*** Welcome to piglix ***

Greenwich Palace


The Palace of Placentia was an English Royal Palace built by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in 1443, in Greenwich, on the banks of the River Thames, downstream from London. It was demolished by Charles II in 1660, to make way for a new palace. Nearly 40 years later, the Greenwich Hospital (now the Old Royal Naval College) was built on the spot instead.

Humphrey was regent during the rule of Henry VI and built the palace, in 1433, under the name Bella Court. In 1447, Humphrey fell out of favour with the new queen, Margaret of Anjou, and was arrested for high treason. He died in prison (William Shakespeare says he was murdered) and Margaret took over Bella Court, renaming it the Palace of Placentia, sometimes written as the Palace of Pleasaunce.

Henry VII rebuilt the palace, with a design based around three large courtyards, between 1498 and 1504.

It remained the principal royal palace for the next two centuries. It was the birthplace of King Henry VIII in 1491 and figured heavily in his life. Following the king's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Placentia became the birthplace of Mary I in February 1516. After Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn, his daughter, later Queen Elizabeth I, was born at Placentia in 1533, and he married Anne of Cleves there in 1540. A tree in Greenwich Park is known as "Queen Elizabeth's Oak", in which she is reputed to have played as a child.


...
Wikipedia

...