1470-71 Flashcards
When was the Battle of Losecote Field?
12 March 1470
What happened before the Battle of Losecote Field?
- popular disturbances in Lincolnshire - Edward gathers troops + Warwick heads to his Midland lands to raise more troops
- News is received that the Lincolnshire rebels are being joined by others from Yorkshire
What happens in the Battle of Losecote Field?
- Edward confronts the rebels near the village of Empingham
- the rebels flee
Significance of Losecote Field?
- confessions of captured rebels implicate Warwick + Clarence as coordinating the disorder
- some had worn Clarence’s colours + shouted Warwick + Clarence during battle
What happens after Losecote Field?
- Edward (supported by John Neville) pursue the rebel lords aka Warwick + Clarence into Yorkshire
- the rebel lords head north-west but get no support from Lord Stanley in Lancashire so they make for the south coast
- Warwick, Clarence (and his wife Isabel) + George Neville flee the country - refused entry into Calais (Warwick is captain of calais)
- they go to Honfleur + seek support of Louis XI who initially lacks support due to fearing war against both England + burgundy
- treaty of angers
When was the Treaty of Angers?
24 July 1470
What is the treaty of Angers?
- Warwick submits to Margaret of Anjou in a public ceremony + begs for hers and Prince Edward’s forgiveness - Margaret keeps him waiting on his knees for 15 mins
- Warwick swears loyalty to Henry VI, Margaret + Prince Ed and it is agreed that Warwick will put Henry back on the throne
- the treaty is sealed by the marriage of Warwick’s daughter Anne to Prince Ed
Why was the Treaty of Angers bad for Clarence?
- will never become king - Warwick promised to put Ed on the throne
- his land was previously Lancastrian which would go back to them
What was the secret clause to the Treaty of Angers?
Warwick promises that when Louis declares war on Burgundy then England will do likewise
What happens after the Treaty of Angers?
- disorder in northern England causes Edward to head north
- proclamations appear in London from Warwick + Clarence being addressed to the ‘true commons of England’ + detailing the misrule of Edward
- rebel lords land in Dartmouth accompanied by Lancastrian’s (Margaret + ed remain in France)
- Edward is declared an usurper + Henry VI proclaimed as the true king
Who supports the rebel lords when they land?
- recruit troops in the west + Wales
- there is an alarming lack of popular support for Edward + John Neville switches sides
- many people do nothing + avoid choosing a side
When and why does Edward flee?
- October 1470
- lack of support - John Neville switched sides + Warwick and Clarence were rapidly approaching Nottingham castle (where Edward is)
- Charles (burgundy) weary of support Edward - aware of treaty of Angers + it might provoke France if they support Ed4
When is the Readeption of Henry VI?
10 Oct 1470
Positions of Yorkists after Henry VI’s readeption?
- Warwick is both ‘regent’ + ‘governor’ on behalf of Henry VI
- George Neville resumes his role as chancellor
What changes Charles the Bolds support for Ed?
- Nov/Dec 1470 = Louis declares war on burgundy = this is a game changer
- Charles fully supports Edward’s bid to claim the throne
- loans ed £20,000, 14 ships to accompany Ed’s small invasion
- Charles instructs the Lancastrian exiles Somerset + Exeter to leave burgundy
What happens at the start of 1471?
- bad weather prevents Margaret of Anjou + price ed sailing for England - Lancastrian England officially declares war on burgundy
- March = Edward’s invasion fleet sails for England = very small only 2000 men
- with Ed = Richard, William Hastings + Antony Woodville
- land Ravenspur on Yorkshire coast
What does Ed do after he lands in Yorkshire?
- Edward isn’t popular here - many locals died on the Lancastrian side at Towton, region of strong Percy loyalty + current controlled by the Neville’s
- Edward goes to York - proclaims he is not back for the crown but for his patrimony as Duke of York - city opens it’s gate
- Henry Percy (lord of Northumberland) commands the region - he doesn’t support Edward or do anything to oppose him - both hate the Neville’s
How does Ed’s army grow?
- Edward advances south into Nottinghamshire
- gradually army increases in number - in Leicester Hastings brings 3,000 troops recruited from his midlands estates
What mistake did York make?
- Warwick is Coventry + his forces outnumber Ed’s
- when Ed advances on Coventry he challenges Warwick to come out + negotiate or fight
- Warwick refuses + Edward marches on
- Warwick’s hesitancy possibly influenced by Clarence who was gathering troops but Clarence changes side…
Why did Clarence switch sides?
- result of the Treaty of Angers - made him in a worse position
- reconcile April 1471
- Clarence has 4,000 troops
When does Edward get the crown back?
11 April 1471
How does Ed get the crown back?
- his army enters London
- George Neville hands Henry VI over
- Reunites with Elizabeth Woodville who has his first son during his exile
- ceremonially crowned again
What happens after Edward is crowned again?
Battle of Barnet 4 days later
What leads to the Battle of Barnet?
- Warwick, Oxford + John Neville advance on London
- night before Ed’s forces leave London + camp outside Barnet
What happens at the Battle of Barnet?
- foggy = tightly fought + confusing battle
- John Neville is killed
- Warwick trying to escape is taken by Clarence’s troops + killed
When do Margaret + Prince Edward land?
- 14 April 1471 (evening of the Battle of Barnet)
- met by Somerset + Earl of Devon
- they begin to raise troops
What leads to the Battle of Tewkesbury?
- margarets army heads to wales
- Edward moves fast to prevent Lancastrian’s crossing river Severn in wales
- denied entry - Margaret’s army goes to the next crossing point = Tewkesbury
When is the Battle of Tewkesbury?
4 May 1471
What happens at the Battle of Tewkesbury?
- Edwards’s army confronts Margaret’s
- Somerset attack is repulsed + Lancastrian army collapses
- Prince Edward is killed
- Lancastrian’s try to take refuge in Tewkesbury abbey + are dragged out + executed
- Somerset is executed
- Margaret + Anne (Warwick’s daughter + Ed’s widow) are captured
What happens after the Battle of Tewkesbury?
- Thomas Neville (Bastard of Fauconberg = Warwick’s cousin + Lord Fauconberg’s illegitimate son) attacks London
- refused entry into London + then bombards the city from across the Thames + attacks London Bridge to force entry
- the attacks are counteracted by Antony Woodville + Fauconberg retreats
- bastard is eventually pardoned cuz Ed wanted the ships back
How does it end?
21 May
- Ed enters London
- that evening Henry VI dies in the Tower of London (murder) - kept alive all this time to stop Prince Ed from being the Lancastrian heir = Henry useless, less support
- end of the Lancastrian regime…..
Why did Edward become king? (Essay paragraphs)
- military ability
- Clarence defects
- failure of Treaty of Angers = fragile alliance (MOST IMPORTANT)
- foreign support
