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The Other Margaret Beaufort
In 15th century England, there are two cousins, both the daughters of dukes, both widowed young, both the mother of sons called Henry.
Both are named Margaret Beaufort.
One Margaret’s son will be a future King.
The other one’s son will be an infamous rebel.
The ‘other Margaret Beaufort’ is the daughter of Edmund, Duke of Somerset. Proud and temperamental, Edmund’s bitterest enemy is Richard, Duke of York. Rumours swirl about Edmund—Is he to blame for losing many English territories in France? Is he the true father of Queen Margaret’s baby son, Edward of Westminster? Tensions brew at court while King Henry VI lies abed in a catatonic stupor.
Margaret, Edmund’s daughter, wife to Humphrey Stafford, heir of the Duke of Buckingham, is far from this conflict at Brecknock Castle in Wales.
She has recently given birth to a son, named Henry for the King, but her life comes crashing down when the First Battle of St Alban’s is fought and her father is killed and Humphrey seriously wounded.
The Wars of the Roses has begun.
Margaret must survive when Humphrey dies and her children are taken into wardship. She weds again, out of necessity, but the marriage is not a happy one, and she succumbs to melancholy and despair, her mother-in-law Elizabeth calling her an ‘imbecile’ when her husband puts the ailing and pregnant Margaret into Elizabeth’s care.
And all through her life, in good times and bad, destiny throws Margaret into strange parallels with her more famous Beaufort cousin, whose star ascends even as Margaret’s falls into obscurity.
Book 9 in the series 'MEDIEVAL BABES', fictionally chronicling the lives of lesser known noblewomen, princesses and queens
Both are named Margaret Beaufort.
One Margaret’s son will be a future King.
The other one’s son will be an infamous rebel.
The ‘other Margaret Beaufort’ is the daughter of Edmund, Duke of Somerset. Proud and temperamental, Edmund’s bitterest enemy is Richard, Duke of York. Rumours swirl about Edmund—Is he to blame for losing many English territories in France? Is he the true father of Queen Margaret’s baby son, Edward of Westminster? Tensions brew at court while King Henry VI lies abed in a catatonic stupor.
Margaret, Edmund’s daughter, wife to Humphrey Stafford, heir of the Duke of Buckingham, is far from this conflict at Brecknock Castle in Wales.
She has recently given birth to a son, named Henry for the King, but her life comes crashing down when the First Battle of St Alban’s is fought and her father is killed and Humphrey seriously wounded.
The Wars of the Roses has begun.
Margaret must survive when Humphrey dies and her children are taken into wardship. She weds again, out of necessity, but the marriage is not a happy one, and she succumbs to melancholy and despair, her mother-in-law Elizabeth calling her an ‘imbecile’ when her husband puts the ailing and pregnant Margaret into Elizabeth’s care.
And all through her life, in good times and bad, destiny throws Margaret into strange parallels with her more famous Beaufort cousin, whose star ascends even as Margaret’s falls into obscurity.
Book 9 in the series 'MEDIEVAL BABES', fictionally chronicling the lives of lesser known noblewomen, princesses and queens
- GenresHistorical Fiction
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2022
119 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Reedman
105 books166 followersBorn in Canada, J.P. Reedman has been a UK resident for over 30 years. She has been writing since the age of 5, and preferred genres are fantasy and historical (or a mixture of both.) Interests are British history and prehistory, especially the neolithic and bronze ages, archaeology, anthropology and features of the countryside. She is author of the STONEHENGE SAGA a novel that places the legends of King Arthur back into the bronze age, and a number of works about King Richard III, including the epic, I RICHARD PLANTAGENET, which, with both parts combined, is over 250,000 words long and written from Richard's first person perspective. She is also the author of the bestselling medieval novel, MY FAIR LADY, about the little known Queen, Eleanor of Provence which is first in an ongoing series about lesser-known medieval noblewoman. 13 SO FAR!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 14, 2022
The Other Margaret Beaufort
By J P Reedman
Reviewed June 14, 2022
When the name Margaret Beaufort comes up, people almost immediately think of the mother of Henry Tudor. But there was another Margaret Beaufort. These two Margarets were first cousins. Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, was the daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso. Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Stafford was the daughter of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset and brother of John above, and Lady Eleanor Beauchamp. Like her cousin of the same name, Margaret, Countess of Stafford also had a son named Henry. Unlike her cousin’s only son, who went on to become king of England after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, this Margaret’s son became Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, and if you know your 15th century English history, you’ll know that Buckingham met an ignoble end when he rebelled against King Richard.
One of the reasons for the confusion between the two women, other than their having the same name and living at the same time, is that little is known about this other Margaret Beaufort. And what is found in the records imply that she was an imbecile, somehow mentally deficient. But it’s that’s the case, why did Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, heir to the dukedom of Buckingham, choose her for his wife? If you’re thinking it had to do with her inheritance, keep in mind that the Beauforts, although bearing noble titles and having royal blood flowing through their veins, were relatively poor, and Margaret was a second daughter meaning her share of any dowry would be much less than that which would have been received by her older, unmarried sister.
