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Anne of York (2 November 1475 – 23 November 1511) was the seventh child and fifth daughter of Edward IV, King of England, and his queen Elizabeth Woodville.

Early life

She was born in the Palace of Westminster, London. She was a younger sister of Elizabeth of York, Mary of York, Cecily of York, Edward V, Margaret of York and Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York. She was also an older sister of George Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, Catherine of York and Bridget of York.

Bethrothal

On 18 July 1479, Edward IV signed an agreement with Maximilian, Archduke of Austria. According to its terms Anne was supposed to marry his eldest son Philip the Handsome. The agreement also included the term that Maximilian would not pursue other contracts of marriage for the following three years.

Maximilian was the eldest son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and had a good chance for pursuing the title of the Holy Roman Emperor for himself later. His wife and mother to Philip was Mary, Duchess of Burgundy. Both relations made Maximilian a valuable ally for Edward IV. However, the marriage treaty was repudiated after Edward's death and was never concluded.

Marriage

On 4 February 1494/1495, Anne was instead married to Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Surrey. He was, at the time, the eldest son and heir of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk by his first wife, Elizabeth Tilney.

Their only son known with certainty was Thomas Howard (c. 1496 - 1508). There are also suggestions of short-lived Henry Howard and William Howard resulting from this marriage. There was at least one stillborn child.

Later life and legacy

Anne died shortly after 22 November 1511 and was buried first at Thetford Priory. After the Reformation, she was relocated, along with other Howards to the large aisle chancel of the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham.

Anne and Thomas are considered to have survived their own children. He was a childless widower following her death. He was later remarried to Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Alianore Percy.

Ancestry

External links

• Remarks on the Privy Purse Expenses and Memoirs of the Siblings of Elizabeth of York

References

 "Howard, Anne". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900​. London: Smith, Elder & Co.