5 - The downfall of the Yorkist Monarchy 1483-1486

TIMETABLE

The death of Edward IV

9 April

The Royal Council takes control of government

10-11 April

News of Edward IV's death reaches the Prince of Wales, now Edward V, at Ludlow

16-18 April

Edward IV is interred at Windsor.

20 April

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, starts his journey south from York

23 April

Edward V and his uncle Earl Rivers leave Ludlow

24 April

Edward V and Earl Rivers reach Northampton. Edward continues to Stony Stratford while Earl Rivers waits behind to meet the Duke of Gloucester and Duke of Buckingham, with whom he reportedly spends a pleasant evening.

29 April

FIRST COUP D'ÉTAT

Who were arrested by G and buckingham and where were they sent

Earl Rivers, Richard Grey and Thomas Vaughan are arrested by the Duke of Gloucester and Duke of Buckingham and sent to Yorkshire

Date when Earl Rivers, Richard Grey and Thomas Vaughan are arrested

30 April

What happens to Ed's household and whos custody is he under

Edward V's household is disbanded, and he is taken into the custody of Gloucester and Buckingham

Date of Ed's capture

30 April

What did G and B claim

protested their loyalty and that their actions are against traitors who they claim were plotting their destruction.

What was planned for the 4th May

Edward V's coronation

What happens instead

He is escorted into London by Gloucester and Buckingham and housed in the Bishop of London's palace

Who have already taken sanctuary at westminster

Queen Elizabeth, the Marquess of Dorset and Richard, Duke of York, have already taken sanctuary at Westminster Abbey

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is appointed Lord Protector.

10th May

A summons is made for Parliament to be held on 25 June

13th May

Richard sends men to arrest Sir Edward Woodville

14th May

A summons is made for the convocation of the clergy

16th May

The new coronation date is set for 24 June (but later changed 22 June)

18th May

Edward V is moved to the Tower of London.

By 19th May

Gloucester, Buckingham and the archbishops try to persuade Queen Elizabeth to leave the sanctuary of Westminster but fail.

23rd May

What did G do to get troops and date

The Duke of Gloucester writes to the cities of York and Hull, and to Lord Neville, asking for military support and for the troops to muster at Pontefract on 18 June.

10-11th June

What is the city of York told

told of a plot organised by the queen to persuade them to the Duke of Gloucester's cause.

SECOND COUP D'ÉTAT

Who did G arrest at a council meeting at the Tower of London and date

Lord Hastings, Archbishop Rotherham of York, Bishop Morton and (perhaps) Lord Stanley

13th June

What did he do with them

Lord Hastings is immediately executed without trial, after being charged with treasonable conspiracy with the queen. The other three arrested men are imprisoned.

What happens to Richard, duke of york

Edward V's brother, Richard, Duke of York, is removed from sanctuary at Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London by Cardinal Bourchier. Parliament and the coronation are delayed again until November

Date when richard is removed from sanctuary

16th June

A new proclamation against plotters is received from the Duke of Gloucester at the city of York, as the troops from York had not yet left there.

19th June

what deos ralph shaa and ER do

The bastardy of the princes is preached at St Paul's Cross London, by Ralph Shaa. Earl Rivers makes his will in expectation of execution.

Date when Shaa and rivers did this

22nd June

Who is executed and what is G encouraged to do - date

The Duke of Buckingham urges the Duke of Gloucester's title to the crown at the London Guildhall. Earl Rivers, Richard Grey and Thomas Vaughan are executed at Pontefract.

24th June

Date of edward V's reign

25th June

When is Richard, Dof G elected as king by a meeting of estates

26th June

coronation of Richard III

6th July 1483

What rumours did G try to spread

spread the story that Edward's sons were bastards

THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER

when was Ed V was placed in the tower

19th May 1483

When did richrad leave sanctuary and join ed

16th June 1483

last time they were seen

They had been seen, initially, playing in the grounds of the Tower in June and July

After July 1483 they were not seen or heard of again

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER

When were bones found and whos were they claimed to be

Two sets of bones were discovered at different times in the 17th century

Both were claimed to be Edward V and Richard

One set no longer exists

Where were they found

Bones were found in 1674 in a walled-up room in the tower of London

Bones were not properly examined

Other set are given much more credibility by modern historians

trustworthy?