So there must have been something else, and this is where Ms. Reedman weaves a compelling story of a woman with “issues” – of a nervous disposition, prone to debilitating migraines, but who had a good marriage with Humphrey Stafford.
Then the troubles began.
Being strong supporters of King Henry VI, Humphrey fought on the Lancastrian side at the opening battle of the Wars of the Roses, the First Battle of St. Albans. There he is seriously wounded. The wound never fully heals, and Humphrey, despondent and thinking of himself as a cripple and not a man, lingers for several years before finally succumbing.
During their marriage, Margaret and Humphrey have two sons – Henry and Humphrey. As if losing her husband isn’t bad enough, Margaret learns that her dower lands are not as profitable as originally thought, and so she is forced to live under reduced circumstances. Plus with her oldest son now being heir to the Buckingham dukedom, he and his brother are taken from her and into the custody of their paternal grandparents.
A woman alone, even a widow, was not an enviable position to be in, and after much resistance to the idea of doing so, Margaret eventually marries Sir Richard Dayrell. It is, in the terms of the day, a marriage beneath her station, but she has little choice. It is a marriage of convenience, definitely not one of love, but Margaret tries to make the most of it.
During the Wars of the Roses, family fortunes, especially amongst the nobility, were often like a merry-go-round and Ms. Reedman does a great job of showing us how the ups and downs impacted people on a very personal level.
I had the privilege of being Ms. Reedman’s proofreader, so if you read the book and find any mistakes on that part you can blame on me. The problem was that, while proofreading each chapter, I had to slow myself down because I would become so engrossed in the story.
If you enjoy a good “woman’s story” with a historical background, I recommend The Other Margaret Beaufort.
By J P Reedman
Reviewed June 14, 2022
When the name Margaret Beaufort comes up, people almost immediately think of the mother of Henry Tudor. But there was another Margaret Beaufort. These two Margarets were first cousins. Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, was the daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso. Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Stafford was the daughter of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset and brother of John above, and Lady Eleanor Beauchamp. Like her cousin of the same name, Margaret, Countess of Stafford also had a son named Henry. Unlike her cousin’s only son, who went on to become king of England after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, this Margaret’s son became Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, and if you know your 15th century English history, you’ll know that Buckingham met an ignoble end when he rebelled against King Richard.
One of the reasons for the confusion between the two women, other than their having the same name and living at the same time, is that little is known about this other Margaret Beaufort. And what is found in the records imply that she was an imbecile, somehow mentally deficient. But it’s that’s the case, why did Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, heir to the dukedom of Buckingham, choose her for his wife? If you’re thinking it had to do with her inheritance, keep in mind that the Beauforts, although bearing noble titles and having royal blood flowing through their veins, were relatively poor, and Margaret was a second daughter meaning her share of any dowry would be much less than that which would have been received by her older, unmarried sister.
So there must have been something else, and this is where Ms. Reedman weaves a compelling story of a woman with “issues” – of a nervous disposition, prone to debilitating migraines, but who had a good marriage with Humphrey Stafford.
Then the troubles began.
Being strong supporters of King Henry VI, Humphrey fought on the Lancastrian side at the opening battle of the Wars of the Roses, the First Battle of St. Albans. There he is seriously wounded. The wound never fully heals, and Humphrey, despondent and thinking of himself as a cripple and not a man, lingers for several years before finally succumbing.
During their marriage, Margaret and Humphrey have two sons – Henry and Humphrey. As if losing her husband isn’t bad enough, Margaret learns that her dower lands are not as profitable as originally thought, and so she is forced to live under reduced circumstances. Plus with her oldest son now being heir to the Buckingham dukedom, he and his brother are taken from her and into the custody of their paternal grandparents.
A woman alone, even a widow, was not an enviable position to be in, and after much resistance to the idea of doing so, Margaret eventually marries Sir Richard Dayrell. It is, in the terms of the day, a marriage beneath her station, but she has little choice. It is a marriage of convenience, definitely not one of love, but Margaret tries to make the most of it.
During the Wars of the Roses, family fortunes, especially amongst the nobility, were often like a merry-go-round and Ms. Reedman does a great job of showing us how the ups and downs impacted people on a very personal level.
I had the privilege of being Ms. Reedman’s proofreader, so if you read the book and find any mistakes on that part you can blame on me. The problem was that, while proofreading each chapter, I had to slow myself down because I would become so engrossed in the story.
If you enjoy a good “woman’s story” with a historical background, I recommend The Other Margaret Beaufort.
June 20, 2022
You need to read this
What a great story about the lesser known Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Stafford. The story is primarily of her life, but the more famous Margaret Beaufort, who is her cousin, runs somewhat parallel. I found the book hard to put down and JP Reedman does a phenomenal job of bringing these lesser known ladies to life. Keep them coming JP!
What a great story about the lesser known Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Stafford. The story is primarily of her life, but the more famous Margaret Beaufort, who is her cousin, runs somewhat parallel. I found the book hard to put down and JP Reedman does a phenomenal job of bringing these lesser known ladies to life. Keep them coming JP!
June 25, 2022
The other Margaret Beaufort is the duchess of Stafford and first cousin to King Henry VII confusion over hope and a brilliant read
December 9, 2022
Here, we follow the life of the lesser-known Margearet Beaufort whose life surprisingly paralleled that of her well-known cousin, up until the point where their sons had drastically different outcomes to challenging Richard III.
The story is partly following Margaret unable to deal with a very clear case of PTSD along with a host of other mental issues, getting only censor and ridicule from others instead of any real help or even sympathy.
But while's she's tossed around both by her mind and personal events, she also sees her country descending into civil war. The beginnings of the War of the Roses are often rush through so writers and historians can get to "the good stuff" once the huge battles start to take place and the crown gets turned into a soccer ball - but here we see the gradual breakdown of civility and the ramp up of violence. Also, surprisingly, there is real sympathy here for the Lancaster faction, so often portrayed as just straight up villains across the board, but you see where they are coming from here through Margaret's POV.
There's a little too much info dumping throughout, as too many details of the time period are crammed in, as the author shows off her research, but at least all the family connection listed, as awkward as it was when they were shoved into conversations, helps to show how tangled and personal the War of the Roses was.
June 8, 2025
her life shows the red rose’s view…
I am surprised I liked this book due to I’ve always was 3rd sun/sonYorkist fan. Even though technically he was the fourth. Yea I never liked so called historians much to tell the truth, so he was a real life Prince Charming to me as I grew up much to anyone who knew the history swore I was wrong but thru Margaret Beaufort, you see how it must have felt to be a Lancastrian, how births and deaths can bring you safety, wealth or ruin, fears and fleeing for your very life. So thru her eyes you see how part of their side dealt with things. But I felt sorry she suffered disability migraines that caused her to be more sensitive and suffer from them, others saying she was crazy. I was just thankful she wasn’t cast off or put in an abbey labeled crazy.
I am surprised I liked this book due to I’ve always was 3rd sun/sonYorkist fan. Even though technically he was the fourth. Yea I never liked so called historians much to tell the truth, so he was a real life Prince Charming to me as I grew up much to anyone who knew the history swore I was wrong but thru Margaret Beaufort, you see how it must have felt to be a Lancastrian, how births and deaths can bring you safety, wealth or ruin, fears and fleeing for your very life. So thru her eyes you see how part of their side dealt with things. But I felt sorry she suffered disability migraines that caused her to be more sensitive and suffer from them, others saying she was crazy. I was just thankful she wasn’t cast off or put in an abbey labeled crazy.
September 10, 2022
Fiction-Historical is more Apt than Historical Fiction
An entertaining read (despite the usual Amazon Kindle-book errors) for anyone who enjoys the era surrounding the War of the Roses. Just keep in mind that, other than the prominent characters & well-known events, it is closer to a work of fiction than an historical novel.
Despite all the characters, it’s fairly easy to follow and a pleasurable reading diversion. It likely deserves only 3 stars, but I gave it 4 because I did enjoy it! So, if you want a quick & pleasurable read (& you know some of the history & personages involved), it’s great. Perfect for a plane trip or rainy afternoon.
An entertaining read (despite the usual Amazon Kindle-book errors) for anyone who enjoys the era surrounding the War of the Roses. Just keep in mind that, other than the prominent characters & well-known events, it is closer to a work of fiction than an historical novel.
Despite all the characters, it’s fairly easy to follow and a pleasurable reading diversion. It likely deserves only 3 stars, but I gave it 4 because I did enjoy it! So, if you want a quick & pleasurable read (& you know some of the history & personages involved), it’s great. Perfect for a plane trip or rainy afternoon.
July 23, 2023
The Margaret this book is about had a mostly hard life. She was a timid little mouse who lived in a world of constant warfare. She somehow managed to keep herself together until her 1st husband died of wounds. Her world collapses. Her 2nd husband-well-he married her for the prestige of her family--no love lost between them. I found myself routing and alternately crying for her as time after time things went horribly wrong. The ending was not a happy one--but I kind of expected it.
September 25, 2023
A Hard Life
Great depiction of the life of a woman in pre Tudor England. Admittedly, this women came from privilege making her life physically easier. Yet she was treated as property to be used and discarded as was most convenient to her family. Along the way, we learned the background of the faint Duke of Buckingham.
All in all, time well spent.
Great depiction of the life of a woman in pre Tudor England. Admittedly, this women came from privilege making her life physically easier. Yet she was treated as property to be used and discarded as was most convenient to her family. Along the way, we learned the background of the faint Duke of Buckingham.
All in all, time well spent.
February 3, 2025
Again, so many from that era with the same name can be very confusing, but a tale well told! I never knew there was another Margaret Beauforte. Loved the descriptive detail throughout about Margaret and her family. And since historical fiction is my favorite, this author did not disappoint.
September 27, 2022
09/27/2022
February 4, 2023
A very interestin historical fiction story about the period of the wars of the roses, and well illustrates the trouble had with the interaction of peoples of different social standing
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews