12. Increased Control of The Localities 1470s

Question 1

The experience of the Pastons in the 1470s is indicative of…

Answer 1

the increased political stability of the nation experienced during the second reign of Edward IV

Question 2

What removed the possibility of a continuing Lancastrian dynasty

Answer 2

The deaths of leading Lancastrians, and especially Henry VI’s son and heir, Prince Edward, in 1471.

Question 3

How was the Yorkists’ position also strengthened

Answer 3

The death of Henry VI in May of that year, which removed the alternative
candidate for the throne with the strongest dynastic claim.

Question 4

What also made for an easier decade in terms of national politics?

Answer 4

King Edward’s greater experience and the absence of Warwick’s over-mighty influence

Question 5

What did the stability of Edward IV’s reign mean locally?

Answer 5

It had a calming influence on the

heated local politics of regions such as Norfolk.

Question 6

What was Edward do in 1471 to keep the localities under greater royal control?

Answer 6

His key development was regional
councils, which were held in addition to the ‘great’ and ‘continual’
councils

Question 7

Which council was the most significant?

Answer 7

The Council of the North, which was based first in Sheriff Hutton and later in the city of York.

Question 8

Why was the Northern Council established in terms of protection?

Answer 8

This was established
in part to co-ordinate protection for the area from the very real
threat of Scottish raids or actual invasion across the border.

Question 9

What was the reason for the Northern Council concerning the northern counties?

Answer 9

The northern counties were noted in this period for their
lawlessness, not least as the area was particularly affected by a
long-standing feud between two important noble families in the area, the Nevilles and the Percies

Question 10

What was a reason for the launch of the Northern Council concerning geography?

Answer 10

The area was deemed too far from London to be effectively controlled from the capital.

Question 11

What was the Council of the North designed for?

Answer 11

To provide effective and speedy justice in the area.

Question 12

Who was the most powerful figure in the Council?

Answer 12

King Edward IV
made his youngest brother, Richard of Gloucester, the most
powerful figure in the Council of the North and Gloucester was
a highly respected figure in the region because of this.

Question 13

What was done to assist
Richard and ensure he was seen as an authority figure in the
North?

Answer 13

1472 Gloucester married Anne Neville, the dead earl
of Warwick’s daughter and widow of the Lancastrian Prince of
Wales.

Question 14

Why did Edward elevate his younger brother?

Answer 14

Both a reward for Richard’s loyalty, but also ensured that this troubled area was brought under direct Yorkist supervision, ensuring most of the
earl of Warwick’s former vast estates in the North would be held by someone the king could trust.

Question 15

What did the marriage mean in terms of loyalty?

Answer 15

The marriage to Anne Neville
was also a means of ensuring that former members of Warwick’s
retinue were more likely to be loyal to the Yorkist regime.

Question 16

Why did Edward need to ensure strong, loyal local leadership in Wales?

Answer 16

King Edward needed to ensure strong, loyal local leadership, as this was an area prone to rebellion and was a Lancastrian stronghold.

Question 17

What did the region include?

Answer 17

This region included the Principality of Wales as well as the marcher lordships

Question 18

What was the Principality of Wales?

Answer 18

An area ruled over by a prince,
even if most of his wealth/
estates are based outside the
principality.

Question 19

What was the Marcher lordship?

Answer 19

A Marcher lord was a noble
appointed to govern estates in
the area on the English-Welsh
border (called the Marches),
which was a region that saw
considerable conflict in the
Middle Ages. A marcher lordship
was the region he governed.

Question 20

What had become customary in Wales since 1301?

Answer 20

It had become customary for the region to be governed by the king’s eldest son, who assumed the title of the Prince of Wales, although in reality if the prince was a child the area was governed by leading noblemen in his entourage.

Question 21

What did Edward make his infant son and heir?

Answer 21

The Prince of Wales and earl of Chester in June 1471

Question 22

What was made for the Prince of Wales because he was still a child?

Answer 22

A loyal Yorkist council, including a strong Woodville infuence, was created for the young prince to rule in his name while he was still a child.