these accusations. Jacquetta died peacefully in 1472, her daughter on the throne and her grandchildren seemingly destined to rule England.
However, this would not be the case, as Richard, the brother of Edward, stepped in and declared Jacquetta's grandsons as illegitimate. He also renewed the accusations of witchcraft against Jacquetta when he became King Richard III.
Notable Descendants:
While Jacquetta's grandsons were denied the kingdom by Richard III, her granddaughter, Elizabeth, married King Henry VIII and became the ancestor of all later English monarchs. Jacquetta was also the ancestress of many other English nobles through her other children.
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| Jacquetta's first husband, John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford |
King Henry VI hired Sir Richard Woodville to return his aunt, Jacquetta, to England. While making the journey, Jacquetta and Richard fell in love and secretly married due to their unequal ranks. As the widow of a royal, Jacquetta was required to obtain permission for her marriage, especially if she wanted to hold onto the inheritance she received. Henry VI was enraged when he found of about the marriage, but after the couple paid a fine, he relented and sanctioned their marriage.
Richard and Jacquetta had fourteen children. Their royal connection through Jacquetta brought them eminence. Jacquetta was the second highest ranking woman of the court, after the queen. Jacquetta was able to obtain for her husband the title of Baron Rivers from Henry VI. Due to Henry VI's patronage, the Woodvilles remained loyal to the Lancastrian family of Henry when the rival York faction began to rebel.
Jacquetta's oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Sir John Grey. John also fought in support of the Lancastrians, but was killed when the Yorks defeated their armies at the Second Battle of St. Albans. The Yorks defeated the Lancastrians entirely in 1461, Henry VI was deposed and and Edward, Duke of York, became King Edward IV of England.
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| Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England |
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, was one of the supporters annoyed by the Woodvilles. Warwick was known as the Kingmaker, because his support helped secure Edward's crown. Losing his influence over Edward to the Woodvilles, Warwick acted out. He briefly was able to depose Edward, and had Jacquetta's husband, Earl Rivers, and son, John, arrested and executed.
A follower of Warwick accused Jacquetta of witchcraft. Her displayed a lead figure that he alleged Jacquetta used for witchcraft. He said she had also made lead figures of the king and queen, and was trying to curse them. King Edward, however, was freed by Warwick and he pardoned his mother-in-law from these accusations. Jacquetta died peacefully in 1472, her daughter on the throne and her grandchildren seemingly destined to rule England.
However, this would not be the case, as Richard, the brother of Edward, stepped in and declared Jacquetta's grandsons as illegitimate. He also renewed the accusations of witchcraft against Jacquetta when he became King Richard III.
Notable Descendants:
While Jacquetta's grandsons were denied the kingdom by Richard III, her granddaughter, Elizabeth, married King Henry VIII and became the ancestor of all later English monarchs. Jacquetta was also the ancestress of many other English nobles through her other children.
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