Elizabeth of York

The eldest daughter of Edward IV does not marry Henry Tudor. For a number of reasons, she is not available for marriage by the time Henry seizes the throne. Richard III fears a Tudor marriage and makes sure that she and some of her sisters are married off before
Bosworth. Will Henry be able to hold the throne without marrying a Yorkish heiress and will he face endless Yorkist conspiracies if Edward Iv's daughtes are already married?
 
The eldest daughter of Edward IV does not marry Henry Tudor. For a number of reasons, she is not available for marriage by the time Henry seizes the throne. Richard III fears a Tudor marriage and makes sure that she and some of her sisters are married off before Bosworth. Will Henry be able to hold the throne without marrying a Yorkish heiress and will he face endless Yorkist conspiracies if Edward Iv's daughtes are already married?

Richard III couldn't marry them off because they're husbands would represent threats to his throne. Elizabeth's and Henry's mothers were actively conspiring against Richard III prior to Bosworth. Basically, anyone who married Edward's daughters were instantly potential rivals, and Richard III's regime was not stable enough that he could marry them off to steadfast supporters that he could trust.
 
Richard III couldn't marry them off because they're husbands would represent threats to his throne. Elizabeth's and Henry's mothers were actively conspiring against Richard III prior to Bosworth. Basically, anyone who married Edward's daughters were instantly potential rivals, and Richard III's regime was not stable enough that he could marry them off to steadfast supporters that he could trust.

While that sounds reasonable, Richard III was actively attempting to get his nieces married off.

There were active negotiations going on for Elizabeth to marry the Duke of Beja. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A396029

Cecily had already been married to Ralph Scope http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GEN-MEDIEVAL/2003-10/1065167388

(Anne was only 9; Catherine was 6; Bridget was 5.)

The Duke of Beja wasn't a threat to Richard's throne, he wasn't even British. Ralph Scrope was no more of a threat to Richard III than her second hisband, John Welles, was to Henry VII.

But Henry Tudor was a clear threat and if he could marry one of Richard's nieces that would strengthen his claim.
 
Richard III couldn't marry them off because they're husbands would represent threats to his throne. Elizabeth's and Henry's mothers were actively conspiring against Richard III prior to Bosworth. Basically, anyone who married Edward's daughters were instantly potential rivals, and Richard III's regime was not stable enough that he could marry them off to steadfast supporters that he could trust.

Didnt Richard III attempted to marry her himself prior to the battle of Bosworth???
 
It was rumoured that Richard III may have desired to marry her. But public opinion was against this marriage. However, at that time, it may still have been legal.
 
It was rumoured that Richard III may have desired to marry her. But public opinion was against this marriage. However, at that time, it may still have been legal.

The marriage would require Papal dispensation because of consanguinity... I doubt it if Pope Sixtus IV would have granted it...
 
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