Bones found in 1674 were examined in 1933 and were agreed that that they were the bones of the princes

Were deaths like this seen at other points in WOTRs

During the WOTRs dangerous opponents of the monarch were dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly

Henry VI's heir apparent killed at Tewksbury - things safer for Ed IV and to kill henry even safer

Richards motive?

Richard III had a strong motive to get rid of Ed's rightful successor and brother

Why did this make m support HT

Margaret gave her support to henry Tudor to take the crown showing she believed her children were dead

Dof B - loyal Yorkist wouldn't have supported Tudor if not

When was there a rebellion in favour of Ed V

Rebellion against Rich in 1483 began to place Ed V on the throne but changed as princes were found to be dead

Who was suspected to be the murderer

Dof B was a suspect for the murder, but he could've only done so with the support of the usurper's knowledge and consent

He was a close confidant of Richard up to summer of 1483 - plausible that B acted on the king's orders

main consequence of the princes in the tower

Main consequence of the disappearance of the princes was that fuel added to the fire of the rebels in southern and western England, where Richards support was already weak

Richards support up north was as strong as ever

RICHARD III'S POSITION AS A USURPER

What were the grounds of his usurpation

Grounds on which he based his usurpation were unclear

Modern historians view on his ambition

Modern historians (Charles ross) are doubtful that Rich had a longstanding ambition for the throne - Loyalty he showed Edward throughout his reign

Within a few weeks he changed his mind from being lord protector to king - who changed his mind

Philippe de Commynes accused Rober Stilington bishop of Bath and wells of suggesting the possibility of illegitimacy of ED V

Many members of the leading gentry opposed him

Particularly the case in southern and western England

Involved many of Ed IV's former servants

how many usurpers in the 15th century

3rd usurper if the 15th century

how did york try to gain support after his coronation

Richard began a royal progress through his realm following his coronation

Royal progress: a tour of the kingdom

Richard arrived at York on 29th August and invested his son as Edward Prince of wales

FACTIONAL RIVALRIES

THE EMERGENCE OF HENRY TUDOR

who were henry and jasper being protected by

Henry and jasper were being protected by the duke of Brittany who saw their value as a bargaining chip in diplomatic relations between England France and Brittany

when did ed make more efforts to to get the Tudors returned to England with the support of Margaret B and Lord Stanley

After treaty of Picquigny Ed made more concerted efforts

when did M make peace and what did she want

She made her peace with Ed after Tewkesbury and was apparently keen to secure the safe return of her son and a place for him in the Yorkist regime, a marriage found for him and suitable lands

Dof B was persuaded to return Henry to England when and what stopped this

1476 Dof B was persuaded to return Henry to England but henry feigned illness before he embarked his ship

D changed his mind. Henry escaped his English escort

What changed tudors position

Edward V's succession appeared to be assured and Tudor's position remained minor but due to the usurpation his position changed - he was now the biggest rival to the crown

Richard had to negate this to stabilise his authority

Did rich try to shut him down

Richard sent an embassy to Brittany in July 1483. Henry was a valuable pawn that Brittany would not give up easily

DISSENSIONS AMONG THE YORKIST NOBILITY

who supported rich - divided

Supporters of Richard: royal blood; Edward Plantagenet (Eof W), John de la pole (Earl of Lincoln) non-royal blood; Dof N

Was support obvious

Overt supporters were few and far between

Many in the elite who weren't outright opponents but wouldn't come out and support him

This was due to the bloodletting of the usurpation and of LH

Surprising opposition

MB, QE and the Mof Dorset

BUCKINGHAM'S REBELLION

reasons for rebellion and date

Rebellion was brewing as early as September 1483 - princes and method of usurpation

