edward IV, 1460-71 + 1471-1483 Flashcards
1
Q
Problems facing Edward in 1461
A
- inexperienced at being king, wasn’t raised for the throne
- Warwick’s power made him seem in charge, not Edward (Warwick as a kingmaker)
- Edward had little noble support in comparison to Henry VI
- England was divided due to the battles of 1459-61
- Edward had the reputation of a usurper
2
Q
How Edward IV dealt with problems during his first reign 1461-70
A
- splendour at court: height (6’3), good looks, richly embroidered and colourful clothes. Court was a centre of display, lavish jousting tournaments e.g. for the Queen’s coronation in 1465
- foreign policy: allied with Burgundy by marrying his sister (Margaret) to the Duke in 1468. Led to rift with Warwick who was negotiating with France (left court July 1467-68). Louis XI sent help to Lanc
- justice and order: Edward visited problem areas but disorder was increasing by 1467 e.g. in Derbyshire against Rivers. Set up commissions to investigate + punish law breakers and made a law to reduce retaining. Disorder continued
- Lancastrian opposition: executed Earl of Oxford + son for plotting against him in 1462. Generous to Lanc nobles e.g. invited Somerset to court, but he went back to Henry VI. Battles of Hexham and Hedgeley Moore (1464) defeated Lanc resistance, Henry VI captured 1465, Marg+Prince Edward fled. Relied too much on Nevilles + failed to execute Henry VI
- royal finance: economic recession in 1460s but Edward allied w/ Burgundy to increase trade. Reduced cost of household and made management of royal lands more efficient. Kept taxes granted in 1463 for war against Scotland and 1468 for war against France, neither war took place, caused resentment
- relations w/ nobility: relied too much on Nevilles, other leading nobles were still Lanc or young children (Buckingham/Norfolk). Didn’t give too much land or power to Woodvilles. In 1470, not many nobles were willing to put their lives on the line for Edward
- marriage and heir: Elizabeth Woodville married in secret in May 1464. Lancastrian widow, 2 sons + large family, no diplomatic advantages, Woodvilles gained power through marriages e.g. Catherine Woodville married Buckingham
3
Q
Warwick’s grievances (and Clarence)
A
- Warwick embarrassed by Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, Woodvilles also angered Clarence as he felt he was losing power to them. Warwick ignored by Edward in favour of Woodvilles advice. Warwick wanted Wales and the March -> conflict w/ Pembroke
- Warwick’s brother was dismissed from the position of Chancellor
- Edward didn’t give permission for Warwick’s daughters to marry George and Richard
4
Q
April 1469
A
- 2 separate Warwick-inspired rebellions led by Robin of Redesdale and Robin of Holderness
- Warwick and Clarence went to Calais to plot the usurpation
5
Q
July 1469
A
- Clarence married Isabel Neville, there was a public joint declaration when they returned to England
- Edward called on Earls of Pembroke + Devon to support against Warwick invasion but W+C intercepted Pembroke. Captured and executed
- 26 July: Battle of Edgecote, Edward IV’s troops fled and Warwick captured Edward. Later, Warwick realised he couldn’t rule w/o Edward and released him
6
Q
March 1470
A
- Warwick secretly encouraged a rebellion under Sir Robert Welles in Lincolnshire. Battle of Losecoat Field where Edward IV defeated the rebels. Welles captured and executed
- Battle of Nibley Green: between the Berkeleys and Talbots (local disorder)
7
Q
September 1470
A
- Warwick allied w/ Margaret of Anjou. Anne Neville and Prince Edward married
- support of Louis XI meant that Warwick returned to England and began recruiting an army
- Edward was in the north dealing with a rebellion lead by Warwick’s brother in law
- Lord Montagu (Warwick’s brother) betrayed the king so Edward + Richard + Hastings + Rivers all fled to Burgundy
8
Q
October 1470
A
- Henry VI released from prison and made king again (readeption)
9
Q
March 1471
A
- Edward invaded England and began recruiting an army
- Clarence rejoined Edward
10
Q
14 April 1471
A
Battle of Barnet, Warwick killed. Margaret and Edward landed shortly afterwards
11
Q
4 May 1471
A
Battle of Tewkesbury, Prince Edward of Lancaster killed
12
Q
12 May 1471
A
Henry VI killed in the Tower. Jasper and Henry Tudor flee to France
13
Q
