Why did Edward IV lose the throne of England in 1470?

Question 1

Earl of Warwick’s actions: Willing to put Henry VI back on the throne

Answer 1

Warwick was willing to put Henry VI back on the throne.

Example sentence: Warwick believed in the restoration of Henry VI.

Question 2

Earl of Warwick’s actions: Secured support of Edward’s brother George

Answer 2

Warwick had secured the support of Edward’s brother George, Duke of Clarence.

George, Duke of Clarence, allied with Warwick.

Question 3

Earl of Warwick’s actions: Allied with Margaret of Anjou

Answer 3

Warwick had allied with Margaret of Anjou and therefore could unite his own considerable power with that of the exiled Lancastrian lords.

Margaret of Anjou’s alliance with Warwick strengthened their position.

Question 4

Earl of Warwick’s actions: Rebellion in Yorkshire and Cumberland

Answer 4

Late in July 1470 Warwick’s brother-in-law, Lord FitzHugh of Ravensworth, led a rebellion in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and there was another rising in Cumberland. These distracted Edward IV at a critical time. Both movements involved gentry with close Neville associations.

Example sentence: Lord FitzHugh’s rebellion caused a distraction in the North.

Question 5

Earl of Warwick’s actions: Persuaded brother to defect

Answer 5

When Warwick landed in September 1470 he was able to persuade his brother John Neville, the Marquis of Montagu, to defect to his side.

John Neville joined Warwick’s side after his landing.

Question 6

Earl of Warwick’s actions: Popular throughout southern England

Answer 6

Warwick was popular throughout southern England. He was able to raise a large army.

Example sentence: Warwick’s popularity helped him gather support.

Question 7

Limitations of Warwick’s actions

Answer 7

Warwick did not have sufficient support on his own to overthrow Edward IV. He needed the support of others including Louis XI and Margaret.

Warwick’s lack of support hindered his efforts to overthrow Edward IV.

Question 8

Actions of Margaret of Anjou and the French: Tensions between Edward IV and Warwick

Answer 8

Tensions between Edward IV and Warwick over foreign policy meant that Margaret and her son acquired a renewed significance in Anglo-Franco-Burgundian relations.

The tensions influenced the significance of Margaret and her son in relations.

Question 9

Actions of Margaret of Anjou and the French: Louis XI’s support

Answer 9

Louis XI provided financial support and ships to the rebels.

Louis XI’s support included financial aid and ships for the rebels.

Question 10

Limitations of Margaret of Anjou and the French

Answer 10

Although Louis XI provided ships, supplies and finance, he did not really provide significant military force.

Louis XI’s support lacked significant military backing.

Question 11

Edward IV’s mistakes: Failed to catch Warwick and Clarence

Answer 11

Edward failed to catch Warwick and Clarence in March 1470 after their treachery was revealed at Losecoat Field.

Example sentence: Edward’s failure to catch Warwick and Clarence was a missed opportunity.

Question 12

Edward IV’s mistakes: Neglected warnings of Duke of Burgundy

Answer 12

At the Burgundian court the opinion seems to have been that Edward was over-confident in 1470 and negligent of the risks. It was alleged that he ignored the warnings of the Duke of Burgundy and carried on hunting.

Edward overlooked the warnings of the Duke of Burgundy.

Question 13

Edward IV’s mistakes: Decision to go north in August 1470

Answer 13

The decision of Edward IV to go north to deal with the uprising in August 1470 has been criticised. It was presumably what Warwick hoped he would do and so, on the face of it, must have been an error of judgement.

Edward’s decision to go north was seen as a strategic error.

Question 14

Edward IV’s mistakes: Stayed in the north after rebellion crushed

Answer 14

Edward’s decision to stay in the north after the rebellion was crushed was an error. He was still there in early September even though he had written to his followers asking them to prepare for an invasion into Kent.

Edward’s prolonged stay in the north was considered a mistake.

Question 15

Edward IV’s mistakes: Left Henry VI in London

Answer 15

Edward left Henry VI in London. This allowed the rebels to liberate him and establish a ‘readeption’ regime in his name.

Example sentence: Edward’s decision to leave Henry VI in London backfired.

Question 16

Limitations of Edward IV’s mistakes

Answer 16

The Percy family could hold the Eastern March of the Scottish border in check, and it had been rebellion in the north that had been Edward’s undoing in 1469, so his restoration of them made sense. It was also a way of checking the power of the Nevilles.

The restoration of the Percy family helped maintain control of the Scottish border.

Question 17

What were the limitations of Edward IV’s mistakes?

Answer 17

The Percy family could hold the Eastern March of the Scottish border in check, and it had been rebellion in the north that had been Edward’s undoing in 1469, so his restoration of them made sense. It was also a way of checking the power of the Nevilles.

These limitations helped Edward IV balance power dynamics and prevent further rebellions.

Question 18

What was the compensation for John Neville?

Answer 18

The compensation for John Neville, the displaced earl, was ample; the marquisate of Montagu and the substantial Courtenay estates in Devon for himself; his son and heir George, was to become the Duke of Bedford and be married to Princess Elizabeth, Edward IV’s eldest daughter.

John Neville was generously compensated for his displacement with titles and estates for himself and his son.

Question 19

What did Edward attempt to persuade his brother George of Clarence to do?

Answer 19

Edward attempted to persuade his brother George of Clarence to re-join him.

Edward sought to reconcile with his brother George to strengthen his position.

Question 20

How did Edward prevent rebels from using Ireland and Calais as springboards?

Answer 20

Edward closed both Ireland and Calais to the rebels by appointing two loyalists – the earl of Worcester (Ireland) and John Howard (Calais). By such steps the two invasion springboards of ten years earlier were denied to the rebels of 1470.

Edward strategically placed loyalists in key positions to prevent rebel access to strategic locations.

Question 21

What did Edward persuade his Burgundian allies to do?

Answer 21

Edward persuaded his Burgundian allies to blockade the French ports and was unlucky in that an autumn storm scattered the ships and gave a favourable wind to Warwick’s invasion fleet.

Despite Edward’s efforts to block French ports, an autumn storm favored Warwick’s invasion.