23 March 1430 - 25 August 1482
House: House of Valois-Anjou
Titles: Queen Consort of England, Queen Consort of France (disputed)
Margaret of Anjou was Queen of England through her marriage to King Henry VI, serving from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. Additionally, she was nominally Queen of France from 1445 to 1453. Born into the House of Valois-Anjou in the Duchy of Lorraine, she was the daughter of René, King of Naples, and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine.
As a key figure in the Wars of the Roses, Margaret often led the Lancastrian faction. Her leadership was notable during her husband’s mental incapacity, as she governed the kingdom and initiated the Great Council in May 1455 that sparked the long-lasting civil conflict. Her son, Edward of Westminster, died at the Battle of Tewkesbury, and she was later taken prisoner, ransomed in 1475, and spent her final years in France.
Death: Died at the age of 52 in Dampierre-sur-Loire, Anjou, France. Buried in Angers Cathedral.
Reign: 16 years and 317 days
Children: 1 (Edward, Prince of Wales)
Marriages: Henry VI of England (married 1445; died 1471)
Parents: René, King of Naples and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine