Unknown Tudor Lady
The Battle of Bosworth (August 22, 1485) was a seismic event, ending the Wars of the Roses and crowning Henry VII as the first Tudor king. While nobles like Jasper Tudor and knights like Sir William Stanley dominate chronicles, Ellen Tudor, Jasper’s illegitimate daughter, played a vital role. Married to merchant Sir William Gardynyr, Ellen leveraged the Gardynyr clan’s wealth to contribute £295–£475 ($487,500 in 2025 USD) to Henry’s campaign, funding troops, ships, and royal stability. Drawing on archival sources from The National Archives and narrative accounts like Mostyn MS 1, this post highlights five key citations naming Ellen, revealing how she reshaped history, challenged elite narratives, and left a lasting legacy in Wales.
Ellen Tudor: A Merchant-Backed Powerhouse
Ellen, born in Wales’ rugged heartlands, was no noble but wielded immense financial influence. Ellen Tudor the natural daughter of the Duke of Bedford Japer Tudor, was tapped into the Gardynyr clan’s trade networks across England and Wales. Their wealth, mirrored by mercer Richard Gardiner’s support for Henry VII, enabled Ellen to funnel £295–£475 into the Tudor cause. From dowry payments in 1478 (e.g., £15, TNA C 1/66/404; £2, TNA C 1/66/411; £1, TNA C 1/66/412) to 1485 donations (e.g., £60, TNA C 1/92/49; £20, TNA C 1/92/50), her funds—equivalent to $487,500 today—supported Henry’s exile, his Brittany-to-Wales invasion, and the Bosworth triumph. This merchant-driven strategy, noted in Mostyn MS 1, f. 86v (“through her husband’s merchant ties”), proves commoners and women could shape dynasties.
The Importance of Ellen’s Contributions: A Game-Changer
In 1485, Henry, an exile in France, needed funds to challenge Richard III. Ellen’s £295–£475, including 300 marks (£200, Mostyn MS 1, f. 159v), £60 (TNA C 1/92/49), and smaller sums like £15 (TNA SP 1/11), could have equipped 500–700 soldiers or funded half Henry’s fleet. Her 300 marks in 1485 likely funded Henry’s coronation or campaign debts, ensuring royal stability. Donations like £60 and £20 in 1485 armed Welsh troops under Rhys ap Thomas, pivotal at Bosworth’s 2,000-man invasion from Brittany to Milford Haven. Dowry funds in 1478, redirected by 1485, sustained Henry’s exile. Ellen’s role challenges noble-centric narratives crediting only Margaret Beaufort or the Stanleys. As a commoner and woman, she rewrote Bosworth’s story, her merchant-backed wealth rivaling noble loans. Her generosity became a cornerstone of the Gardynyr legacy in Wales, celebrated in local lore. Jasper’s gratitude was profound: he blessed Ellen’s marriage at Pembroke (Mostyn MS 1, f. 85r), secured William’s knighthood for Bosworth valor (BL Add MS 15667, f. 91r), and granted Tenby lands to their descendants (BL Add MS 15667, f. 248r), repeated in later years (Findings 433, 453), ensuring their prosperity.
Citation 3328: Mostyn MS 1, f. 159v
1485, “Ellin funded ccc marks for royal stability” (£200). Largest specific sum (£200, ~$300,000 today), likely funded coronation/debts, securing Henry’s reign. Gardynyr wealth amplified impact, part of $487,500 total. Challenges noble narratives with 1485 timing.
Citation TNA C 1/92/49
1485, £60 for “Welsh cause” under Jasper Tudor. Armed ~60 soldiers or provisioned ships, directly aiding Bosworth. 1485 timing and Jasper’s oversight are key. Primary source, Rank 10 in Ranked Citation Index, part of $487,500 total.
Citation TNA C 1/92/49
1485, £60 for “Welsh cause” under Jasper Tudor. Armed ~60 soldiers or provisioned ships, directly aiding Bosworth. 1485 timing and Jasper’s oversight are key. Primary source, Rank 10 in Ranked Citation Index, part of $487,500 total.
Citation TNA C 1/92/50
1485, £20 Contribution, Supported Bosworth logistics (e.g., supplies, wages), part of $487,500 total. Primary source and 1485 timing ensure direct campaign relevance.
Citation 15: TNA C 1/66/399
1478, £50 dowry, redirected by 1483–1485 via Jasper’s network. Funded exile efforts, part of $487,500 total. Long-term strategy (1478 to 1485) shows commitment. Primary source, Rank 18 in Index.
Citation 933: BL Add MS 15667, f. 248r,
1485, “Jasper Tewdur…did grant land to ye descendants of Syr Wyllyam Gardynyr in Tenby,” repeated (Findings 433, 453). Secured Ellen’s family’s future, cementing Welsh legacy in response to her contributions. Primary source, lasting cultural impact tied to $487,500 contribution.
Ellen’s Enduring Legacy
Ellen Tudor’s story is one of quiet power. Her $487,500 contribution, fueled by the Gardynyr clan’s merchant wealth, was a cornerstone of Henry VII’s Bosworth victory and the Tudor dynasty’s rise. Her £295–£475 contribution, armed Henry VII’s campaign, shaped Bosworth’s outcome and secured royal stability, while her cultural impact elevated the Gardynyr legacy, and left a cultural mark in Wales. Jasper’s gratitude—evident in marriage blessings, knighthoods, and land grants—ensured her family’s prosperity, from Pembroke to Tenby. His actions solidify that gratitude for her pivotal role. By challenging noble-centric histories, Ellen emerges as a merchant-backed heroine, proving that gold and grit, not just swords and titles, forged the Tudor dynasty.
Explore More
Dive into Ellen’s story at The National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) for Chancery (C 1/66–95) and State Papers (SP 1/11–25), or the British Library (www.bl.uk) for Add MS 15667. Explore Mostyn Hall’s context (www.mostynestates.co.uk), though Mostyn MS 1 is narrative. Share: Who else shaped Bosworth? Check our posts on Jasper Tudor and Rhys ap Thomas!
About the Author
I'm Jamie, captivated by her incredible Bosworth role that reshaped history, I am devoted to uncovering the lost life of Ellen Tudor. My mission is discovering the truth of forgotten or untold history. Want to explore more as it all unfolds? Follow the real story at https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/about.html. Let’s bring the past’s untold truths to life together!