RBH biography: Richard 'The Kingmaker' Neville, Earl of Warwick (1428-1471) Earl of Salisbury Died: 14th April 1471 at the Battle of Barnet, Hertfordshire Commonly known as the 'Kingmaker,' Richard Neville was the eldest son of his namesake, Richard Neville , 5th Earl of Salisbury, by Alice daughter and heiress of Thomas Montacute , 4th Earl of Salisbury. He is said to have been born at the maternal family manor of Bisham in Berkshire on 22nd November 1428. Richard�s Earldom of Warwick came from his marriage, at the age of six, to the sister of the last of the Beauchamp family who held that title and was, at that time, the richest and most powerful Earldom in England. His greatest castles were Warwick (Warks), Cardiff (Glams), Abergavenny (Monmouths) and Barnard (Durham), but he also favoured Caversham (Oxon) and others. The Earl of Salisbury�s sister was married to the Royal claimant, the Duke of York .

Her brother and nephew therefore became the greatest supporters of the Yorkist cause against Margaret of Anjou and the Beauforts, who swayed the mind of the unworldly Henry VI . In this capacity, the Earl of Warwick won for the Yorkists the first battle of the civil wars, at St. Albans, in 1455. After this victory, poor Henry was obliged to make his enemy 'Captain of Calais', a position which gave Richard command of the only real standing force in the English dominions. It also gave him command of a considerable fleet with which, in 1458-9, he did good service against Spanish fleets in the Channel. In the same year, Warwick joined his uncle, the Duke of York, in the West of England, was defeated with him by the Lancastrians at Ludford and fled back to Calais by way of Guernsey. Thence in 1460 to Ireland and then again to Calais. In the summer of that year, he was back in Eng�land and helped to win, for the Yorkists, the Battle of Northampton.

While York and Warwick's father, Salisbury, went northwards to meet the forces which Queen Margaret had raised in Scotland and Yorkshire, Warwick remained in London in charge of Henry, whom he still professed to regard as King. His father's death at the Battle of Wakefield left Warwick head of the Neville family and added to his castles the great Yorkshire strongholds of Middleham and Sheriff Hutton. While York's death - though it left the nominal headship of the party to his son, the young Earl of March - gave Warwick undisputed command of the policy of that party. In February 1461, the Earl marched out, with poor Henry in his train, to meet the great Lancastrian army at St. Albans. He was beaten by it and fled to join March, who in the West had won the Battle of Mortimer's Cross. Edward IV, as March now claimed to be, entered London as a victor, with Warwick as his 'Kingmaker' by his side. It was not, however, Warwick but Edward himself whose generalship was responsible for the final Yorkist victory at Towton on Palm Sunday 1461.

Edward rewarded his great subject with the wardenships of the Cinque Ports and of the Scottish Marches and the office of Chamberlain; and Warwick's riches must have been enormous. Warwick seems to have had some skill in diplomacy and, for the first few years of the reign, Edward left most things in his hands. But he was anxious that the King should marry either one of his own daughters or a French princess chosen by himself. Wherefore Edward's marriage with Elizabeth Woodville and, still more, the favours which he showered on her relations, soon roused the jealousy of the Earl. By the year 1468, he seems to have determined to upset Edward's throne by some means or another. However, as too deep a stream of blood which he himself had spilt seemed to run between him and the Lancastrians, he turned to Edward's second brother, the Duke of Clarence. He married the young duke to his eldest daughter and raised an insurrection which he allowed Clarence to think would ultimately put him upon the throne.