Wasn't a surprise Tudor was planning a rebellion but what was surprising

a surprise of those involved in particular Dof B, once Richard most loyal ally

Rebellion had three main centres

South-east of England,

South-central England:,

South-west centre

South-east of England:

leadership

influence of gentry, magnates and barons

Kent surrey and Sussex under the leadership of Ed's former household servants and some

were connected to the households of QE

wasn't heavily influenced by magnates and barons

gentry could rely on popular following and able to wield significant influence

gentry community was close-knit - close family and inter-marriage

South-central England:

leadership

support

former household men

what strengthened the numbers

Salisbury, Wiltshire, Newbury Berkshire

Support came from counties of Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset

Leaders were supporters of Ed

Also, men who had been associated with C including sir roger tocotes

Former household men: sir William barely

Close family ties strengthened the numbers

South-west centre:

led by two men? who were they

why were they close

Predominantly led by two men: Thomas Grey, Mof D and Sir Thomas St Leger

D was a loyal servant od Ed and closely associated with the Woodville family

D and Thomas close associations as children were contracted to marry

Supported by gentry who were also servants - such as the Courtney family

Reasons for rebellion at the start

Main was the outrage at treatment of the princes

At the beginning (according to the croyland chronicler) aimed for the release of the princes and to take the daughters of ED from sanctuary and send them overseas

What changed?

When they found out princes were dead, QE and MB plotted to place henry on the throne on the condition he marries one od Edward IV's daughters

what was most surprisng?

Surprising that the rebellion was led by those loyal to the Yorkist cause - they were prepared to turn to a traditional Lancastrian to headline their campaign

DOF BUCKINGHAM BECOMES INVOLVED

who turned sides

Richards kingmaker henry Stafford turned

how was he put in contact with MB

Through his prisoner John Morton bishop of Ely B was put in contact with Reginald bray, Margaret beaufort's agent (his aunt)

what plans were made

Made plans for the dof b to raise a revolt in Brecon (south wales) and in the meantime henry was encouraged to return to England to stake his claim

The revolt in wales planned to link up to who

Revolt in wales planned to link up with an invasion force from Brittany

Combined with the uprisings in southern England - timing was crucial

richard's reaction

News of the plot was leaked by royal spies and rich was able to prepare

Yorkist roles

Dof N placed in charge of defending London

Richard + supporters in charge of defeating B

R's supporters prepared defences on English welsh border

what meant rebels couldn't wait any longer for henry Tudor to land

Royal preparations

where were there uprisings at the same time (5 places)

Brecon, Maidstone in Kent, Newbury in Berkshire, Salisbury in Wiltshire and Exeter in Devon

date of uprisings

18th October 1483

THE CAPTURE OF THE DOF B

What happened to B

B was surrounded and deserted by his welsh troops

Failed to rally any support in Weobley

He went into hiding but

He went into hiding but was betrayed and captured

when was B was executed in Salisbury

2nd November 1483

what was richards next move

Richard moved to Exeter, safe knowing rebels were deterred from London

Exeter put up no defences against Richard - he occupied the city and executed the leader Sir Thomas Leger

what happend to tudor

Henrys fleet was scattered by the storm and upon approaching England he realised he was too late and turned back for Normandy

Rest of the rebels dispersed

THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF RICHARDS POSITION IN 1484

what did 1484 act of parliament do

Early 1484 Act of Parliament settled the crown upon Richard III and his issue in order to assure his position as the king of England. It was very clear in ensuring the illegitimacy of any other possible claims to the throne

What did the act state

1. Edward's marriage was invalidated because the king was said, on the testimony of a bishop, Robert Stillington, to have precontracted a marriage to Lady Eleanor Butler.

2. The document also claims that Elizabeth Woodville and her mother used witchcraft to get the king to marry her

3. hints that George and Edward were themselves illegitimate

4. Since Richard's brother George, Duke of Clarence, had been executed and attainted, his descendants forfeited all rights to the throne, leaving Richard the true heir