Margaret Beaufort (1443 - 1509) was the paternal grandmother of Henry VIII. Her son Henry Tudor (Henry VII) defeated the infamous Richard III on the battlefield and married Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Through this marriage, the long-running Wars of the Roses were settled, the marriage between Henry from the house of Lancaster (red rose) and Elizabeth of the House of York (white rose) founded the dynasty of the Tudors. Margaret Beaufort learns early on that girls have just as Gebärerinnen of sons value. Because it can provide as a female heir to the House of Lancaster not own throne claims, it is already 12 years with Edmund Tudor, the half-brother of the mentally deranged Lancasterkönigs Henry VI, married to "produce" a male heir to. At 13, she is a widow and mother of Henry VII, who remains her only child, to which direct their whole ambition in the next few years. She firmly believes that only the Lancasters can make the divinely ordained kings, because they are descended from a III elder son Edwards as the Yorks. Her mother married Margaret at once, but her second husband Henry Stafford is a very cautious, thoughtful man who looks to the throne only senseless bloodshed in the bloody battles and is not willing to consider for the Lancasters in the war. So the years of her second marriage to Margaret are very frustrating: her son Henry grows under the care of her brother Jasper Tudor on in Wales and later in exile on the continent, while she herself with jealousy on their their opinion unworthy rival Elizabeth Woodville consumed. This is nice, a happy marriage and a child brings one by one to the world. Margaret, however, has completely consecrated their lives to the ambition for her son and her religion. It leads in their marriages - and her third husband Thomas Stanley is chosen only for political reasons - an ascetic life. When after the death of Edward IV's brother Richard III took power, she never misses an opportunity to intrigue against the new king. Her and her wise husband who is a born conspirator and is always on the right side at the right time, it finally manages, after many setbacks, to bring her son enlisted in the mainland soldiers decisive battle to England. Margaret Beaufort, here acting as narrator, I know from sources other than extremely pious and educated lady is portrayed here not very sympathetic. Although religion plays a big role in their lives, but Margaret is self-evident, and independent of the fact that God's will is identical with your own, and it is very addictive validity. To achieve its goals, it goes against unscrupulous and scares even to murder orders for the removal of (minor) throne rivals not return. It is difficult to assess where exactly mix fact and fiction here, the author gives himself in her afterword that it fills gaps in the story through their own interpretation. As the first band "The White Queen" also provides "The Red Queen" for those interested in English history reader fascinating reading sessions. A pedigree of the English royal house front in the book facilitates the overview of the family relationships, yet another person register of members of the most important noble families would have been beneficial here. This book also contains an extensive bibliography back to the literature consulted by Philippa Gregory.
