Lady Margaret Butler

Lady Margaret Butler, Lady Boleyn[2] (c. 1454 [3] – 1539) was an Irish noblewoman, the daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond. She married Sir William Boleyn and through her eldest son Sir Thomas Boleyn, was the paternal grandmother of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England, and great-grandmother of Anne and Henry's daughter, Elizabeth I of England.

For other people with the same name, see Margaret Butler.
Lady Margaret Butler
Lady Boleyn
Bornc. 1454
Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Died1539 (aged 84–85)
England
Noble familyButler
Spouse(s)Sir William Boleyn
Issue
Anne Boleyn
Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire
John Boleyn
Anthony Boleyn
Jane Boleyn
Alice Boleyn
Margaret Boleyn
William Boleyn
James Boleyn
Edward Boleyn
FatherThomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond
MotherAnne Hankford
Arms of Butler, Earl of Ormond: Gules, three covered cups or[1]

Life

She was born at Kilkenny Castle in County Kilkenny, Ireland, the daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond and Anne Hankford. Her paternal grandparents were James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond and Joan de Beauchamp. Her maternal grandparents were Sir Richard Hankford (c. 1397 – 1431) and Anne de Montagu.

She had two sisters: Anne who married Sir James de St. Leger, by whom she had issue, and Elizabeth. Anne and Margaret claimed to be co-heiresses of their father and the Earldom of Ormond, but their cousin, Piers Butler, who had physical control of the Irish estates and the backing of the Irish Council, claimed to be the heir through the direct male line. In 1520, the King granted her a pardon for the alienation of Fritwell Manor, Oxfordshire.[4] The issue wasn't resolved until 1528, by which time Margaret's position was good, with the influence of her granddaughter, then betrothed to Henry VIII, and Margaret's son, Thomas Boleyn's, status as King's adviser.[5]

In 1465 Margaret married Sir William Boleyn, and in total they had ten children. Her son, the ambitious courtier Sir Thomas Boleyn, became the first Earl of Wiltshire and by his marriage to Elizabeth Howard, the Duke of Norfolk's daughter, was the father of Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England. Thus, Margaret was great-grandmother to Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Margaret's role in the rise and fall of the Boleyn clan is unknown, although there has been much speculation and theorizing.

She was the last of the Boleyns to live in Hever Castle as it was given to Anne of Cleves in 1540 sometime after her death. Margaret's lands were claimed by her only surviving grandchild, Mary Boleyn and her husband William Stafford.[6]

Issue
NameBirthDeathNotes
Anne18 November 14756 January 1555married John Shelton; had issue
Thomas, 1st Earl of Wiltshire and Ormondec. 147712 March 1539married Lady Elizabeth Howard; had issue, including Queen Anne Boleyn
John14811484 
Anthony148330 September 1493 
Janec. 1485unknownmarried Sir Philip Calthorpe
Alicec. 14871538married Robert Clere
Margaretc. 1489unknownmarried John Sackville, Esq.
Williamc. 149118 December 1571 
Jamesc. 14935 December 1561married Elizabeth Wood
Edwardc. 1496unknownmarried Anne Tempest

Fictional portrayals

Margaret Butler as Grandmother Boleyn appears in the 2002 Philippa Gregory novel The Other Boleyn Girl. She is portrayed as a critical and insubordinate woman who is shrewd and uncaring toward her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She does seem to inquire about life in the English court. Margaret lived in the Boleyn estate in Hever Castle, and plays a supporting role in the novel.

See also

References
  1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p. 864
  2. As wife of a Knight, she would also be known as Lady Boleyn, like her daughter-in-law was before Thomas Boleyn became Viscount Rochford.
  3. http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/cgi-bin/gedlkup/n=royal?royal08935
  4. p. 38, The Boleyns, David Loades
  5. p. 31, The Boleyns, David Loades
  6. p. 57, The Boleyns, David Loades
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