Richard's reign Flashcards
Early reign
++++ Toured shires, going through Reading and across Midlands to York and the North
Settled disputes such as large debt at Tewkesbury Abbey for the tomb of Clarence, demonstrated his level of support in North of England
—- tour of shires avoided areas where woodpiles had been strongest, like West Country and Wales
Loyal followers
No choice but to rely on northern affinity, William catesby, Richard Ratcliffe, Robert brackenbury
After Buckinghams rebellion became more dependent on northerns, northern men given lands of rebels of 1483
EG Robert Bracknbury given lands in Essex and Kent and appointed to county offices there
These men formed the new royal household and were designed to build up a local base of support around then in the south
Problems with affinity
Northerners in south shocked local gentry, were a close knit community and used towering together
Northerns were also insiders and this made his court appear closed and partisan. Favouritism clear eg in Devon he grants £14,000 to 19 beneficiaries but only 4 were local people, the 4 locals only received £180
Richards desperation is exacerbated by how he was forced to rely on former earl of Pembroke, William Herbert who Edward deemed as incompetent
problems 2
Had no choice but to defend his northern affinity meaning he had to ignore there misdemeanours and ride roughshod over law and order
Experienced problems in north Even in the north, where loyalty was almost assured, Richard still had problems. Given that he himself had acted as the King’s lieutenant in the area he could no longer fulfil that position himself and at first was reluctant to delegate it. At first, he established a council, apparently under his son’s control but in reality, run by himself, but after the former’s death in January 1484, and in the wake of southern unrest, Richard finally chose a related and trusted underling as he had been.
The man he chose was John de la Pole, earl of Lincoln and Richard’s nephew. This made some sense given his relation to the King, but Lincoln had virtually no land or connections in the north and the main candidate Northumberland was overlooked, presumably because he had no overt reason to support Richard Ill. Even the north was no longer as stable as it once was!