Edward, a lazy man, was caught napping and allowed Warwick to take him prisoner; but then Warwick altogether belied his reputation for craft and reconciled himself to Edward, who, as soon as he was free, drove him from the Kingdom. There was now but one thing for the Earl to do. He must throw himself at the feet of the haughty Queen Margaret, whom he had slandered and vilified in every possible way, and by her agency raise the flag of King Henry. Louis XI of France, Warwick's steady friend, was able to mediate this astonishing alliance. The Nevilles rose for Warwick and the Western Lancastrians for Henry. Edward was driven from his Kingdom to the Burgundian Court, where his sister was queen, and the Kingmaker landed in England in October 1470. He thus 'remade,' as he had previously unmade, Henry VI as King of England; but Queen Margaret delayed her return. The restored government was profoundly unpopular in London and Clarence, nominally Warwick's ally, became discontented when Warwick married his other daughter to Prince Edward of Lancaster. This situation enabled King Edward to return in March 1471.

He caught Warwick in a trap at Barnet, slew him and then advanced to meet and destroy the true Lancastrian army at Tewkesbury. He was laid to rest in his mother�s family mausoleum of Bisham Priory (Berks). The manor house at Bisham was lost to the family, although the Earl's grandaughter, Margaret , Countess of Salisbury, did recover it for a while in the early 1500s. Warwick, in spite of his great reputation, was merely a selfish baron of the worst type of the bastard-feudal age of the fifteenth century. His enormous riches bought him a following, which he was able to reward from the goods and lands of his enemies. Edited from CRL Fletcher's 'Historical Portraits' (1909) � Nash Ford Publishing 2001. All Rights Reserved.

Robert Neville, Earl of Warwick Earl of Warwick Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick "Kingmaker" Born: November 22, 1428 Barnet, Hertfordshire, England (Age 42) Warwick in History Little is known of the early life of Richard Neville (eldest son to Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury) outside of his betrothal to Anne Beauchamp, daughter to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. This match was to ultimately provide Neville with the title that he is most known for styling. Although the Nevilles remained loyal supporters to the House of Lancaster (led by King Henry VI) throughout the 1440s, things slowly began to change when Neville inherited the earldom of Warwick in 1449. With no male Beauchamp heirs, the earldom was to awarded Neville's wife Anne. However, Anne had three half-sisters to compete with, two of whom were married to highly powerful men within the court of Henry VI: John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.

Talbot was killed defending the last English possessions in France in 1453 but Somerset proved to be a much more difficult problem. Somerset was a close relation to the king and it is most likely his presence at court that prevented Warwick from attaining any real influence. For this reason it is no surprise that the Nevilles threw their support behind Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and his faction, the Yorkists. York and the Nevilles were united behind their hatred for Somerset, both of whom believed he was a bad influence on the king and was responsible for the English losses in France. Tensions between the houses of Lancaster and York spilled on to the battlefield in 1455 at St. Albans. By the day's end Somerset was dead and Henry VI had been captured. In addition, Warwick was able to increase his own local power in the north seeing that the leading members of the Percy and Clifford families (the rivals for power with the Nevilles in England's north) were also killed during the battle. Soon after the battle, Warwick was appointed to the highly important position of captain of Calais, the lone remaining English possession in France, where he would gradually build up a power base during the following years.

By 1459, however, conflicts between the house of Lancaster and York were, once again, boiling over, and Queen Margaret wanted nothing more than for the Yorkists to be done away with. With their backs against the wall, the Yorkists attempted to rebel against the crown, but found very little support and were forced to scatter themselves between Ireland and Calais (which had be taken out from Warwick's control by this point). The Yorkists returned to England the following year with a stronger following and were able to, once again, capture Henry VI after a Yorkist victory at Northampton. At the Parliament that year, York forced the king to name him his heir (the duke did have a valid claim to the throne through his mother). The move did not sit well with Queen Margaret, who sent an army to accost the Yorkists by the year's end. At Wakefield, York was killed along with his son, the Earl of Rutland, and Warwick's father Salisbury, was captured and lynched. The battle was a huge setback for the Yorkists and Warwick was forced to throw his support behind York's eldest son Edward, Earl of March. As Margaret's forces approached London, they were denied entry into the city.

