Cecily of York

Cecily of York (1469–1507) was the third daughter of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. She lived through the turbulent Wars of the Roses, was once betrothed to the future king of Scotland, married three times, and became Viscountess Welles. Though overshadowed by her sister Elizabeth of York (Henry VII’s queen), Cecily’s life reflects the shifting fortunes of the Yorkist dynasty. --- ? Early Life - Born: 20 March 1469 at Westminster Palace. - Parents: Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville. - She was one of eight children who survived infancy, growing up amid the dynastic struggles of the Wars of the Roses. ? Betrothals and Political Intrigue - Cecily was once promised to James, Duke of Rothesay (later James IV of Scotland), a match that could have united Yorkist England with Scotland. The plan fell apart due to political instability. - Her fortunes shifted dramatically after her father’s death in 1483 and the disappearance of her brothers, the Princes in the Tower. ? Marriages 1. Ralph Scrope (1485) – annulled within a year. 2. John Welles, 1st Viscount Welles (1487/88–1499) – a loyal supporter of Henry VII. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne Welles. 3. Sir Thomas Kyme (1502/04–1507) – a marriage made without royal approval, which reduced her courtly standing. They had two children, Richard and Margaret Kyme. ?? Life in the Tudor Era - Cecily’s sister Elizabeth married Henry VII, becoming the first Tudor queen. Cecily thus lived at the intersection of Yorkist and Tudor politics. - Despite her royal birth, Cecily’s later life was marked by relative obscurity compared to her siblings. Her marriage to Kyme, a man of lesser rank, symbolized her diminished political importance under the Tudors. ?? Death and Legacy - Died: 24 August 1507, aged 38, possibly at Hatfield or the Isle of Wight. - Burial: Either Quarr Abbey (Isle of Wight) or Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.