Katherine of Valois, her sons

Without her there is no Tudor dynasty and her descendants more than made their mark on England. In the month we celebrate 600 years since her famous royal wedding, I'm looking at several different aspects of the life of Katherine of Valois and today, it's her sons. Three of them became integral to the political development of her adopted country and through one of them, she is the ancestress of kings and queens scattered through European history. And this isn't just being sexist and forgetting the girls. Katherine is said to have had two daughters but they disappear from history quickly, if they ever existed. It's her three eldest children, all boys, who held the destiny of the crown in their hands and that's why I'm looking at the men who were the sons of Katherine of Valois.

Henry VI, King of England

Born December 6th 1421 at Windsor

Son of Katherine of Valois and King Henry V of England

Titles King of England, King of France

Died May 21st 1471, The Tower of London

Katherine's first child was born to rule both England and France but ended up doing both far earlier than anyone could have anticipated. Her son became Henry VI at the age of just nine months and his uncles ruled on his behalf. Katherine was allowed little say. 

She is known to have been close to her first born son but as he was being trained for reigning, she was building another family. Henry VI had just turned 15 when his mother died in 1437.

Katherine never saw him affected by the severe mental health issues that had so plagued her father. Henry's reign fell into chaos and led to what we call the Wars of the Roses. He lost his throne in 1461, regained it in 1470 and fell once more in 1471, dying in mysterious circumstances soon afterwards.

Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond

Born June 11th 1430 at Much Hadham Palace (probably)

Son of Katherine of Valois and Owen Tudor

Titles Earl of Richmond

Died November 3rd 1456, Carmarthen Castle

Katherine's second son would turn her into the founder of one of the most famous royal dynasties in history. However, Edmund is something of a vague figure and never met the son who would claim the Crown of England.

Edmund's birth was a top secret affair as his mother, the dowager queen, wasn't meant to marry anyone, let alone a squire from her household. Edmund was just six when his mother died and spent several years being cared for by Katherine de la Pole until Henry VI took him under his very royal wing.

Edmund was given a starring role at court and was made Earl of Richmond in 1449. Soon afterwards, the richest heiress in England was lined up as a potential bride. However, the chaos that would lead to the Wars of the Roses was brewing and Edmund didn't marry Margaret Beaufort until November 1455.  Within months, he was fighting rebellions for his half brother and died of bubonic plague while in captivity at Carmarthen Castle. Three months later, his wife gave birth to their only child who would one day rule as Henry VII.

Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford

Born 1431 at Hatfield, Hertfordshire (probably)

Son of Katherine of Valois and Owen Tudor

Titles Duke of Bedford, Earl of Pembroke

Died December 21st 1495, Thornbury Castle, Gloucestershire

Katherine's third son was arguably the most successful, guiding a nephew to a throne and building a powrebase of his own. He's also got the most romantic name and plenty of intrigue to go with it.

Jasper Tudor was born, probably in the later months of 1431, in the same secrecy that greeted the arrival of his older brother, Edmund. He was around five when Katherine died and was raised alongside Edmund by Katherine de la Pole until Henry VI brought his half brothers to court.

Jasper was made Earl of Pembroke in 1452 as the Wars of the Roses approached. Following the death of his older brother, Edmund, he took a deep interest in the upbringing of his only son, Henry. Jasper had good continental contacts which helped when he and young Henry had to escape Britain in 1471 following the final fall of Henry VI.

Jasper was a major influence on his nephew, raising him after their enforced exile in Brittany. He was also instrumental in organising Henry's invasion of England and fought alongside him at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Once victorious, Henry recognised his uncle's influence by creating him Duke of Bedford. Jasper married Catherine Woodville, sister of Elizabeth, but they had no children. His legacy remains his influence on the  man who became the first Tudor King of England.

And lastly, we come to Owen. Katherine was said to have had another son, born around 1432, who became a monk at Westminster Abbey. Some histories call him Edward, others choose Owen. However, there is little trace of him in reality. No monk who fits his description has been found in the records of Westminster Abbey. However, we do know that Katherine was pregnant in 1437 when she entered Bermondsey Abbey in serious ill health, dying soon afterwards. The idea that she was not pregnant between 1431 when Jasper was born and 1437 when she died soon after delivering a daughter is pretty implausible. In all likelihood, she and Owen Tudor did have more children and one may well have been a son called Owen, like his father, but the mystery of his birth amidst the secret of their relationship remain lost to history - for now.