A 15th-century noblewoman who held significant power and influence in her own right, known for her strategic marriages and family alliances that shaped English history.
Anne St Leger, Baroness de Ros, was a woman of incredible fortune and misfortune, inheriting a vast estate at birth only to be disinherited before she turned eight. Despite the tumultuous start to her life, she went on to marry young, have eleven children, and become a crucial link in the maternal line that helped identify the remains of Richard III.
Born on 14 January 1476, Anne was the daughter of Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter, and Sir Thomas St. Leger. Due to her mother's untimely death during childbirth, Anne inherited the enormous estate, as stipulated by the 1467 grant. This grant allowed the estate to pass to the Duchess's heirs of the body, even if fathered by a subsequent husband.
As a result, Anne became a highly desirable bride, contracted to marry Lord Ferrers of Groby. However, Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Anne's aunt, sought to secure the Exeter inheritance for her own descendants. In 1483, an Act of Parliament declared Anne the heir to her father's entire estate, much to the dismay of the surviving descendants of the Holland family.
Anne's connections to the royal family were undeniable. She was the niece of two kings of England, Edward IV and Richard III. However, her royal ties did not shield her from the tumultuous politics of the time. Following King Richard III's accession in 1483, Anne's father was executed, and she was disinherited of her vast fortune.
Despite the challenges she faced, Anne went on to marry at the tender age of 14 and bear eleven children. Her perseverance and strength in the face of adversity are a testament to her character. Through her children, she left a lasting legacy, including a maternal line that would later play a crucial role in identifying the remains of Richard III.
Anne St Leger, Baroness de Ros, may have had her fortune and inheritance taken from her, but she left behind a lasting impact on history. Her story serves as a reminder of the complexities of royal politics and the resilience of women in the face of adversity. Through her children and her lineage, she continues to fascinate historians and genealogists alike.
Born in 1367
The last king of the House of Plantagenet, deposed in a coup, known for his extravagance and tyranny, leading to his downfall and the rise of the Lancastrian dynasty.
Born in 1340
A powerful and wealthy medieval English nobleman, known for his immense influence on English politics and his role in the Hundred Years' War. He was also a patron of the arts and a founder of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Born in 1133
King of England from 1154 to 1189, known for establishing a strong centralized government, reforming the English church, and his tumultuous relationships with Thomas Becket and his sons.
Born in 1386
Led a victorious English army in the Battle of Agincourt, a major English victory in the Hundred Years' War, and was a popular king who strengthened the English monarchy.
