by Danielle Friedl

Created on: July 29, 2007

Hidden throughout the middle ages are women like Joan of Arc and Eleanor of Aquitaine, women who made names for themselves by the things they stood for and the people they stood up to. It is often said that behind every great man is a an even greater woman and nothing could be further from the truth when you think of Elizabeth of York. Married to King Henry VII of England in the 1400s, all the descendants of British monarchy come from Elizabeth of York. She is the only English Queen to be known as wife, daughter, sister, niece and mother of English Kings.

As Queen consort of England, she also became the mother of one king, grandmother to two kings and two queens, great-grandmother of a queen and great-great-grandmother of a king. Her son Henry VIII ruled over England and gave us Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Her daughter Margaret was married to James IV of Scotland and produced James V of Scotland and then Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary's son James united the kingdoms of England and Scotland becoming James I of England and James VI of Scotland.

Elizabeth was born as the oldest child to Edward IV. Upon her father's death, her uncle Richard III took the throne. Elizabeth's mother arranged to have her married to Henry Tudor if he could overthrow King Richard, thereby placing Elizabeth on the throne as the rightful heir. Henry was crowned Henry VII, King of England in 1485 and a little over a year after their son Arthur's birth Elizabeth was crowned Queen.

Elizabeth of York is said to be the basis of the Queen's picture in a standard deck of cards.

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