roses depth 4 - EIV

Issues facing EIV 1470s-80s

Earl of Warwick and the Readeption 1470-71:

• Warwick the kingmaker turns against EIV and takes advantage of discontent over tax policies and worked with MofA and Louis XI to overthrow and reinstate Lancastrian monarchy

• Major short term challenge - EIV able to return older and wise

Role of Woodvilles;

• marriage to Elizabeth Woodville subject to criticism, reason from rift with Warwick

• Family became prominent at court - danger of faction

• Clarence resented the Woodvilles - tried to discredit queen and marriage

Duke of Clarence:

• role in 1469 rebellion against his brother EIV

• Gained land and titles from EIV - rivalry with Gloucester, destabilising

• Caused miscarriage of justice - put on trial and executed as result

Duke of Gloucester:

• close advisor and loyal EIV supporter

• Rivalry with Clarence - benefitted from his death

• Usurped EV after death of EIV

EIV himself:

• marriage - tensions and faction that lasted beyond his reign

• Faced issues as result of his brothers’ rivalry

• Too lenient to Clarence - parliament had to prompt him to execute him

• Reliant on loyal Yorkists - Hastings

• Set up regional councils - precedent for RIII

• Death prompted political crisis - did not leave instructions

Warwick position 1461

• held lots of land - wealthiest of nobles, lots of retainers, therefore became over mighty subject

• Held Captain of Calais since 1455

• Brought EIV to power - supported Yorkists since 1455, also lost father at Wakefield, 12 years older than EIV

• Lavishly rewarded - resentment among other supporters

Warwick’s predominant position post 1461

• attested to 41/46 charters issued by EIV 1461-64

• Key figure in defeat of Lancastrians in north - with brother, John, Lord Montague

• Given strategic land in north, some at expense of Percies and defeated Lancastrians

• Received more and more offices and their wealth

  • Constableship of England, Ireland and Aquitaine

• 1464 - sent on diplomatic mission to French king

• Brother was made Chancellor and 1465, Archbishop of York - growing Neville influence

Warwick’s increasing alienation

• humiliated after failed marriage negotiations with France

  • Disagree with EIV about foreign policy - wanted alliance with France but EIV wanted alliance with Burgundy

    • Married his sister, Margaret of Burgundy, to Duke Charles 1468

• Rising Woodville influence at court and advantageous marriage of their family - Nevilles viewed them as upstarts

  • Warwick had hoped his daughter Isabelle would marry Clarence but because of Woodville influence, George Nevilles lost position as Chancellor and EIV refused permission for the marriage

• 1467 - Warwick stayed away from court while EIV prepared to invade France

Political impact of marriage to Elizabeth Woodville

• increased tension between EIV and Warwick

  • Warwick spent a year negotiating for EIV to marry Bona of Savoy, sister-in-law of French king

  • Would have secured peace between England and France - important as Scots harboured Lancastrians

• EIV marries Elizabeth in secret May 1464 - deeply humiliating for Warwick, as he did not know until September

• EIV intention to disregard closest advisor and assert dominance ?

• EIV favoured Burgundy - married his sister Margaret off to Charles Duke of Burgundy

• Many regarded marriage in horror

  • Rumours Elizabeth Woodville had bewitched EIV - did not make marriage in interests of country

  • No advantage in foreign policy

  • Member of gentry - poor, brought no wealth, appalled nobility

  • Widow with 2 sons - royal brides expected to be virgins

  • Family and former husband were Lancastrians

  • Relatives noted as greedy - especially by Nevilles

  • Only produced a daughter for first 10 years - eventually does produce heir and spare

Problems EIV faced during first reign

• patronage

• Warwick - wanted more, became overmighty

  • Made other nobles jealous

• Clarence - greedy and wanted more power

• Warwick offered Clarence throne via marriage to Isabelle Neville

Warwick’s Rebellion: 1st Rebellion with Clarence 1469

• spring 1469 - discontent and uprisings in North

• June - Popular rebellions of Robin of Redesdale and Robin of Holderness inspired by Nevilles to distract EIV

• 11 July - Clarence marries Isabelle Nevilles in Calais without EIV permission

  • Warwick and Clarence return to England with troops, wanting kinship for Warwick’s grandchild

• 26 July - battle of Edgecote, Warwick victorious

  • Lord Rivers and John Woodville executed - Elizabeth’s father and brother

• 29 July - EIV captured

• Warwick attempts to rule country with EIV in captivity

  • Noble suspicion and Lancastrian rebellion forces him to release EIV in September - doesn’t have the authority of a king

• October 1469-February 1470 - uneasy truce as EIV tried to isolate Warwick and Clarence

  • Restored Henry Percy as Earl of Northumberland instead of John Neville

  • John made Marquess of Montague in March, and remained loyal for now

Warwick’s rebellion: Warwick and Clarence rebel again 1470

• had nothing to lose

• Spring 1470 - further rebellion in Lincolnshire with both involved, planning to place Clarence on the throne

