Blessed Margaret Pole was a figure who was caught in the middle of tumultuous Tudor politics in 16th century England.

Margaret was born in 1473, into the Plantagenet family during the height of the Wars of the Roses, fought between the Houses of Lancaster and York for the English crown. Margaret’s mother and little brother died when she was only three. Her father was convinced they had been poisoned and put to death the two servants he believed had poisoned them.

When Margaret was ten, her uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester assumed the throne as the infamous Richard III. Richard was quickly overthrown by Henry Tudor, whose decisive victory over Richard brought the Wars of the Roses to an end. Henry married Margaret’s cousin, Elizabeth of York, and Margaret and her brother Edward were brought into the protection of the royal household.

Being in the care of royals proved to be a precarious lifestyle. Margaret’s brother Edward was put to death, since he was both a potential rival heir to the throne and for his involvement of a plot involving the impersonation of King Henry VII’s dead son.

Margaret was married to Sir Richard Pole, a nobleman with little estate. Reginald held a position in Henry’s court and Margaret served as a lady-in-waiting for Catherine of Aragon, married to Henry’s son Arthur. Arthur died in 1502, however, and Catherine was sent back to Spain. When her husband died in 1504, Margaret was a widow with no role in court and minimal prospects. She gave one of her sons, Reginald, over to the care of the Church. Although Reginald studied at important theological centers such as Paris and was eventually elected a cardinal, he bitterly resented his mother’s abandonment of him.

Margaret was so destitute that she and the remainder of her children sought refuge with an order of nuns at Syon Abbey near London. When five years later, Henry VIII ascended to the throne, he married Catherine of Aragon and Margaret was again brought back as part of Catherine’s entourage. Henry VIII also restored to Margaret the earldom of Salisbury, which his father had confiscated from her family. Margaret was well-studied and smart; she managed her money well and within twenty years, her family had regained their wealth and standing.

Henry VIII’s court, however, was a famously tempestuous household. Catherine was, of course, divorced. Henry’s daughter Mary was declared a bastard. Margaret, who had been appointed Mary’s tutor, defended her, which caused a falling-out with Henry. Her favor fluctuated violently in accord with Henry’s queens and current papal bickering. Margaret’s son, Reginald, who was a papal legate of Pope Paul III perhaps caused her downfall. Reginald was rumored to have been appointed to lead a papal invasion of England. Thomas Cromwell had Reginald’s brothers arrested for corresponding with him and imprisoned Margaret and her family in the Tower of London.

Margaret was fairly well-cared for, with a retinue of servants and a wardrobe of clothing fit for a noblewoman. Thus, when she was told on the morning of May 27,1541, the feast of Augustine of Canterbury, that she was to die within the hour, she was surprised—she had committed no crime and had stood at no trial.

A small, gruesome execution took place in a corner of the Tower of London, which shocked those in her circle. Her son called her a martyr instantly. Margaret was officially beatified in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.

Blessed Margaret Pole, martyr of the English church—pray for us!