the reign of edward iv 1461 - 1469

Question 1

what were the strengths at the start of edwards reign?

Answer 1

• skilled soldier - legitimate claim to the throne - young - god on his side - triumphed in battle - not his father

Question 2

what were the weaknesses at the start of edwards reign?

Answer 2

young, only 18 inexperienced as he did not expect to be king when he was born legitimate claim ? usurper? over-reliant on warwick

Question 3

what were the opportunities at the start of edwards reign?

Answer 3

fresh start after 10+ years of conflict appears better than henry not his father powerful supporters - nevilles lancastrian nobility significantly reduced following towton

Question 4

what were the threats at the start of edwards reign

Answer 4

a demanding task to run the country and restore order lacks control of distant parts of the country - north and wales henry and family still alive lacks loyalty from nobles many nobles still loyal to henry rivalries and feuds worsened by battles

Question 5

Lancastrian opposition

Answer 5

edward still faced considerable opposition much of the opposition was still centred around the Lancastrian royal family duke of somerset continued to support henry

Question 6

was edward responsible for the failure to quash lancastrian opposition? edward was responsible

Answer 6

• policy of concilliation meant many lancastrians supported edward iv - also met with public expectations of restoring unity - not worsening divisions - edward couldnt be everywhere and the nevilles were successful - success of foreign policy - truces with france and scotland - killing innocent henry in cold blood risked outraging nobles and further opposition - crowns finance improve - law and order restored in some region, gov. improved

Question 7

how far was edward iv responsible for the failure of Lancastrian opposition to 1464? other reasons:

Answer 7

over confident in ability - percy and somerset go back to lancastrians relying on nevilles too much - not do enough himself - reinforces the view that warwick has the true power failed to kill henry - rallying point for opposition some disorder continued in some counties national debt still high over rewards family and friends - resentment from both

Question 8

where was lancastrian opposition strongest?

Answer 8

the north - northumberland

Question 9

who supported margaret and henry financially?

Answer 9

france and scotland

Question 10

which lancastrian nobles did edward try to win over?

Answer 10

duke of somerset, ralph percy

Question 11

what happened in september 1464?

Answer 11

it emerged that edward had married elizabeth woodville in secret, he married her in may but did not tell anyone ‘‘serious miscalculation’’ - Turvey ‘’ the marriage was the first major blunder of his political career ‘’ - Ross

Question 12

what was the impact of the woodville marriage on foreign relations?

Answer 12

conference between edward and louis xi was cancelled as a result left england without a french ally no evident impact on the short term long term: affected french decision to back Margaret and Warwick

Question 13

what was the political impact of the woodville marriage?

Answer 13

• edwards failure to discuss a potential marriage led to resentment - especially from warwick - resented by nobility as the woodville elevation was seen to be excluding leading nobles from their rightful position - especially warwick - the secrecy of the marriage made it appear that edward was afraid of warwick, made him look weak - elizabeth was considered unsuitable as queen - question political judgement

Question 14

what was the impact on edwards relationship with the nobility as a result of the woodville marriage

Answer 14

edward needed to elevate elizabeths family - couldnt afford to alienate nobles suitable marriages were arranged thomas grey to anne holland john woodville married to warwicks 65 year old aunt who had already been married 3 times previously william herbert to mary woodville marriage resented by nobles as there was few leading nobles left for his daughters - clarence and richard marriage arranged but edward refused titles given to woodville family - constable and treasurer of england lord rivers

Question 15

what was the impact of woodville marriage on the growth of opposition?

Answer 15

elizabeth kept a modest household - limited resentment unsuitability of the marriage was used by warwick warwick resent perceived exclusion from power and declining influence over edward (secrecy of marriage) - also due to elevation of new men - hastings, herbert warwick felt humiliated and undermined as he had been allowed to continue marriage to bona of savoy - public elizabeth and family were unliked - perceived as greedy manipulators, warwick played on this escorted elizabeth to her first public showing and most nobility turned up for her coronation

Question 16

why was the woodville marriage a problem?

