Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society The Mother of All Tudors: Child Bride to Kingmaker
Dec 9, 2025
Historian Lauren Johnson, author of 'Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker', delves into the life of Margaret Beaufort, the unsung matriarch of the Tudor dynasty. She shares how Margaret navigated marriage at just 12, leveraging her connections to secure power. The podcast reveals her strategic moves during the Wars of the Roses, her role in funding Henry's invasion, and her influence over her son Henry VII. Johnson also challenges the narrative of Margaret as merely manipulative, painting a picture of a savvy political player who shaped history.
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How The Author Found Margaret
- Lauren Johnson discovered Margaret Beaufort while bored at A-level and was shocked that Margaret gave birth at 13.
- That moment hooked Lauren and launched years of research culminating in her book.
Child Marriage As Political Transaction
- Margaret married at 12 (legal consent age) to Edmund Tudor, a man in his late 20s who sought her lands and claim.
- Early marriages could be transactional and dangerous rather than affectionate.
Early Childbirth Was Unusual And Risky
- Contemporary norms often delayed first births until a girl was physically mature, around 16 or later.
- Margaret's pregnancy at ~13 was medically and psychologically risky and atypical.
