Almost Queen of England, Mary de Bohun, 1368 - 1394Mary was born in 1368, the youngest of two daught
Almost Queen of England, Mary de Bohun, 1368 - 1394Mary was born in 1368, the youngest of two daughters of Humphrey de Bohun and Joan Fitzalan. Mary and her sister, Eleanor, were the heiresses of their fathers vast estates and as such were valuable brides. Eleanor married Thomas of Woodstock, the youngest son of Edward III. Eleanor and Thomas appear to have wanted to stop Mary taking her share of the estate, sent Mary to a convent and were attempting to force her to become a nun and as such forfeit her right to inherit anything. However, John of Gaunt, another child of Edward III, kidnapped Mary and married her to his son, Henry Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV. This was likely done to bring half the estates to his son and to frustrate Thomas, who John had several disputes with. Mary and Henry seem to have been happy, despite the circumstances of the marriage. They were married when Mary was around the age of 12 and Henry around 14, on 27th July 1380, at Arundel Castle. The marriage was supposed to remain unconsummated until Mary had reached the age of 16, but the couple disobeyed as Mary became pregnant with her first child when she was 14 years old, the couples first son died after a few days. Mary lived at Monmouth Castle, where Henry stayed when he was at home, although he was often away. The couple had seven children over the course of their marriage, including the future King Henry V. It was giving birth to their last child, Philippa, that Mary died in Peterborough Castle. She was only 26 years old. -- source link
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