Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter
| Anne Plantagenet | |
|---|---|
| Duchess of Exeter | |
Anne with her second husband Thomas St Leger. Monumental brass in "St Leger Chantry" (later "Rutland Chantry"), St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
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| Born |
10 August 1439 Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire |
| Died | 14 January 1476 (aged 36) |
| Burial | 1 February 1476 St Leger Chantry, St. George's Chapel, Windsor |
| Spouse |
Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter Thomas St. Leger |
| Issue | Lady Anne Holland Anne St. Leger, Baroness de Ros |
| House | York |
| Father | Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York |
| Mother | Lady Cecily Neville |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter (10 August 1439 – 14 January 1476) was the first child and eldest surviving daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville. She was thus the eldest sister of Kings Edward IV (1461–1483) and Richard III (1483–1485); and of Edmund, Earl of Rutland, Elizabeth of York, Duchess of Suffolk, Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy and of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence.
Anne married twice and divorced her first husband:
In 1447 aged eight years old, Anne was married to Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter (1430–1475). During the Wars of the Roses Exeter sided with the House of Lancaster against his wife's family the House of York. Exeter was a commander at the great Lancastrian victories at the Battle of Wakefield and Second Battle of St Albans. He was also a commander at the Lancastrian defeat at the Battle of Towton. He fled to the Kingdom of Scotland after the battle, and then joined Margaret of Anjou in her exile in France, queen consort of the Lancastrian King Henry VI. On 4 March 1461 Anne's younger brother Edward, Duke of York, was declared in London as King Edward IV. Exeter was attainted but the new king gave his estates to Anne, with remainder to their daughter Anne Holland. Anne and Exeter separated in 1464 and divorced in 1472. During the Readeption of Henry VI, Anne remained loyal to her brother Edward, and, in what seems to have been her only intervention in politics, worked hard to persuade her brother George, Duke of Clarence, to abandon the Lancastrian cause. If not decisive, her arguments certainly had some effect and thus she played some part in Edward's restoration.
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