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The Palace of Placentia was an English Royal Palace built by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in 1428, in Greenwich, London on the banks of the River Thames. The Palace was demolished and replaced with the Greenwich Hospital in the late 17th century.1 History
Duke Humprey was Regent during the rule of Henry VI, and built the palace under the name Bella Court. In 1447, Humphrey fell out of favour with the new queen, Margaret of Anjou, and was arrested for high treason. He died in prison - Shakespeare says he was murdered - and Margaret took over Bella Court, renaming it the Palace of Placentia, sometimes written as the Palace of Pleasaunce.
The Palace remained the principal Royal palace for the next two centuries. It was the birth-place of King Henry VIII in 1491, and figured heavily in his life. Following his marriage to Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon (in Spanish Catalina de Aragon , ( December 16, 1485 January 7, 1536) was Henry VIII of England's first wife. Henry annulled his marriage to her after she had born him a girl, later Mary I. Biography Born in Alcala de Henares, she was, Placentia was the birth-place of Queen Mary Tudor (later Queen Mary IMary I ( 18 February 1516 17 November 1558) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 de jure or 19 July 1553 de facto until her death. Mary, the fourth and penultimate monarch of the Tudor dynasty, is remembered for her attempt to return) in February 1516Events March With the death of Ferdinand II of Aragon, his grandson Charles of Ghent becomes King of Spain as Carlos I. July Selim I of the Ottoman Empire declares war on the Mameluks and invades Syria. August 13 Treaty of Noyon Peace between France and S. After his marriage to Anne BoleynHans Holbein the Younger. Legend has it that this image is the basis for the queens in a deck of cards, but the actual inspiration was Anne's mother-in-law Elizabeth of York Anne Boleyn, Marchioness of Pembroke (about 1507 May 19, 1536) was the second wif, his daughter, later Queen Elizabeth IElizabeth I ( September 7, 1533 March 24, 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from November 17, 1558 until her death. Sometimes referred to as The Virgin Queen or Good Queen Bess Elizabeth I was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty,, was born at Placentia in 1533Events January 25 King Henry VIII of England marries Anne Boleyn, his second Queen consort. March 30 Thomas Cranmer becomes Archbishop of Canterbury May 23 King Henry VIII of England marriage with Catherine of Aragon officially declared annulled. Catherin, and he married Anne of ClevesAnne of Cleves also known as The Mare of Flanders (see below) ( September 22, 1515 July 16, 1557) was the queen consort of Henry VIII of England from January 6, 1540 to July 9, 1540. Hans Holbein the Younger hid the evidence of her smallpox scars. Anne wa there in 1540Events January 6 King Henry VIII of England marries Anne of Cleves, his fourth Queen consort. July 9 King Henry VIII of England divorces Anne of Cleves, his fourth Queen consort. July 28 One of the most important political figures of the reign of Henry VI. A tree in Greenwich Park is known as Queen Elizabeth's Oak, in which she is reputed to have played as a child.
Both Mary and Elizabeth lived at Placentia for some years during the 16th century, but during the reigns of James I and Charles I, the Queen's House was erected to the south of the Palace. Placentia fell into disrepair during the English Civil War, serving time as a biscuit factory and a prisoner-of-war camp. In 1660, Charles II decided to rebuild the Palace, engaging John Webb as the architect, but the only section of the Palace to be completed was the east range of the present King Charles Block. The rest of the palace was demolished, and the site remained empty until construction of the Greenwich Hospital began in the late 17th century.
