Alice Chaucer

Alice Chaucer, Duchess of Suffolk, LG, was born around 1404 and died in 1475. She was the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer, the English poet known for ‘The Canterbury Tales.’ Alice was the daughter of Thomas Chaucer and Matilda Burghersh. Throughout her life, she married three times, ascending to high status as a Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, an honor marking her close relationship with King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, facilitated by her marriage to William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk.

Alice served as a lady-in-waiting to Margaret of Anjou in 1445 and was recognized as a patron of the arts. She commissioned tapestries depicting the life of St Anne, which adorned her home at Ewelme in Oxfordshire. She was also a notable collector of books, including various French texts and religious service books. After her husband’s execution, she managed to retain their properties and became a significant landowner. Alice supported the House of York during the Wars of the Roses and held political influence, being the custodian of notable figures such as Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter, and Margaret of Anjou.