Answer 16

edward had failed to use marriage to achieve diplomatic advantages it was frowned upon due to her unsuitable background - suggested weakness and a possible fear of warwick provided warwick with a method to attack edward, used it as propoganda to rally support

Question 17

what were edwards aims at the start of his reign

Answer 17

achieve stability by governing the country effectively strengthen royal authority and government through new men restore law and order throughout england

Question 18

what were the aims of law and order?

Answer 18

perceived lack of law and order under Henry VI; many complaints about government corruption and lack of justice, so Edward needed restore faith in the crown in order to restore law and order.

Question 19

what were the successes of edwards law and order?

Answer 19

edward toured areas of unrest, especially in the midlands, dealt with some issues forcefully tried to deal with overmighty subjects be restricting liveries, made most forms of retaining illegal

Question 20

what were the failures of law and order?

Answer 20

failed to enforce law on retaining increase in disorder at end of reign showed policies not effective protest due to poor harvests complaints about edward wasting taxpayers money for war feuding between nobles re-emerged - berkleys and talbots increase in disorder signaled lack of faith in the kings ability to sort out problems

Question 21

what were the aims of royal finances?

Answer 21

to make the crown solvent and improve credit-worthiness; increase crown income

Question 22

what were the successes of royal finances

Answer 22

improved financial position of crown i.e. reduced cost of household, london merchants willing to loan money parliament were willing to grant taxes which reflected confidence in edward increased crown income through custom duties, doubling of cloth exports exploited royal estates more efficiently, set up an administrative body to oversee royal estates, revised old system where they were fixed, very low rents on land ensuring crown lands were rented introduced a new system to allow him to gain control over crown income exchequer was slow and inefficient, changed it so it went directly to the kings household chamber - dealt with finances more quickly- reduced corruption

Question 23

what were the failures of the royal finances under edward?

Answer 23

impact was not sen until second reign - lack of war and political stability had more of an impact less income - less customs revenue as less trade financial policies were worthy but unremarkable war did not take place due to rebellion in england - went to edwards pocket, paid for household, not in control; complaint and dissatisfaction

Question 24

royal court aims, successes and failures

Answer 24

provide inspirational leadership, unify the country and restore order showed of rich clothes and fashion - appeared kingly realises the importance of spectacle - displays wealth compares favourable with other european rulers would increase expenditure

Question 25

aims for relationship with nobility:

Answer 25

unify the country, provide leadership, deal effectively with the nobility and get their support

Question 26

successes for the relationship with the nobility:

Answer 26

Policy of pardon and reconciliation opposed him aimed at gaining support and repairing divisions. He gave positions and rewards to both Yorkists and Lancastrians for the same reason. Created or revived 32 noble titles, 22 of which were given during his first reign to bolster a wide circle of support. Created new nobles who were loyal to Edward IV e.g.: William, Lord Hastings, became Edward’s closest friend and advisor; made head of Edward’s household; given extensive lands and power in Midlands (Ashby Castle!) William, Lord Herbert, made Earl of Pembroke in 1468 and given control over Wales - important given its tendency for Lancastrian support. He was cautious in the amount of land and power he gave to the Woodvilles in order to avoid alienating the nobility. He rewarded John Neville (Warwick’s brother) - made Lord Montagu in 1461, then made Earl of Northumberland in 1464 and given extensive lands there, at the expense of the Lancastrian Percy’s.

Question 27

failures with the relationship with the nobility:

Answer 27

Didn’t have resources to reward all, exploited defeated Lancastrian enemies, redistributing titles, offices and estates. resentment e.g. Battles of Hedgeley Moor and Hexham in 1464. In 1470 Edward took John Neville’s title of Earl of Northumberland off him and returned it to the Percy heir. He did compensate him with lands and titles elsewhere (south-west) but this clearly wasn’t acceptable because when Warwick rebelled again, he joined him. So Edward’s policy of returning title and land to Percy failed. Failed to understand Warwick’s strength of feeling about his marriage and perceived exclusion from power. Clarence joined Warwick in the rebellion, so his policy of rewarding loyalty also failed in this case. relied on a very small group of men and ended up in the hands of a privileged few e.g. his brothers and favoured individuals such as Hastings and Herbert.

Question 28

what were the aims for edwards foreign policy?