• March - swiftly suppressed at Battle of Empingham / Losecote Field

  • Warwick and Clarence declared traitors and fled to Calais

  • Refused entry to Calais and Isabelle Neville gives birth to stillborn child on ship, no heir

  • Given refuge by Louis XI of France

Readeption of HVI: 1470

• 22 July - Warwick and MofA reconcile at Angers, Louis XI would support HVI restoration to throne, prince Edward would marry Anne Neville

  • Clarence lost power, land and future - nothing left for him to gain, so he is alienated

• September - EIV dealing with unrest in North, when Warwick rebels land in Devon

  • Well received and marched north

  • EIV deserted by many troops and threatened by John Neville, Marquess Montague

• 2 October - EIV flees to Low Countries with Gloucester, Hastings and the new Lord Rivers

  • Elizabeth in sanctuary at Westminer

  • Humiliating for EIV

• 3 October - HVI returns to throne

• 6 October - Warwick pledges allegiance to HVI

  • Lancastrians would not support Warwick - waited for MofA and Prince Edward to arrive but they were delayed by storms

• Warwick and MofA decide to change English foreign policy and support french

  • Infuriated parliament - no consulted, French involvement unpopular

Readeption government and return of EIV: 1470-71

• December 1470 - France declares war on Burgundy

  • Deal between Warwick and Louis was that England would support - English delays, Louis angry, Charles of Burgundy backed EIV to retake throne and gave him £20,000

• Readeption monarchy struggled to gain support and keep control

• 11 March 1471 - EIV sets sail, but has to head north to avoid hostility

  • Declares he’s only returning to reclaim duchy and lands in Humber estuary

  • EIV gains support while Warwick delays and misses opportunity to attack him

• After negotiations, Clarence returns to EIV’s side and head to London

• 11 April - London opens gates to EIV, and he meets his son born in sanctuary - new heir

Crushing of Lancastrians: 1471

• 14 April 1471 - Battle of Barnet

  • EIV and Warwick and their forces meet on Easter Sunday in confused and savage battle in the fog

  • Significant casualties both sides - including Warwick and Montague

  • EIV gains victory but immediately learnt that MofA, Prince Edward and their supporters landed in Dorset

• MofA heard news of Warwick’s death, and marched to Wales to meet Jasper Tudor

  • EIV marched to intercept

• 4 May 1471 - Battle of Tewkesbury

  • Gloucester and Hastings help EIV to decisive victory

  • Prince Edward and Somerset killed

  • MofA taken prisoner and ransomed to France

• 12 May - Thomas Neville, Bastard of Fauconberg, attacked London but defended by Rivers and Dudley

• 21 May - EIV returns to London in triumph

  • HVI dies, only two surviving Lancastrian claimants left, including Henry Tudor, refugee in Brittany

Positive outcomes for EIV

• stronger position than before

• No figurehead for Lancastrian rebellion

• MofA had not further political influence - spent 1470s under guard and returned to France to live under charity of French king

• Warwick dead - no longer challenge, asserted authority over OMS

• EIV reconciled previous Lancastrians, now that line seemed dead

  • No longer bound by oath to HVI and Prince Edward

  • Gave them new places in the regime

Negative outcomes for EIV

• some diehard Lancastrians would not accept EIV as monarch - Jasper Tudor, Henry Tudor, John de Vere Earl of Oxford

  • Lost estates and excluded from court

  • De Vere’s attempted invasion with French assistance 1473 = failure

    • Did not pose significant threat to EIV

• Large amount of land left to EIV to distribute - needed to prevent creation of more overmighty subjects

Threat of the Duke of Clarence

• role in 1469 rebellions demonstrated ambition to king - reinstated at court but never fully trusted again

• Gained many lands and titles from EIV, including those forfeit by Warwick - didn’t satisfy his ambitions

• Rivalry with Gloucester destabilised reign and court and undermined authority

  • Appeared EIV couldn’t control own family

  • Clarence attempted to block Anne Neville and Gloucester marriage - hid her as servant

• Own marriage ambitions challenged EIV authority - 1st marriage to Isabelle Neville not approved

  • After her death, he sought marriage with either Mary of Burgundy or sister of Scottish king

    • Both would’ve given too much power so EIV blocked

• Treachery against EIV - spread rumours he was illegitimate so not fit to rule

  • Refusal to attend court after marriage arguments

  • Refusal to eat in EIV’s house - rumours about being poisoned by brother

• Caused miscarriage of justice by forcing guilty verdict against Ankarette Twynho, accused of poisoning Isabelle Neville

  • Overmighty subject, challenged king’s position as source of all justice

  • Furious EIV sought evidence of Clarence’s treachery and put him on trial for treason, including violation of laws of realm and interfering with judicial system

Limitations of Clarence threat

• not politically able or credible enough alternative monarch

  • Lacked skills and abilities of other overmighty subjects such as Warwick

• EIV had effective response despite initial leniency

  • No one spoke in Clarence’s defence

  • However, Buckingham who passed death sentence not EIV

    • Delay in carrying it out - speaker of Commons had to remind, suggests EIV had difficulty condemning him to death