This move allowed the Yorkist army to chase away their enemies and have young March crowned as King Edward IV. Warwick then proceeded to cut off the Lancastrian army, which he was able to accomplish at Towton. In a particularly gruesome battle, the Yorkists won a decisive victory and the Lancastrians were forced to flee to various scattered locations. With Edward now on the throne, Warwick was now at the zenith of his power and most certainly earned the nickname of "Kingmaker." During the first several years of Edward IV's reign, Warwick was, by far, the most powerful and influential man in England. Not only had he become extremely wealthy from all of the Beauchamp lands he had inherited, but, as a man who had been crucial to putting the king on his throne, he was rewarded with a countless number of important positions (including Warden of the Cinque Ports, chamberlain of England and, for a second time, captain of Calais) that assured he would be a force to be reckoned with. Additionally, Warwick had built up a large power base in Calais and a number of his northern lands and was able to muster armies and stir up the commons at a moment's notice.

This extreme power that Warwick possessed would only sit well with Edward IV, a man who was no one's subject, for so long. The first riff in the relationship between king and kingmaker came in 1464 after Edward had secretly married Elizabeth Woodville, a mere common woman, after Warwick had already arrange a marriage between the king and Bona of Savoy, sister-in-law of the French King Louis XI. Tensions would continue to mount when the two differed greatly on policies on who to support in the rivalry of King Louis XI and the Duke of Burgundy. The final straw seems to have come with when Warwick realized his power was gradually being dissembled and the king's in-laws, the Woodvilles, were becoming increasingly influential, being given a slew of important positions and being married off to wealthy heirs and heiresses. It is for all these reasons that Warwick decided to rebel against King Edward in 1469. Warwick joined forces with the king's brother George, Duke of Clarence (who were united by their hatred of the Woodvilles and the fact that the king would not allow Clarence to wed Warwick's daughter) and did battle with the royal forces at Edgcote.

The battle was a success: Earl Rivers, the head of the Woodville family, was killed, and the king himself, who was caught completely off guard, was captured and imprisoned. Unfortunately, Warwick soon realized that he could not govern the kingdom without the king, and was forced to release him. In turn, Warwick and Clarence were chased out of England and fleed to France under the care of Louis XI. As Warwick's power was slowly being taken away in England, he found it to his advantage to form an alliance with Queen Margaret and the Lancastrians, agreeing to wed his other daughter Anne, to Margaret's son, Prince Edward, to seal the deal. Warwick then returned to England with a large army of French and Lancastrian soldiers and, with the help of his brother, the Marquis of Montague, caught Edward IV off guard, once again, and forced him to flee to the Netherlands, where he would remain for the next six months. With Edward gone, Warwick was free to release Henry VI from the tower (where he had been since his capture in 1465) and place him back on England's throne. Warwick had once again shown that he was the maker, and breaker, of kings.

For the next several months, Warwick was King of England in all but name over the seemingly useless and uninterested Henry VI. When he felt his power was secure enough, Warwick sent for Queen Margaret and Prince Edward to return from France. Unfortunately, Edward IV was also on his way back and would land before the queen and prince. Warwick acted as swiftly as possible but Henry VI was captured and the earl's forces were forced to do battle with those of King Edward on a foggy day at Barnet. To make matters worse, Clarence had deserted Warwick to return to his brother. The fog created much confusion and added more chaos to an already brutal battle, which saw the armies of Montague, Warwick's brother, and the Earl of Oxford, a fellow Lancastrian, accidentally attack each other. Montague was killed, Oxford captured and Warwick himself was killed at some point during the Lancastrian retreat. Although Warwick had achieved an enormous amount of success during his political career, he was ultimately brought down by his own ambition and the realization that one could only make and break kings for so long, before he himself is broken. Warwick's accomplishments, however, were not without merit and he continues to sport the nickname "kingmaker" to this very day.

