Margaret of York

Also known as: Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy / king Edwards sister · Family: House of York · Role: princess · First appears: Edward IV 5

In 1467, Margaret of York, a Yorkist princess and the sister of Edward IV, became the subject of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy’s suit. At the king’s great chamber, Anthony, Bastard of Burgundy contracted her for Charles in his brother’s name: “the said bastard openlie in the kings great chamber contracted the said ladie Margaret, for, and in the name of his brother the said earle of Charolois.”

By about 1468, Margaret married Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy at Bruges with great triumphs and princely feasting, and at Sluis she was presented with the town as its sovereign lady. Their marriage later gave Edward IV refuge and relief in his “extreame necessitie.” Margaret also benefited Hawkins when she was prosperous, making him her wardrober and customer of Hampton.

Margaret was the sister of George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, whose affairs were aided by her. After the young Duchess of Burgundy was deprived of her towns, castles, and territories, she eventually married Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor for their maintenance.

Relationship record

Life events

• 1467 · Anthony, Bastard of Burgundy contracted Margaret of York for Charles, Duke of Burgundy.(Edward IV 5 · 📍 the kings great chamber)
  • With: Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy Anthony, Bastard of Burgundy
  • “the said bastard openlie in the kings great chamber contracted the said ladie Margaret, for, and in the name of his brother the said earle of Charolois.”
• c. 1468 · Charles, Duke of Burgundy married Margaret of York with great triumphs and princely feasting.(Edward IV 6 · 📍 Bruges)
  • With: Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy
  • “and so after that ships, and all other necessarie prouisions were readie, they being accompanied with a great sort of lords and ladies, and others, to the number of fiue hundred horsse, in the beginning of Iune departed out of London to Douer, and so sailed to Sluis, and from thense was conueied to Bruges, where the marriage was solemnized betwixt the duke and hir, with great triumphs, and princelie feastings.”
• 1468 · Margaret of York was presented with Sluis as its sovereign lady.(Edward IV 6 · 📍 Sluis)
  • “and so procéeding in at the gate of the towne, the same towne was presented to hir, she to be souereigne ladie thereof: also they gaue to hir twelue marks of gold Troie weight, the which was two hundred pounds of English monie:”
• 1470 · Margaret of York’s marriage to Charles, Duke of Burgundy, provided Edward IV refuge and relief.(Edward IV 11)
  • With: Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy
  • “the mariage of the ladie Margaret, king Edwards sister to the duke Charles, did to him in his extreame necessitie”

Edward IV 5

• siblings with Edward IV “for to haue in mariage the ladie Margaret, sister to the said king, a ladie of excellent beautie,”
• engaged with Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy “at length, the king granted to the bastards request; and the said bastard openlie in the kings great chamber contracted the said ladie Margaret, for, and in the name of his brother the said earle of Charolois.”
• admirer: Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy “This was Charles earle of Charolois, the sonne and heire apparant vnto Philip duke of Burgognie, which Charles being then a widower, was councelled to be suter vnto king Edward, for to haue in mariage the ladie Margaret, sister to the said king,”

Edward IV 6

• siblings with Edward IV “Margaret sister to K. Edward the fourth”
• engaged with Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy “On the third of Iulie came the duke of Burgognie to Sluis, with twentie persons secretlie, and was there openlie affianced to the ladie Margaret”
• married with Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy “the mariage was solemnized betwixt them, by the bishops of Salisburie and of Turneie”
• protégé: Hawkins “yet the said Hawkins exhorted him to remember, what benefits he had receiued by hir when she was in prosperitie, as by making him hir wardrober, and customer of Hampton, &c.”

Edward IV 11

• siblings with Edward IV “the mariage of the ladie Margaret, king Edwards sister to the duke Charles”
• married with Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy “the mariage of the ladie Margaret, king Edwards sister to the duke Charles”

Edward IV 35

• siblings with George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence “by the meanes of his sister the ladie Margaret, duchesse of Burgognie”
• married with Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy “the ladie Margaret, duchesse of Burgognie”
• married with Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor “the yoong duchesse of Burgognie was spoiled of hir townes, castels & territories, till at length for maintenance she condescended to marrie with Maximilian sonne to the emperour Frederike”

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Extracted from the original text of Holinshed's Chronicles — the reigns Shakespeare dramatized. Made with Rho MD.