Margaret Beaufort

Survivor. Rebel. Conspirator. Matriarch of a dynasty.
Born into a century of conflict as the daughter of the Duke of Somerset and a descendant of Edward III, Margaret Beaufort was married at twelve, a mother and widow at thirteen, and a player in one of the most violent chapters of English history.
Across three marriages and decades of civil war, Margaret endured loss, intrigue and exile - yet lived to see her only son crowned Henry VII, the first Tudor king. Against a backdrop of shifting power and danger, she helped broker the union that ended the Wars of the Roses, shaped the early Tudor court, and played a formative role in the life of her grandson, Henry VIII.
In this powerful and perceptive biography, historian Lauren Johnson brings Margaret vividly to life as a woman of rare resilience and ambition. With empathy and sharp insight, Johnson reframes our understanding of medieval power and restores Margaret to her rightful place: not simply a mother behind the throne, but a skilled political operator whose determination changed the course of English history.

Lauren Johnson is a public historian and author of works including the critically acclaimed Shadow King: The Life and Death of Henry VI. Lauren graduated with a first-class degree in history and an MSt in medieval historical research from Wadham College, Oxford University. Her thesis explored the impact of the Wars of the Roses on women. She is currently studying for an AHRC-funded collaborative doctorate with Manchester Metropolitan University and the National Archives investigating 'Refugees, Religion and Diplomacy in Early Modern Europe'. With a passion for restoring marginalised narratives to our history, she has worked in heritage since 2008 and acted as historical consultant for creative and heritage producers including Historic Royal Palaces, Wellcome Library, Sky History, Dante or Die and the Royal Shakespeare Company.