Warwick in Shakespeare Appears in: Henry VI, Part 1?; Henry VI, Part 2; Henry VI, Part 3 The appearance of the Earl of Warwick in 1 Henry VI creates a fair amount of confusion. Warwick the "Kingmaker" did not succeed to the earldom until 1449 and his father-in-law, Richard Beauchamp, did not die until 1439. An example of historical inconsistency can be seen in the event of the burning of Joan of Arc, which happens late in the play and in 1431 historically. The younger Warwick was a youth of two at the time and the Beauchamp earl still had another eight years to live. Additionally, Warwick is seen in the courtyard scene picking a white rose to symbolize his allegiance to the house of York. The Beauchamp earl, a loyal Lancastrian would have done no such thing. Even into 2 Henry VI the two are confused when Warwick is upset for the losses of Maine and Anjou in France, which he credits himself with conquering. The younger Warwick did not participate at all in these battles.

It is safe to say that Shakespeare simply creates a composite figure between the two men, as he also did with the Dukes of Somerset and the two Edmund Mortimers. Nonetheless, it is clear by the end of 2 Henry VI that Warwick the "kingmaker" is subject at hand as he fights with the Yorkists at the Battle of St. Albans. In 3 Henry VI, Warwick aids in putting Edward IV on the throne but joins with the Lancastrians when he is informed the king has married a common woman over his choice of the French king's sister-in-law. In reality, Warwick did not rebel against Edward IV until five years after the marriage. It was not a direct result of rebellion. Warwick captures King Edward and places him in the custody of his brother, from whom he ultimately escapes, and places Henry VI back on the throne. When Edward IV returns, however, Warwick does battle against him at Barnet where both he and his brother Montague are killed. All in all, Warwick is portrayed as an ambitious lord who is ultimately taken down by his own greedy actions. The parting speech he gives before his death, however, almost certainly will force one to treat him with a grain of sympathy.

References Pollard, A. J. ‘Neville, Richard, sixteenth earl of Warwick and sixth earl of Salisbury [called the Kingmaker] (1428–1471)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [ accessed 16 March 2010] Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker' (1428-1471) [Wars of the Roses; Nevil, Nevill, Earl of Salisbury] Search RICHARD NEVILLE, EARL OF WARWICK, called "the king-maker," was the eldest son of Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury , by Alice, only daughter and heiress of Thomas, the last Montacute Earl of Salisbury . He was born on the 22nd of November 1428, and whilst still a boy betrothed to Anne, daughter of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick . When her brother's daughter died in 1449, Anne, as only sister of the whole blood, brought her husband the title and chief share of the Warwick estates.

Richard Neville thus became the premier earl, and both in power and position excelled his father. Richard, Duke of York , was his uncle, so when York became Protector in 1453, and Salisbury was made Chancellor, it was natural that Warwick should be one of the council. After the King's [ Henry VI ] recovery in 1455 Warwick and his father took up arms in York's support. Their victory at St Albans on the 22nd of May was due to the fierce energy with which Warwick assaulted and broke the Lancastrian centre. He was rewarded with the important office of captain of Calais; to his position there he owed his strength during the next five years. Even when York was displaced at home, Warwick retained his post, and in 1457 was also made admiral. He was present in February 1458 at the professed reconciliation of the two parties at St Paul's, London.

During the previous year he had done some good fighting on the march of Calais by land, and kept the sea with vigour; now on his return he distinguished himself in a great fight with Spanish ships off Calais on the 28th of May, and in the autumn by capturing a German salt-fleet on its way to Lubeck. These exploits brought him a prestige and popularity that were distasteful to the home government. Moreover, England was at war neither with Castile nor with the Hanse. Warwick's action may possibly have formed part of some Yorkist design for frustrating the foreign policy of their rivals. At all events there was pretext enough for recalling him to make his defence. Whilst he was at the court at Westminster a brawl occurred between his retainers and some of the royal household. Warwick himself escaped with difficulty, and went back to Calais, alleging that his life had been deliberately attempted. When in the following year a renewal of the war was imminent, Warwick crossed over to England with his trained soldiers from Calais under Sir Andrew Trollope . But at Ludlow, on the 12th of October, Trollope and his men deserted, and left the Yorkists helpless [cf.

