1450-1459: Private Feuds in the Nobility

Question 1

What were the main feuds 1450-53?

Answer 1

York vs Somerset;
Nevilles vs Percies;
Warwick vs Somerset

Question 2

What were the main feuds 1454-56?

Answer 2

Courtenays vs Bonvilles;
Longfords vs Blounts;
Vernons vs Gresleys;
Exeter + Percies vs York

Question 3

What were the main feuds 1457-59?

Answer 3

York vs Margaret
Warwick vs Margaret

Question 4

Events of York-Somerset feud (1450-53)?

Answer 4

• Continuation of struggle over corrupt household (Suffolk etc.)
• Somerset opposed Yorkist attempts to posthumously attaint Suffolk
• Dynastic rivalry, from opposing sides of royal family (Mortimer Line vs Lancastrian Line)

Question 5

Events of Neville-Percy feud (1450-53)?

Answer 5

• Nevilles overtake Percies, creates jealousy and tension in North
• Percy attacks on Neville lands force Salisbury to appeal for help, but Somerset is unwilling to get involved, so Nevilles turn to York instead
• Battle of Heworth, 24 Aug 1453, when Nevilles married into Percy-claimed Cromwell lands

Question 6

Events of Warwick-Somerset feud (1450-53)?

Answer 6

• Conflict over Despenser & Beauchamp inheritances
• Somerset forced Warwick to hand over Glamorgan lands through a council at Sheen, July 1453

Question 7

Events of Courtenay-Bonville feud (1454-56)?

Answer 7

• In Devon
• Courtenays cause disruption and attack Bonvilles in Summer 1454
• Courtenay murder and kidnapping of Nicholas Radford in Oct 1455
• Battle of Clyst Heath, 3 Nov 1455

Question 8

Events of Longford-Blount feud (1454-56)?

Answer 8

• In Derbyshire
• Longfords disrepect York’s royal writ calling for peace by forcing a messenger to eat it and ripping it up
• Longfords sack Blount manor at Elvaston, May 1454
• Not dealt with well due to York’s partisan to Blounts

Question 9

Events of Vernon-Gresley feud (1454-56)?

Answer 9

• In the North Midlands
• Successfully dealt with by Buckingham during Second Protectorate

Question 10

Events of Exeter+Percies - York feud (1454-56)?

Answer 10

• Henry Holland (Exeter) and Thomas Percy (Egremont) ally to resist York’s First Protectorate, and plan his assassination
• Yorkists capture Exeter in July 1454
• 31 Oct 1454, Battle of Stamford Bridge (Sir Thomas and John Neville vs Thomas Percy) and Egremont is captured

Question 11

Events of York-Margaret feud (1457-59)?

Answer 11

• 24 March 1458, Loveday plans hijacked by Margaret, blames Yorkists for St Albans 1455 and forces reparations to Lancs
• Margaret organised marriages to isolate Yorkists, e.g. [Buckingham’s daughter + Shrewsbury’s son], [Devon’s son + Marg’s sister], [Margaret Beaufort + Henry Stafford, Jan 1458]
• removed Yorkist appointments (by Oct 1456) like Bourchiers and replaced them with her own (like Booth, Hale and Talbot)
• didn’t invite Yorkists to Great Councils in Leicester 1455, Coventry 1456 and Coventry 1459
• Blore Heath and Ludford Bridge (1459)
• Dec 1459, Parliament of Devils attaints 27 Yorkists

Question 12

Events of Warwick-Margaret feud (1457-59)?

Answer 12

• Warwick pirated Flemish and Italian ships in violation as his role of “Keeper of the Seas”
• Summoned by Margaret to explain himself in November 1458
• 9th Nov 1458 a brawl breaks out after a council, starting with Warwick’s man striking a royal servant and Warwick flees by barge, claiming an attempted assassination attempt
• With Henry’s permission, Warwick returns to Calais
• Henry VI stops Margaret from blaming and punishing Warwick and piracy charges ignored