A few days ago, I posted a poem from Anne Neville’s point of view. Today this poem has to do with her husband. This is from my point of view. I’m viewing how people think Richard III is a cash grab.
The Money King
Let’s have peace
Let’s agree
He’s good
For your economy.
Richard 3—
England’s Money King!
©Sarah Patten, 2019
Portrait of Richard III of England
(Public domain)
We are blessed to lots of information—true and false—about England’s most controversial monarch, Richard III. Way less is known about his queen, Anne Neville. I personally believe he would have never sat on the throne if they hadn’t married. I think she definitely provided encouragement. Anyway, since we don’t have tons of information about her, I like to wonder what she would have us know. Then I write some of those parodies. (Click here to read her inspirational pamphlet.)
Here’s a poem I wrote about her possible feelings when she got married to Richard, who was then the Duke of Gloucester.
©Sarah Patten, 2019
Here’s a little tongue and cheek about how King Richard III’s wife, Anne Neville, got to the top.
By Anne Neville Queen Anne, Beloved Consort of King Richard III
I grew up an heiress and was temporarily Princess of Wales. After my first husband and father died in battle, I lost everything. I know I should be grateful that the king let me live with my sister and brother-in-law, (who’s the king’s little brother). So, see I was trapped by powerful men and family. It was impossible to break away. But I knew I had to in order to fulfill my dreams as an heiress who would have it all.
Sincerely,
Your Majesty Queen Anne
©Sarah Patten, 2019
Featured Image: Richard III and Anne Neville stained glass image in Cardiff Castle, UK.
Eleanor Talbot became a star shortly before the infamous Richard III became king. She wasn’t even alive. However, when she was alive, she had met Edward IV (eldest brother of Richard), and supposedly married him in secret.
Soon enough Edward went his way and married Elizabeth Woodville three year later. When Edward died in 1483, the crown naturally went to his twelve-year-old son, who became Edward V—but only for a short time while it was discovered that the late king had been married to Eleanor while also married to Elizabeth. Supporters of Richard concluded that the marriage between Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville had been bigamous thus making their children illegitimate and out of the succession. Richard soon became king with much controversy that hasn’t gone away.
I’m in the process of rereading John Ashtown-Hill’s Eleanor The Secret Queen: The Woman Who Put Richard III on the Throne while reading Chris Skidmore’s Richard III: Brother, Protector, King, and it is quite the experience reading opposing views! These books are making me think very hard about Eleanor’s character. I have many ideas about Richard III but haven’t formed any clear picture of Eleanor yet. 
There are those who believe that Eleanor gave birth to a child that Edward IV had fathered. If this shaky claim is true, the baby either died young or was quickly taken out of sight. If she had had a child, then that child and his or her posterity would have kept Eleanor’s memory alive and stood up for her. When women don’t have living and direct descendants they tend to disappear more than the men who don’t have any heirs. It’s sad but true.
I believe that there are many people who, like Eleanor, want to be found. They want to show up in our history books with their stories truthfully told.