• Clarence had powerful enemies at court - Elizabeth Woodville and family may have been working against him, as he posed threat to her son

Ongoing impact of Clarence’s execution on EIV’s reign

• organising death of brother as unnatural behaviour - trial politicised and fairness questioned

• As a result, many feared and distrusted EIV

  • Regarded as tyrant who would take any measures necessary to quell opposition

  • Ruthless reputation developed

• EIV retained key supporters and relied heavily on Hastings and Gloucester whose land influence grew in north

  • Acted to maintain control of population - regional councils during 1st reign

Problems Clarence posed to security of EIV: patronage

• EIV needed to create loyalty and control and prevent the rise of more overmighty subjects

  • Concentrated much of land from forfeiture of Warwick and other Lancastrians into own family and brothers

• Gloucester gained all Warwick’s land in north

  • Given leadership of Council of the North, with responsibilities for law, order and defence against Scots

  • Indicates EIV confidence in Gloucester’s ability despite youth

• Clarence was forgiven and lands were restored

  • Also received Warwick’s southern estates and land in Devon confiscated from Coutenays

  • Land in north was given to Percys to win their support for the regime - angered him, demonstrating his greed and petulance

  • EIV gave him earldom of Richmond to pacify him - belonged to Henry Tudor before attainder

  • Title initially granted to Gloucester - Gloucester suffered as result

• Growing rivalry between brothers

Problems Clarence posed to EIV security: marriage

• Clarence defied brother and married Isabelle Neville, undermining him, marrying her in Calais

  • Demonstrating EIV weakness - own brother could disregard

• Anne was married to Prince Edward as result of deal with Louis XI and MofA

• After prince Edward death at Tewkesbury, Anne lived with Clarence household who hid her as kitchen maid to prevent marriage to Gloucester

  • Anne was heiress of Warwick - didn’t want to add to Gloucester’s power

• Gloucester takes Anne and marries her 1472

  • Increases power in north by taking her lands

  • Built long term power base - popular lord

  • Increased further tension between brothers and embarrassed EIV

• Clarence compensated by EIV - made Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, given further land and a townhouse in London

  • Also made Great Chamberlain of England - Gloucester’s role taken from him

• March 1472 - provisional agreement made by parliament and enforced 1474-75

  • Anne and Isabelle, and their husbands, got half Warwick inheritance each

  • Mother disinherited completely - disregard for property laws by EIV, makes other nobles nervous

  • EIV seemed inclined to give into Clarence’s demands to flatter his ego

Growing reasons for attainder - Clarence’s desire to remarry

• Isabelle Neville died October 1476, shortly after giving birth to child who also died

  • Clarence initially distressed but tried to make political capital by taking new wife - ambition for crown?

    • Hoped to marry Mary daughter of Duke Charles of Burgundy

• EIV refused - dukes of Burgundy powerful and wealthy, and had claim to English throne, feared usurpation

  • Unsurprising given Clarence’s history

• Clarence = furious and spread rumours of king’s illegitimacy

• Relationship between brothers deteriorated further - EIV blocked Clarence’s desire to marry sister of Scottish king

• Clarence rarely attended court - gave impression he feared being poisoned or attacked by Woodvilles

  • Embarrassing for EIV, damaging for Woodvilles

Clarence’s abuse of judicial system

• April 1477 - accused Isabelle’s former servant, Ankarette Twynho, of poisoning his wife

  • Terrorised jury into passing guilty verdict - hung 15 April

• Miscarriage of justice and abuse of judicial process

  • Undermined EIV as fount of all justice

• Provided reason for EIV to attack Clarence - defending common people from barbarity

• April-may 1477 - EIV furiously searched for brother’s treachery

  • Oxford astronomer John Stacey arrested for using magic

  • Under torture, he admitted to working with Thomas Burdett, member of Clarence household, to predict early deaths of king and son

  • Staged trial - Found guilty and burdett guilty of inciting rebellion against EIV

    • Hung May 1477

• Clarence - furious and interrupted council meeting at Westminster and insisted men’s declarations of innocence read out

  • Public challenge to EIV authority

• When EIV returned from Windsor, he charged Clarence with violating laws and interfering with justice system

  • Clarence imprisoned in tower until trial for treason January 1478, where he was attainted

Trial and execution of Clarence

• 1478 - EIV dealing with Clarence was ruthless

  • Brought accusations against Clarence himself, and no one spoke in his defence

• Suggestions that Elizabeth Woodville encouraged EIV as she featured Clarence to be threat to her family

• Gloucester given Clarence’s titles and lands in anticipation of trial outcome

  • Ensured he didn’t interfere on Clarence’s behalf

• Death sentence passed by Duke of Buckingham

  • Delay in carrying out - parliament had to prompt

• Clarence died in tower February 1477 - drowned in barrel of wine