Her most significant challenge came after the death of her husband, King Henry VI, who was imprisoned by the Yorkists in 1465. With her son, Edward of Westminster, now the rightful heir to the throne, Margaret found herself facing an increasingly hostile English court. Her hopes for a Lancastrian restoration were crushed when her son was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. His death was a devastating blow to Margaret, but it was also a testament to her enduring resilience.
Although the Lancastrian cause seemed doomed, Margaret did not fade quietly into obscurity. She was captured after the Yorkist victory at Tewkesbury, and her life was spared only after her capture. The capture of Margaret marked the final collapse of the Lancastrian faction, and she was eventually exiled to France.
Exile and Later Life
After her release from captivity, Margaret of Anjou returned to France, where she lived out her final years in relative obscurity. The once-vibrant queen, who had been at the forefront of England’s most crucial political and military battles, now found herself in the quietude of French life. She lived for some years in the French court, where her influence was no longer what it had been during her years in England. In 1482, Margaret died in the city of Angers, far removed from the turbulent world of English politics she had once dominated.
Legacy: The Wolf Queen’s Enduring Influence
Margaret of Anjou's legacy is complex and multifaceted. While she was vilified by her enemies, often depicted as a scheming and ambitious woman, she was also recognized for her resilience and steadfastness in the face of overwhelming odds. Her tenacity and leadership in the face of adversity made her a symbol of resistance, especially during the darkest days of the Wars of the Roses.
In the broader context of English history, Margaret of Anjou is often remembered as a queen who fought to preserve the dynasty to which she had pledged her loyalty, even as her world crumbled around her. Her strength, intelligence, and political acumen ensured her place as one of the most formidable queens of medieval England—a woman who refused to go quietly into exile, even when defeat seemed inevitable.
Margaret’s story, marked by personal loss, political turmoil, and unshakable determination, offers an example of a woman who was not simply a passive figure in the backdrop of history but a central player whose impact extended far beyond her time. The Queen of the “Wolf” may have lost the throne, but she left an indelible mark on the history of England, a testament to the strength of a queen who never gave up. shutdown123