The fall of George, Duke of Clarence, 1471-78
A
- in 1468, Clarence enjoyed the mastery of the most lavish household of any nobleman in England (employed 400 people, annual cost £4,500)
- royal favour served to increase his ambition to become king, allied with Warwick and conspired to usurp Edward (e.g. 2 local riots in Yorkshire under a figure named Robin of Redesdale/Holderness, alliance w/ Margaret (with Warwick) and joined Warwick in invading England in September 1470, marriage to Isabel Neville in July 1469)
- in 1471, Gloucester was awarded the Neville estates in northern England that had been confiscated from Warwick, and was entrusted with defence of the north. He also married Anne Neville in 1472, which caused Clarence to be angry as he was afraid of Gloucester claiming Neville lands. Gloucester was also awarded the Earldom of Richmond
- Clarence was restored to all his properties and was given more in the south. Edward asked him to give up his Percy properties. George resented the favour Richard had and to appease him, Edward gave him the Earldom of Richmond (originally Richard’s)
- Richard and George were in a quarrel due to all of this, and this led to the Nov 1473 Act of Resumption where all their royal estates were taken. Their estates were granted back in a further Act of Resumption in May 1474
- George was also made Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, and made chamberlain (which was originally Richard’s role, and meant Richard had to leave this office)
- conflict with Woodvilles: resented influence of Anthony, Earl Rivers + Elizabeth @ court. Wanted to marry daughter of Duke of Burgundy, Edward refused due to wanting to avoid Burgundy’s continental problems. George also wanted to marry daughter of King of Scotland, Edward also refused. George = over mighty subject.
- Clarence became paranoid after the death of Isabel. In April 1477, he seized her former servant (Ankarette Twynho) and brought her by force to Warwick. Accused her of poisoning Isabel and forced the jury and JPs to give her a guilty verdict. She was hanged
- 3 men (Oxford astronomer John Stacey, Thomas Blake, Thomas Burdet) arrested and charged with treason as they had predicted Edward and his eldest son’s death. They were hanged (but Blake was pardoned), but Clarence intervened as Burdet was one of his servants. He marched into a council meeting and read out declarations of their innocence and then left again.made him look like a traitor.
- George was charged with interfering with the judicial system and violating laws of the realm. He was executed on Feb 17 1478. The Duke of Buckingham (Henry Stafford) delivered the verdict
14
Q
How Edward dealt with problems in his second reign
A
Lancastrian opposition:
- only remaining Lancastrians were Henry and Jasper Tudor
- Exeter and Oxford (fought Edward at Barnet) were imprisoned, the remaining Lancastrians made their peace
Foreign policy:
- Treaty of Picquigny 1476: 7 year truce between Edward and Louis XI. Dauphin would marry Elizabeth of York, Edward would receive £15,000 immediately and £10,000 per year
- 1482, Gloucester gained Berwick (Scotland) but this was costly to maintain and distracted Edward from continental matters. Led to Treaty of Picquigny ending (Edward couldn’t help Burgundy)
Relations with nobility:
- got on well with them, used trusted supporters to control different areas of the country. Some nobles were excluded e.g. Buckingham
Royal finances:
- greater income from customs duties and crown estates, made estates more efficient, made use of ward ships, extracted benevolences from his people
Splendour at court:
- looked ike a king, tried to emulate Burgundian court, spent money on his favourite castles like Fotheringay and Windsor
Marriage and an heir:
- by 1483, he had an heir and a spare (12yo Edward, 10yo Richard)
Justice and order:
- tighter contr using regional overlords, made use of networks of the county gentry, less attention to low level crime and disorder
15
Q
Impacts of Edward’s early death in 1483
A
- died 9 April 1483
- unexpected, no clear will. Political crisis as Prince Edward was only 12 years old.
- Prince Edward was heavily influenced by the Woodvilles (was in the care of his uncle, Anthony Woodville) which led to a lack of opposition to Richard when he declared himself Protector on 4 May 1483
