The older sister of King Henry VIII was a proud woman. Featuring a big personality and an energy to her, she was a definite Tudor princess and one that could make a proud marriage for the family. Margaret Tudor was married to the King of Scotland, but her journey into the world of marriage didn't just end with one husband. Margaret Tudor, the spoiled and sometimes competitive sister of King Henry VIII got exactly what he desired most and struggled to finally get, a divorce. Oh sibling rivalry!
Margaret Tudor was born to King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York on November 28, 1489 at Richmond Palace. She was their second child and sister to Prince Arthur, Prince Henry, and Princess Mary. Princess Margaret and Prince Henry were often competitive in the nursery on who could dance better and often got into arguments due to their strong personalities.
Princess Margaret's plans were laid out for her early. When she was just a little girl she was already promised in marriage to King James IV of Scotland. The Treaty of Perpetual Peace which came to be on January 24, 1502 finally brought peace to England and Scotland and Margaret was married by proxy so she became regarded as the Queen of Scots.
In 1503, Margaret, Queen of Scots made her journey to her new homeland. A stable fire had killed some of her horses during the journey and Margaret was heartbroken. Her new husband, the King of Scotland, James immediately came to comfort his young bride. They were then married officially at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh on August 8, 1503. William Dunbar, a famous poet called the marriage "The Thistle and the Rose".
Margaret, Queen of Scots produced six children. Most were stillborn or died in infancy. The two that survived their births were Alexander and James, the heir to the throne. Margaret could not enjoy her life as the Queen of Scots and mother for too long as her home country of England and Scotland became at odds. King James invaded England, but was killed at the Battle of Flodden on the commands of Margaret's sister-in-law Catherine of Aragon who was acting regent. Margaret was left with a baby as the King of Scotland. She was named as regent for her royal son as long as she remained a widow.
Margaret involved herself in some politics, but many members of Parliament did not like she was the sister of their enemy king and were not amused by her behavior such as her romance with Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. The Earl of Angus and Margaret, the dowager Queen were married secretly in a parish church on August 6, 1514 which angered the nobles. Margaret was now no longer regent for her son.
Margaret retired to Edinburgh to avoid all the drama and King Henry VIII urged her to return to England, but Margaret stayed firmed and remained in Scotland for a bit. She eventually did flee Scotland and head to the border. She arrived in England and was housed at Harbottle Castle where in October of 1514 she gave birth to Lady Margaret Douglas. Margaret also learned of the death of her son Alexander which many blamed on the Duke of Albany. Her husband, the Earl of Angus also abandoned Margaret and decided to remain in Scotland and make peace with their enemies, but he actually had to do this to avoid being tried for treason. Still, Margaret was finished with the Earl of Angus.
Margaret arrived to her brother King Henry VIII's glamorous court and was lodged in Scotland Yard. She eventually did return to Scotland briefly after a reconciliation was made between England and Scotland. Margaret still had limited access to her son. Margaret also decided now was the time to divorce the Earl of Angus of who living off of her money and carrying on with a mistress. Henry VIII was horrified that his sister wanted to offend the Catholic Church and divorce her husband, but Margaret did receive her divorce in 1527, something her brother, while initially against, would want as well.
Margaret then fell in love with Henry Stewart. They were married on March 3, 1528. Their marriage produced a daughter named Dorothea who died in infancy. Margaret reunited with her son and Henry and Margaret were advisers and friends to the young King James of Scotland. Eventually though Margaret grew tired of Henry Stewart and desired another divorce, but her son put that idea aside and they remained married.
Margaret lived out her final years in Scotland welcoming her son's bride, Mary of Guise and watching her son, King James V reign. Margaret died of a stroke on October 18, 1541 at Methven Castle and was buried at the Carthusian Priory of St. John in Perth. With the Tudor dynasty ending with her great niece Queen Elizabeth dying childless, Margaret's great-grandson James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and the crowns of England and Scotland were finally united.
Margaret has been potrayed in fiction as a main character in "The Thistle and the Rose" by Jean Plaidy. She also appears as a character in Showtime's "The Tudors" as a combination of King Henry VIII's two sisters. The character is called Princess Margaret, but her life is loosely based off of Princess Mary. She was played by Gabrielle Anwar.
Margaret, a Tudor princess, a Queen of Scots, and a divorcee was a complicated, fascinating and proud woman who went to Scotland, did her duty, gave Scotland their heir and was a solid queen. She would have been happy to know she was a player in eventually uniting England and Scotland and that one of her descendant sat on the throne of England.
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