   anthony woodville, 2nd earl rivers kg (c. 1440 â 25 june 1483) was an english nobleman, courtier, and writer. he was one of the leading members of the woodville family, which came to prominence during the reign of edward iv of england. after edward's death he was arrested and then executed by richard, duke of gloucester as part of a power-struggle between richard and the woodvilles. ==early life== he was the second eldest son of richard woodville, 1st earl rivers and jacquetta of luxembourg (the first, lewis, died in childhood). he was born in 1442. like his father, he was originally a lancastrian, fighting on that side at the battle of towton, but later became a yorkist. the woodvilles became very influential at the royal court after his sister (queen) elizabeth woodville married edward iv and he was made a knight of the garter. he is known to have been a great tournament champion, who once fought a two-day "duel" with antoine, bastard of burgundy. the yorkists, fighting for edward iv, were defeated at the battle of edgecote moor, on 26 july 1469, and richard woodville and his second son john were taken prisoners at chepstow. after a hasty and controversial trial, they were both beheaded at kenilworth on 12 august 1469 and anthony succeeded his father in the earldom. he was married to elizabeth de scales, baroness scales in her own right, daughter of [[thomas
1440s_births 1483_deaths Earls_in_the_Peerage_of_England English_people_executed_by_decapitation FrenchaEnglish_translators High_Sheriffs_of_Caernarvonshire Knights_of_the_Garter Peers_jure_uxoris People_executed_under_the_Plantagenets_by_decapitation People_executed_under_the_Yorkists Woodville_family