The Remorseless Queen

Margaret of Anjou was Queen of England during the period known as the War of the Roses. Before she even set foot on English shores, fifteen year-old Margaret was bitterly resented. In order to obtain her as bride for their king, England obtained no dowry and had to cede Anjou and Maine to the French, with whom she was at war. Margaret had many difficulties to face. not least of which was her husband, Henry VI, who was reluctant to come to her bed. With a weak and ineffective king on the throne, rival parties tilted for power. When the struggle escalated into war, Margaret realized she had no choice but to suppress the feminine side of her nature in order to protect her feeble-minded husband and infant son. Leading her party, dictating policy, dealing with foreign princes, she became, in fact, king in all but name.