- Tudor-era Noblewoman
- AKA: The Forgotten Tudor Princess
- Countess of Lennox
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox was born 18 October 1515 to Archibald Douglas (1489-1557) and Margaret Tudor (1489-1541) and died 9 March 1578 of unspecified causes. She married Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516-1571) 29 June 1544 JL .
Biography
Chart showing descent and progeny of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox
Lady Margaret Douglas was a prominent figure in Tudor-era England. She was the daughter of Henry VIII's elder sister, Margaret Tudor, and her second husband, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Margaret was born on October 8, 1515, and died on March 7, 1578, at the age of 62.
Margaret was a member of the royal family, which meant that she was always a potential threat to the reigning monarchs. She was also known for her beauty, wit, and intelligence. Margaret's position as a close relative of the monarchs gave her significant influence at court and made her an important player in the political intrigues of the time.
Margaret had a complicated personal life. Margaret's marriage, to Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516-1571), was also arranged for political reasons, but it was a happy union. They had two children,
Margaret was involved in several high-profile scandals during her life. She was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London for her part in the marriage of her son, Lord Darnley, to Mary, Queen of Scots. She was also suspected of being involved in the plot to put her granddaughter, Arbella Stuart, on the throne.
Margaret was a patron of the arts and a skilled needlewoman. She was known for her tapestries and embroidery, some of which survive to this day. Margaret was also a devout Catholic and was instrumental in promoting the cause of Catholicism in England.
In conclusion, Lady Margaret Douglas was a fascinating figure in Tudor-era England. Her position as a close relative of the monarchs gave her significant influence at court, and her personal life was full of drama and intrigue. Despite her many scandals, Margaret was a patron of the arts, a skilled needlewoman, and a devout Catholic who promoted the cause of Catholicism in England.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545-1567) | 7 December 1545 | 10 February 1567 | Mary of Scotland (1542-1586) |
| Charles Stuart (c1547-1576) | 1555 | 1576 | Elizabeth Cavendish (1555-1582) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Margaret Douglas (1515-1578) | 18 October 1515 | 9 March 1578 | Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516-1571) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| James Douglas | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Janet Douglas (-c1552) | |||
| George Douglas | |||
See Also
- Margaret Douglas - disambiguation
- Douglas Family
- Douglas in Scotland -
Bibliography
- de Lisle, Leanda (2012). Tudor: The Family Story. Chatto & Windus.
- de Lisle, Leanda (August 2013). "King Henry's Niece". History Today 63 (8).
- de Lisle, Leanda (2013). Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England's Most Notorious Royal Family. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1610393638.
- Denny, Joanna (2005). Katherine Howard: A Tudor Conspiracy. Portrait. p. 8. ISBN 978-0749950736.
- Ring, Morgan (2017). So High a Blood: The Life of Margaret, Countess of Lennox. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781408859667.
- Stevenson, Jane (2001). Early Modern Women Poets (1520–1700): An Anthology. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199242573. https://archive.org/details/earlymodernwomen0000unse.
- Weir, Alison (2001). Henry VIII: The King and His Court. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-43659-8. https://archive.org/details/henryviiikinghis00weir.
- Weir, Alison (2015). The Lost Tudor Princess: A Life of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. New York, NY: Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780345521392.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Margaret Douglas
- Margaret Douglas at thePeerage
- Margaret Douglas, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Lady-Margaret-Douglas-Countess-of-Lennox/6000000002435383373, retrieved 01 May 2023
- Margaret Douglas at Find A Grave
- Lucy Dean, 'Rituals to Celebrate Perpetual Peace: The Marriage of Margaret Tudor and James IV in 1503'
- Margaret Douglas: The forgotten Tudor princess, BBC History Magazine, 18 November 2015 at 5:00 pm
Ancestry Trees
- Charlemagne Family Ancestry
- Rurik Family Ancestry
- Rollo Family Ancestry
- Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
- House of Stuart
- Plantagenet Family Line
- Capetian dynasty
Contemporary References
Some of the best contemporary references for Margaret Tudor, include:
- The letters and papers of Henry VIII - This collection of documents includes numerous letters to and from Margaret, as well as accounts of her marriages and other events in her life. It provides a valuable source of information on Margaret's relationships with members of the royal family and her political activities.
- The State Papers of Henry VIII - This collection includes official documents from Henry VIII's reign, including letters, reports, and other papers. Many of these documents refer to Margaret and her activities, providing a useful resource for historians.
- The letters of Mary, Queen of Scots - Margaret was closely involved in the affairs of her granddaughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, and her correspondence with Mary provides insights into their relationship and the political intrigues of the time.
- The correspondence of Sir William Cecil - Sir William Cecil was one of the most influential statesmen of the Tudor era, and his correspondence includes numerous letters to and from Margaret. These letters shed light on her political activities and her relationships with other members of the court.
- The diaries and letters of John Knox - John Knox was a Protestant reformer who was critical of Margaret's Catholic faith. His diaries and letters provide a valuable perspective on Margaret's religious beliefs and her role in promoting the Catholic cause in England.
Original Citations
1565 Letter of Ambassador de Noailles
This citation is from a letter written by the French ambassador to England, Antoine de Noailles, to his brother, the French king, in 1565. The letter provides an interesting contemporary perspective on Lady Margaret Douglas, describing her as a powerful and influential figure at court. However, it appears to badly mistate the facts of her marriages - the first three listed are likely that of her mother Margaret Tudor (1489-1541).
"Et pourtant je dois parler de la soeur du Roy, Marguerite, qui est femme aylant la faveur de la Reyne, et par consequent ceste grande authorité. Elle est belle, discrète, et rusée; elle a de l'esprit et sait se faire aimer. Elle a esté mariée quatre fois: premièrement au Roy d'Escosse; secondement, à un Seigneur d'Escosse; tiercement, à un Anglois, de la maison de Perci; quatrièmement, à un Escossois, frere du Comte de Lenox. Elle est mère du jeune Darnlay, qui est de la maison de Lenox, et du Comte de Lenox, qui est l'un des plus puissants Seigneurs d'Escosse. Elle est souvent venuë icy, et y est traitée avec honneur. On a jugé de l'usage qu'elle pourroit faire de son credit; mais je pense qu'elle sera sage, et qu'elle ne se meslera de rien qui ne soit à l'avantage de sa famille."
Translation: "And yet I must speak of the sister of the King, Margaret, who is a woman having the favor of the Queen, and consequently this great authority. She is beautiful, discreet, and cunning; she has wit and knows how to make herself loved. She has been married four times: first to the King of Scotland; secondly, to a Lord of Scotland; thirdly, to an Englishman, of the house of Percy; fourthly, to a Scotsman, brother of the Earl of Lennox. She is the mother of the young Darnley, who is of the house of Lennox, and of the Earl of Lennox, who is one of the most powerful Lords of Scotland. She has often come here, and is treated with honor. It has been judged of the use that she could make of her credit; but I think she will be wise, and that she will not meddle in anything that is not to the advantage of her family."
References