Rout of Ludford ]. Warwick, with his father, his cousin the young Edward of York , and only three followers, made his way to Barnstaple. There they hired a little fishing vessel. The master pleaded that he did not know the Channel, but Warwick resourcefully took command and himself steered a successful course to Calais. He arrived just in time to anticipate the Duke of Somerset , whom the Lancastrians had sent to supersede him. During the winter Warwick held Calais against Somerset, and sent out a fleet which seized Sandwich and captured Lord Rivers . In the spring he went to Ireland to concert plans with Richard of York. On his return voyage he encountered a superior Lancastrian fleet in the Channel. But Exeter , the rival commander, could not trust his crews and dared not fight. Bear and Ragged Staff — Badges of Richard Neville From Calais Warwick, Salisbury and Edward of York crossed to Sandwich on the 26th of June. A few days later they entered London, whence Warwick at once marched north. On the 10th of July he routed the Lancastrians at Northampton , and took the King prisoner.

For the order to spare the commons and slay the lords, Warwick was responsible, as also for some later executions at London. Yet when Richard of York was disposed to claim the crown, it was, according to Waurin, Warwick who decided the discussion in favour of a compromise, perhaps from loyalty to Henry, or perhaps from the wish not to change a weak sovereign for a strong. Warwick was in charge of London at the time when Richard and Salisbury were defeated and slain at Wakefield . The Lancastrians won a second victory at St Albans on the 17th of February 1461, possibly through lack of generalship on Warwick's part. But in his plans to retrieve the disaster Warwick showed skill and decision. He met Edward of York in Oxfordshire, brought him in triumph to London, had him proclaimed king [as Edward IV ], and within a month of his defeat at St Albans was marching north in pursuit of the Lancastrians. The good generalship which won the victory of Towton may have been due to Edward rather than to Warwick, but the new king was of the creation of the powerful earl, who now had his reward.

For four years the government was centred undisputedly in the hands of Warwick and his friends. The energy of his brother John, Lord Montagu , frustrated the various attempts of the Lancastrians in the north. In another sphere Warwick himself was determining the lines of English policy on the basis of an alliance with France. The power of the Nevilles seemed to be completed by the promotion of George , the third brother, to be Archbishop of York. The first check came with the announcement in September 1464 of the king's secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville . This was particularly distasteful to Warwick, who had but just pledged Edward to a French match. For the time, however, there was no open breach. The trouble began in 1466, when Edward first made Rivers , the Queen's father, treasurer, and afterwards threw obstacles in the way of an intended marriage between Warwick's daughter Isabel and George of Clarence , the King's own next brother. Still in May 1467 Warwick went again with the king's assent to conclude a treaty with France. He returned to find that in his absence Edward, under Woodville's influence, had committed himself definitely to the Burgundian alliance.

Warwick retired in dudgeon to his estates, and began to plot in secret for his revenge. In the summer of 1469 he went over to Calais, where Isabel and Clarence were married without the king's knowledge. Meantime he had stirred up the rebellion of Robin of Redesdale in Yorkshire; and when Edward was drawn north, Warwick invaded England in arms. The King, outmarched and outnumbered, had to yield himself prisoner, whilst Rivers and his son John were executed. Warwick was apparently content with the overthrow of the Woodvilles, and believed that he had secured Edward's submission. In March 1470, a rebellion in Lincolnshire gave Edward an opportunity to gather an army of his own. When the King alleged that he had found proof of Warwick's complicity, the earl, taken by surprise, fled with Clarence to France. There, through the instrumentality of Louis XI , he was with some difficulty reconciled to Margaret of Anjou , and agreed to marry his second daughter to her son. In September Warwick and Clarence, with the Lancastrian lords, landed at Dartmouth.

