1483 Richard’s Seizure Of The Throne Flashcards
1
Q
When does Edward die?
A
9th April 1483
2
Q
What happens after Edward IV’s death?
A
April:
- royal council meets + decides on early coronation of Edward V = trying to limit how long Richard is protectorate? = provoking Richard?
- the council is dominated by Woodvilles - Elizabeth, Dorset + Edward W
- Richard is in the north + Anthony Woodville is in wales with Edward V
3
Q
What does Richard do after Edward IV’s death?
A
- sends two letters = first offers condolences to Elizabeth + confirms Richard will offer his fealty to Edward V + second to the council to confirm is loyalty to Edward IV + pledges loyalty to Ed V
- in his letter to the council he also asserts his is entitled to the govt of the kingdom by law + set out by Ed’s will = wants to be protector
- Richard is also asking to be tutor to the king AND defender of the realm = control of the govt. + king = never done before, basically a regent role
- council grants Richard as chief councillor/protector but doesn’t endorse the powerful role he wants
4
Q
Was Woodville threat growing after Edward IV’s death?
A
- dominating the council meeting after Ed’s death + try to make Edward V coronation early as possible = limiting yorks time as protector?
- Dorset is appointed to ‘keep the sea’ + has control of the royal treasures = entire Tower of London + its armoury
- Elizabeth’s youngest brother Edward W assembles a fleet + force of 2000 men which is funded by the royal treasury under dorsets control
- no major military threat? But Hastings alarmed + writes to Richard urging him to get to London asap
5
Q
What happens when Richard starts heading south?
A
- at York he made the regions nobility swear oaths of loyalty to Edward V = questions whether he was after the crown?
- Richard sends a letter requesting that Ed V’s party meet with him before approaching London = idea the Richard + Anthony escort Edward V into London as a symbol of unity
- both parties agree to meet at Northampton on the 29th April
- was Richard’s plans premeditated? Invited Woodvilles to then arrest them?
6
Q
What happens at Northampton?
A
- Anthony Woodville + Sir Richard Grey are invited to have dinner with Richard + Buckingham
- the next day they are arrested + imprisoned by Richard’s men
- wants control of Edward V = even if he wasn’t going for the crown right now, he is now confronting the Woodvilles
- Richard tells Edward V that the Woodvilles are to blame for Edward IV’s death + claimed they were plotting to kill Richard = Edward IV doesn’t believe Richard = Richard now knows Edward isn’t easily manipulated
7
Q
Woodville threat after Northampton?
A
- Elizabeth W, her daughter + Dorset take sanctuary in Westminster abbey
- Anthony Woodville arrested (greatest influence over Edward V)
- Woodville threat completely neutralised now = non-existent
8
Q
What happens after Northampton?
A
- 4 May = Richard rides into London with Ed5 + produces four cartloads of weapons as evidence of a Woodville plot to ambush him - the royal retinues now wear Richard’s boar badge
- Richard worried about his own dynastic inheritance = in order to keep his northern lands for his heirs he needs revisions in the Warwick inheritance —> would be able to chnage this if in power but the Woodvilles aren’t going to help him amend his inheritance
- the council confirms Richard as protector
9
Q
What happens at the council meeting on the 10th May?
A
- council confirms Richard as protector
- coronation date of Ed5 pushed further back
- Buckingham is granted estates centred on wales + welsh marches = where the Woodville dominated council of the Prince has been in charge (this is not done legally)
- ed5 is lodged in the Tower of London
- it’s discrovered the treasury only contains £1,200 = blame is put on the Woodvilles —> the recent payments to Dorset + Ed W for naval duties categorised as theft = Richard begins to deprive Woodvilles of their estate
- Richard demands the council convicts Anthony Woodville of treason for plotting his death but council reject this = wasn’t treason as Richard wasn’t protector then
10
Q
How does Richard build up further tension with the Woodvilles?
A
- June 1483
- sends secret messages to the north calling on his northern supporters (e.g. earl of Northumberland) to raise an army + brining it to London asap
- claimed the Woodvilles intend to murder him
11
Q
What happens on Friday 13th June?
A
- Richard summons a council meeting
- he leaves the chamber + then abruptly returns claiming his life is in danger + alleges Elizabeth Woodville is plotting to destroy him by witchcraft
- Richard turns on Hastings accusing him of being involved in Elizabeth’s plot + is taken outside to be beheaded
- no trial = murder —> executed a top nobles
- Hastings wasn’t going to support Richard going for the crown = needed to get rid of him?
12
Q
What happens after Richard murders Hastings?
A
- Elizabeth is reluctantly persuaded by the archbishop to give Prince Richard to Richard = however it is likely if she had refused Richard would’ve have used force as he had armed men surrounding the abbey
- coronation is further postponed to 9 November
13
Q
What happens on the 22 June?
A
- sermon at St Paul’s cathedral by Ralph shaw proclaims Edward V is not the legitimate king
- he claims that Ed IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was bigamous since Ed4 had entered a pre contract marriage with Eleanor butler = therefore all of Edward IV’s children were bastards
- he further alleges that Ed IV was illegimate claiming his mother had an affair with the Duke of York
- trying to use whatever they can to justify Richard becoming king?
14
Q
What happens leading up to Richard becoming king?
A
- 24 June = Buckingham gives a speech on Richard’s qualities as a king + focuses on the illegitimacy of Ed5
- 25 June = Anthony Woodville, Richard Grey + Thomas Vaughan are executed
- 26 June = Buckingham presents Richard with a formal petition (Titulus Regius) setting out Richard’s claim to the throne + requesting him to take the crown = Richard announces his claim to the throne
- 6 July = coronation of Richard III
