Margaret Beaufort was born on 31 May 1443 . As a child, she was promised in marriage to John dePole, but this was an annulled by the pope and Henry VI placed her in the care of his half-brothers, Jasper and Edmund Tudor. This is how Margaret’s connection to West Wales began as she went on to marry Edmund at just 12 years old, and lived on his Welsh estate.

In spite of her young age, Margaret conceived quickly after the marriage which afforded Edmund the rights to her wealth should she die. However, in a remarkable twist of fate, Edmund was taken prisoner by Yorksist forces during the Wars of the Roses and died of the plague in captivity at Carmarthen.

Margaret, a child herself, was left a widow and seven months pregnant. As such, her brother-in-law Jasper took her into his care and Margaret gave birth in Pembroke Castle . The birth was particularly difficult and at one point, both mother and child were close to death. However, the baby went on to become King Henry VII, and his birthed signalled the beginning of the historic Tudor dynasty.

Margaret and her son remained in Pembroke for 14 years and she made sure Henry was educated as a royal prince.  She devoted the rest of her life to protecting him and ensuring he became King.  Her subsequent marriages were arguably political and designed to enhance Henry’s position, yet she was to lose her security (if not great love) in 1471 when Sir Henry Stafford died from his war injuries at the Battle of Barnet and in 1504 upon the death of Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby.

Ganed Margaret Beaufort ar 31 Mai 1443. Yn blentyn, addawyd hi mewn glân briodas â John dePole, ond dirymwyd hynny gan y Pab a rhoddodd Harri VI hi yng ngofal ei ddau hanner brawd, Jasper ac Edmund Tudor. Dyma sut y dechreuodd cysylltiad Margaret â Gorllewin Cymru gan iddi fynd ymlaen i briodi Edmund pan oedd ond yn 12 oed, a byw ar ei ystâd yng Nghymru.

Er gwaethaf ei bod mor ifanc, fe feichiogodd Margaret yn gyflym ar ôl y briodas a roddodd yr hawliau i’w chyfoeth i Edmund pe bai hi’n marw. Fodd bynnag, mewn tro rhyfeddol ar ei dynged, cymerwyd Edmund yn garcharor gan luoedd y Iorciaid yn ystod Rhyfeloedd y Rhosynnau, a bu farw o’r pla yn garcharor yng Nghaerfyrddin.

Gadawyd Margaret, yn blentyn ei hun, yn wraig weddw ac yn saith mis yn feichiog. Cymerodd ei brawd yng nghyfraith Jasper hi i’w ofal, ac esgorodd Margaret ar ei chyntaf anedig yng Nghastell Penfro. Roedd yr enedigaeth yn arbennig o anodd ac ar un adeg, roedd y fam a’r plentyn yn agos at golli eu bywydau. Fodd bynnag, aeth y baban ymlaen i fod yn Frenin Harri’r VII, a’i enedigaeth ef oedd dechrau llinach hanesyddol y Tuduriaid.

Arhosodd Margaret a’i mab ym Mhenfro am 14 mlynedd, a gwnaeth yn siŵr bod Harri yn cael ei addysgu fel tywysog brenhinol.  Cysegrodd gweddill ei hoes i’w amddiffyn a sicrhau y byddai yn Frenin ryw ddydd.  Gellir dadlau bod ei phriodasau diweddarach yn rhai gwleidyddol ac wedi’u cynllunio i wella safle Harri, ond er hynny roedd i golli ei diogelwch (os nad cariad oesol) yn 1471 pan fu farw Syr Henry Stafford o’i anafiadau rhyfel ym Mrwydr Barnet, ac yn 1504 ar farwolaeth Thomas Stanley Iarll Derby.