Answer 28

Establish better foreign relations in order to counter the scale of support for the Lancastrians, especially from Scotland and France. (This was difficult since Henry VI had fled to Scotland and was living in the Scottish court, and Margaret of Anjou was a close relation of the King of France) To exploit opportunities for trade to increase revenue. To form alliances for security and support.

Question 29

why did edward struggle to pick between burgundy or france?

Answer 29

Burgundy - a potential ally against france but trading was a problem. they want to stay independent from france so england was a strong ally France - old enemy but alliance might stop france helping margaret, hoping to win control of burgundy so wants to prevent burgundy allying with england During the 1460s both France and Burgundy were looking to England for support against the other side: Burgundy was suspicious of France's territorial aims and wanted England as an ally to strengthen its ability to resist pressure from France. Alliance with Burgundy was favoured by the Woodvilles Louis XI of France was hopeful of an Anglo-French alliance to prevent a renewed friendship between England and France’s old enemy Burgundy. Alliance with France was favoured by Warwick

Question 30

who favoured burgundy?

Answer 30

woodvilles

Question 31

who favoured france?

Answer 31

warwick?

Question 32

what were the successes of edwards foreign policy?

Answer 32

Negotiated with both France and Burgundy – Warwick/France; Earl Rivers/Burgundy – able to get best terms by playing each off against the other. 1467 – Treaty with Burgundy – marriage of Edward’s sister to Duke of Burgundy… …Ended trade war. Largely foreign policy handled well.

Question 33

failures of edwards foreign policy

Answer 33

france still potential source of opposition - sent help to lancastrians, distracts edward from a potential war with france, cant control everything - warwick margaret alliance split it created with warwick - edward dismissed george neville as chancellor, warwick leaves court in 1467. publicly shows warwicks lack of influence over edward - embarrassed

Question 34

foreign policy successes:

Answer 34

July 1463 James III led army across Scottish border, but retreated in face of force led by Warwick and Montagu. Truce between Louis XI and Edward IV October 1463. wanted to expand and needed peace so agreed to stop supporting Lancastrians or working with the Scottish. The Scottish made a truce with Edward in December 1463. As Edward IV's security on the throne strengthened other powers were more willing to make agreements and treaties with England, e.g. treaties agreed with Castile, Aragon, Denmark, Naples and the Holy Roman Empire. This suggested the York dynasty was gaining international recognition and acceptance, which in turn strengthened Edward's position at home. Alliance with Burgundy: Edward IV also seemed to be more in tune with popular sentiment in England, especially Londoners; most merchants favoured an alliance with Burgundy, as did Edward. In November 1467 a commercial treaty was signed with Burgundy and the following spring a marriage between Margaret, Edward's sister, and the Duke of Burgundy, strengthening the alliance between England and Burgundy. In 1465 Edward IV also agreed an alliance with Brittany, which, like Burgundy, was fearful of French expansionist policies. Choice of William Herbert to oversee Wales was the right one; he was able to repel an attack, in 1468, on Wales by Jasper Tudor (supported by the French) and take Harlech Castle from the Lancastrians.

Question 35

foreign policy weaknesses:

Answer 35

Edward IV needed bride. At first foreign powers reluctant as Edward's position not yet secure. By 1464 that had changed and possible matches identified: Negotiation for French bride Offer from Burgundy Offer from Spain (Castille) - rejected by Edward Possibility of foreign alliance ended with revelation in September 1464 of Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. opportunity missed - diplomatic influence no alliance with France. Warwick favoured an alliance with France; it was by far the larger power and could potentially have been a much bigger market for English goods. Edward IV disliked the idea of an alliance with France perhaps because memories of the Hundred Years War (an intermittent war between England and France that had only ended in 1453 with the loss of most English possessions in France) were still fresh and therefore dislike of the French strong. France supported an attack by Jasper Tudor on west Wales in support of the Lancastrians still holding Harlech Castle- dealt with by herberts annoyed the French and they subsequently looked for ways to use the Lancastrians to undermine and attack him; in 1470 when Warwick quarrelled with Edward IV, it was Louis XI who came up with the plan to bring Warwick and Margaret of Anjou together in an anti-Edward alliance, an unthinkable alliance but one which cost Edward the throne.