In the tumultuous landscape of medieval Europe, where kings vied for power, law enforcement was primitive, and social hierarchies rigid, one institution stood as both a spiritual refuge and a legal anomaly: the sanctuary of the Church. For centuries, churches and cathedrals offered a unique form of protection to criminals, outlaws, and the accused.

In 1485, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and became Henry VII. His marriage to Elizabeth of York united the warring houses of Lancaster and York, ending the Wars of the Roses. Elizabeth Woodville was now the king’s mother-in-law and grandmother of the future Henry VIII. However, her influence waned rapidly. In 1487,

Despite the controversy, Elizabeth wielded considerable influence as queen. She was a patron of the arts and a devout Catholic, known for founding charitable institutions. But her greatest legacy came through her strategic marriages of her many siblings into the aristocracy. This was perceived as cronyism and a threat to traditional noble dominance

Introduction Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Consort of King Edward IV of England, remains one of the most enigmatic and debated figures of the Wars of the Roses. As a commoner who ascended to queenship, she shattered the norms of 15th-century royal marriages and set in motion a series of dynastic and political upheavals. Her beauty, ambition, and alle