Edward in his turn had to fly overseas, and for six months Warwick ruled England as Lieutenant for Henry VI , who was restored from his prison in the Tower to a nominal throne. But the Lancastrian restoration was unwelcome to Clarence, who began to intrigue with his brother. When in March 1471 Edward landed at Ravenspur, Clarence found an opportunity to join him. Warwick was completely outgeneralled, and at Barnet on the 14th of April was defeated and slain. Warwick has been made famous by Lytton as "The Last of the Barons." The title suits him as a great feudal lord, who was a good fighter but a poor general, who had more sympathy with the old order than with the new culture. But he was more than this. He had some of the qualities of a strong ruler, and the power to command popularity. He was a skilled diplomatist and an adroit politician. These qualities, with his position as the head of a great family, the chief representative of Beauchamp, Despenser, Montacute and Neville, made him during ten years "the king-maker." Warwick's only children were his two daughters.

Anne, the younger, was married after his death to Richard of Gloucester, the future Richard III . Excerpted from: Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Ed. Vol XVIII. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1910. 340. Other Local Resources: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick Born: 1428 Son of: Richard, earl of Salisbury and Alice Montacute Married to: Anne de Beauchamp, Lady (1434) Children: Ann Neville (wife of Richard III), Isabel Neville Referred to as "The Kingmaker", Richard Neville attempted to wield power through the weaknesses of both Yorkists and Lancastrians kings. He and his father (earl of Salisbury) partnered with the duke of York in his attempt to claim the crown. After helping Edward IV to gain the crown, he turned against Edward and joined forces with Edward's brother George, duke of Clarence in 1469. When that gambit failed he switched sides and allied with Margaret of Anjou to put Henry VI back on the throne. Richard was killed at the battle of Barnet by the forces of Edward IV.

Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick 204,343pages on Warwick, from the Rous Roll. 16th Earl of Warwick KG (22 November 1428 – 14 April 1471), known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander. The son of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury , Warwick was the wealthiest and most powerful English peer of his age, with political connections that went beyond the country's borders. One of the Yorkist leaders in the Wars of the Roses , he was instrumental in the deposition of two kings, a fact which later earned him his epithet of "Kingmaker" to later generations. Through fortunes of marriage and inheritance, Warwick emerged in the 1450s at the centre of English politics. Originally a supporter of King Henry VI , a territorial dispute with the Duke of Somerset led him to collaborate with Richard, Duke of York , in opposing the king. From this conflict he gained the strategically valuable post of Captain of Calais , a position that benefited him greatly in the years to come.

The political conflict later turned into full-scale rebellion, where in battle York was slain, as was Warwick's father Salisbury. York's son, however, later triumphed with Warwick's assistance, and was crowned King Edward IV. Edward initially ruled with Warwick's support, but the two later fell out over foreign policy and the king's choice of Elizabeth Woodville as his wife. After a failed plot to crown Edward's brother, George, Duke of Clarence , Warwick instead restored Henry VI to the throne. The triumph was short-lived however: on 14 April 1471 Warwick was defeated by Edward at the Battle of Barnet , and killed. Warwick had no sons. The elder of his two daughters, Isabel , married George, Duke of Clarence . His younger daughter Anne had a short-lived marriage to King Henry's son Edward of Westminster , who died in battle at the age of 17. She then married King Edward's younger brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who later became King Richard III . Warwick's historical legacy has been a matter of much dispute. Historical opinion has alternated between seeing him as self-centred and rash, and regarding him as a victim of the whims of an ungrateful king.

It is generally agreed, however, that in his own time he enjoyed great popularity in all layers of society, and that he was skilled at appealing to popular sentiments for political support. [1] Contents Edit The Nevilles were an ancient Durham family who came to prominence in the fourteenth-century wars against the Scots. In 1397, Ralph Neville had been created Earl of Westmorland . [2] Ralph's son Richard , the later Earl of Warwick's father, was a younger son by a second marriage, and not heir to the earldom. [3] He received a favourable settlement, however, and became jure uxoris Earl of Salisbury through his marriage to Alice , daughter and heiress of Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury . [4] [5] Salisbury's son Richard, the later Earl of Warwick, was born on 22 November 1428; little is known of his childhood. [6] At the age of six, Richard was betrothed to Anne Beauchamp , daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick , and his wife Isabel Despenser .

