We’re into week 2 of Girls’s Historical past Month right here in Canada! Sadly, ladies’s historical past just isn’t taught or shared nowhere close to as a lot appropriately. (Provided that half of the inhabitants is feminine, you’ll suppose that our historical past could be included in additional books, documentaries, and curricula…) You usually see ladies lacking and forgotten from a number of historic websites and monuments. So, right this moment we’re 7 ladies buried in Westminster Abbey!
7 Girls Buried in Westminster Abbey
There are greater than seven ladies buried in Westminster Abbey, however I assumed I’d select a variety to deal with for right this moment. It must be stated, the ladies (and males) buried in a spot just like the Abbey are from a really slender cross-section of society- the common individual just isn’t being buried in Westminster Cathedral or Notre-Dame Cathedral. However between burials and commemorations, there are over 3,300 individuals discovered within the Abbey (or a tribute) and the very, very massive majority are males. And you’ll be aware that the majority ladies buried within the Abbey are royals. Nonetheless, there are some that you just won’t recognise.
Queen Philippa of Hainault (1313- 1369)
Philippa of Hainault was the spouse of King Edward III, a monarch recognized for founding the Order of the Garter and for reinforcing royal authority following the disastrous reign of his father and his mom’s plot to realize management (together with her lover).
Philippa was fortunate to be pretty well-versed in each politics and enterprise, and would rapidly develop into an asset to her husband after they married in 1328. Her coronation was held on the Abbey in 1330 and she or he was basically the mannequin consort. Along with advising her husband on commerce, she additionally introduced Flemish weavers to Norwich to encourage the textile business and even acted as Regent whereas he was away at struggle.
Philippa of Hainault died in 1369 and was then buried in Westminster Abbey in 1370 within the Chapel of Edward the Confessor. Her husband’s tomb might be discovered beside her.
Queen Anne Neville (1456-1485)
Anne Neville was the daughter of Richard Warwick, sixteenth Earl of Warwick, also referred to as “the Kingmaker”. She first married Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales in 1470 however he died in 1471, and her household recognised that she may make one other robust match. In 1472 she married Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester- which means that when he grew to become King in 1483, she grew to become Queen. The couple had a joint coronation in July rapidly after taking the throne, the primary in effectively over a century.
Sadly, Anne died in 1485, from what was most definitely tuberculosis. The couple had not had any kids, and Richard himself died in battle in August of 1485. Anne was buried within the Abbey in an unmarked grave near the Excessive Altar. There was no point out of her grave till the Richard III Society put up a plaque in 1960.
Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
Many individuals are shocked to see Mary, Queen of Scots buried in Westminster Abbey, no much less reverse the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I. After Elizabeth signed off on her execution after having been discovered responsible of treason, Mary was initially buried in Peterborough Cathedral. (Notably, Elizabeth refused her request to be buried in France.) In 1612, Mary’s son, King James VI/I, had his mom reinterred within the Abbey within the Girl Chapel.
Notably, a number of of Mary’s kinfolk, together with Elizabeth Stuart (see beneath) are interred in the identical vault as Mary. Now, Mary Stuart, Elizabeth Tudor, and Mary Tudor are spending eternity resting collectively within the Abbey.
Need to know extra about Mary? You may learn my Monarch of the Month post!
Girl Arbella Stuart (1575- 1615)
Girl Arbella Stuart is the one aristocrat on this listing, however she held a reasonably excessive place in Stuart society. She was initially thought-about as a possible inheritor to Elizabeth I, as a great-great-granddaughter of the primary Tudor king, King Henry VII. Whereas she didn’t aspire to the throne herself, many thought-about her a menace to the road of succession. A gaggle plotting to overthrow James and place Arbella on the throne requested her to participate, she instantly instructed James and didn’t be a part of the plotters.
She married William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, in secret in 1610. Provided that she ought to have requested James’ permission to marry, and William himself had a declare to the throne, James was lower than comfortable. He imprisoned them separately- Arbella was in Lambeth and William within the Tower of London. Arbella tried to flee and after being caught was additionally imprisoned within the Tower.
Girl Arbella Stuart died in September 1615 shortly after falling sick. Her coffin was truly positioned on that of Mary, Queen of Scots (her aunt).
Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia (1596-1662)
Elizabeth Stuart was the one surviving daughter of King James VI/I and Anne of Denmark, and as such, was thought-about some of the eligible princesses in Europe. The fortunate groom chosen was Frederick (Friedrich) V, Depend Palatine of the Rhine, a Protestant ruler who would develop into King of Bohemia.
The couple married in 1613 in Whitehall, with their marriage ceremony being a significant occasion. They left for Europe and Elizabeth spent a number of years as Electress of the Palatinate. Nonetheless, in November 1619, Frederick was topped as King of Bohemia. Nonetheless, his reign ended only a yr later, and Elizabeth could be generally known as the Winter Queen.
After Frederick’s loss of life in 1632, her brother, King Charles I, invited her again to England, however she selected to remain on the Continent. Nonetheless, in 1661, Elizabeth lastly arrived residence following the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy. She sadly died of pneumonia in early 1662, although.
Referred to as a queen and not using a nation, Elizabeth was additionally buried in Mary, Queen of Scots’ tomb in Westminster Abbey. Notably, the road of succession following Queen Anne’s loss of life in 1714 adopted Elizabeth’s line. (King George I used to be her grandson.)
Need to know extra about Elizabeth Stuart? Discover my Consort of the Month post here!
Queen Anne (1665-1714)
Queen Anne was the final Stuart monarch, the daughter of the longer term King James II and Anne Hyde. Her grownup life was largely consumed with producing an inheritor; she had seventeen pregnancies and no surviving heirs. Nonetheless, her reign was an enchanting time for politics in Nice Britain. In 1707, the Acts of Union 1707 joined the impartial kingdoms of England and Scotland collectively, a transfer that also has lasting results to at the present time. (Wales was thought-about to be a part of England, and Eire was subordinate to England for almost a century.) Anne’s reign was additionally largely marked by additional growth of the 2 social gathering system, with the Whigs and the Tories every representing completely different pursuits.
Along with her many pregnancies (and associated miscarriages and nonetheless births), Anne was sick for a lot of her grownup life. She most definitely suffered lupus, and struggled with weight problems, gout, and eye issues. Continuous points with main politicians additionally added stress that affected her well being. She died on 1 August 1714, and is buried in Westminster Abbey within the Henry VII Chapel.
By Thomas Hudson – Art UK , Public Area, Link
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Princess of Wales (1719-1772)
When you have watched Queen Charlotte, the Bridgerton prequel, you’ll recognise Princess Augusta because the mom of King George III. Her husband, Frederick, Prince of Wales, died earlier than he may take the throne, which means that Augusta by no means grew to become queen. Nonetheless, Augusta would have served as her son’s regent had King George II died earlier than George III got here of age.
Augusta was in an odd place, as her husband refused to share any of his politics or plans together with her. As she grew to become a widow at 31, although, she cast her personal path. She notably was not an enormous fan of Charlotte when she married George, and didn’t do something to welcome the teenage princess to England or the household.
Kew Gardens is Augusta’s bodily legacy- she spent a great deal of time and vitality increasing the gardens and broadening its scope. (The Nice Pagoda was constructed as a present for her- not a foul present!) Princess Augusta died in 1772 of throat most cancers and was buried within the Girl Chapel of Westminster Abbey.
Have you ever visited Westminster Abbey?
Cheers,
The Historian
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