8- Jacquetta Woodville- A Scandalous Marriage

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After a long hiatus, I am finally back to Tudor-land! I hope you all are well and taking all the precautions against the Coronavirus. Actually, come to think of it, this virus feels like the modern version of the Sweating Sickness of the medieval age.....just that it is on a way larger scale. Well, more on the Sweating Sickness later. Let's get back to Jacquetta's life.

Let's jusr recapitulate a little bit....

John, Duke of Bedford and Jacquetta's much older first husband died on 14th September 1435 at Rouen, France (he was the regent there on behalf of his nephew, King Henry VI). Given the considerable age gap between the Duke and Jacquetta, I am assuming that their relationship was that of a mutual friendship rather than an amorous one. Whether the marriage was consumnated or not is highly debatable since the Duke died without leaving an heir. Although, nobody seemed to hold that against Jacquetta, I presume!

Now, the normal royal protocol dictated that, apart from a new regent being appointed, the widowed Duchess of Bedford be brought to England wherein a suitable marriage - befitting her rank and position as the King's aunt - be arranged for her. Quite a lucrative match as Jacquetta retained her rank and her dower, and was provided with a considerable income (a little diminished due to the territorial losses in France).

However, the English royal court was in for a huge surprise!

Unbeknownst to anyone, Jacquetta had already married her late husband's squire, Richard Woodville in the year 1437. Born in Maidstone, Kent, Richard's father was the chamberlain to the Duke of Bedford before his son. Much beneath Jacquetta in rank and stature, it was very obviously a love match. 

But, as they say, al good things come at a price. And quite literally so, in this case! As the couple hadn't seeked a royal sanction to their marriage, they were to pay £1000 as a fine for their indiscretion. 

However, all's well that end's well! Richard proved to be a very capable soldier and was awarded many military ranks. He was also raised to the rank of Baron Rivers (presumably, a tribute to Jacquetta's ancestry to Melusina) in 1448. The marriage was a happy and a fruitful one evident by the fact that Jacquetta bore him 14 children! 

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