This made him heir not only to the earldom of Salisbury, but also to a substantial part of the Montague, Beauchamp, and Despenser inheritance. [7] Circumstances were, however, to increase his fortune even further. Beauchamp's son Henry , who was married to Richard's sister Cecily , died in 1446. When Henry's daughter Anne died in 1449, Richard also found himself jure uxoris Earl of Warwick. [8] Richard's succession to the estates did not go undisputed, however. A protracted battle over parts of the inheritance ensued, particularly with Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset , who was married to a daughter from Richard Beauchamp's first marriage. [7] The dispute was about land, not about the Warwick title, as Henry's half-sisters were excluded from the succession. [9] By 1445 Richard had been knighted, probably at Margaret of Anjou 's coronation on 22 April that year. [10] He is visible in the historical record of service of King Henry VI in 1449, when mention is made of his services in a grant.

[10] He performed military service in the north with his father, and might have taken part in the war against Scotland in 1448–9. [11] When Richard, Duke of York , unsuccessfully rose up against the king in 1452, both Warwick and his father rallied to the side of the king. [12] Civil War Edit As Henry VI 's incompetence and intermittent madness became clear, many of the responsibilities of government fell on his queen, Margaret of Anjou . In June 1453, Somerset was granted custody of the lordship of Glamorgan – part of the Despenser heritage held by Warwick until then – and open conflict broke out between the two men. [13] Then, in the summer of that year, King Henry fell ill. [14] Somerset was a favourite of the king and Queen Margaret, and with the king incapacitated he was virtually in complete control of government. [15] This put Warwick at a disadvantage in his dispute with Somerset, and drove him into collaboration with York. [16] The political climate, influenced by the military defeat in France , then started turning against Somerset.

On 27 March 1454, a group of royal councillors appointed the Duke of York protector of the realm. [17] York could now count on the support not only of Warwick, but also of Warwick's father Salisbury, who had become more deeply involved in disputes with the Percys in the north of England. [18] York's first protectorate did not last long. Early in 1455 the king rallied sufficiently to return to power, at least nominally, with Somerset again wielding real power. [19] Warwick returned to his estates, as did York and Salisbury, and the three started raising troops. [20] Marching towards London, they encountered the king at St Albans , where the two forces clashed. The battle was brief and not particularly bloody, but it was the first instance of armed hostilities between the forces of the Houses of York and Lancaster in the conflict known as the Wars of the Roses . [21] It was also significant because it resulted in the capture of the king, and the death of Somerset. [22] York's second protectorate that followed was even shorter-lived than the first.

[23] At the parliament of February 1456 the king – now under the influence of Queen Margaret – resumed personal government of the realm. [24] By this time Warwick had taken over Salisbury's role as York's main ally, even appearing at that same parliament to protect York from retributions. [25] This conflict was also a pivotal period in Warwick's career, as it was resolved by his appointment as Constable of Calais . [26] The post was to provide him with a vital power base in the following years of conflict. The continental town of Calais, conquered from France in 1347, was not only of vital strategic importance, it also held what was England's largest standing army . [27] There were some initial disputes, with the garrison and with the royal wool monopoly known as the staple , over payments in arrears, but in July Warwick finally took up his post. [28] After the recent events, Queen Margaret still considered Warwick a threat to the throne, and cut off his supplies. [7] In August 1457, however, a French attack on the English seaport of Sandwich set off fears of a full-scale French invasion.

Warwick was again funded to protect the garrison and patrol the English coast. [29] In disregard of royal authority, he then conducted highly successful acts of piracy, against the Castilian fleet in May 1458, and against the Hanseatic fleet a few weeks later. [30] He also used his time on the Continent to establish relations with Charles VII of France and Philip the Good of Burgundy. [31] Developing a solid military reputation and with good international connections, he then brought a part of his garrison to England, where he met up with his father and York in the summer of 1459. [32] House of York triumphant Edit Middleham Castle was Warwick's favourite residence in England. In the late 1450s, however, business in Calais kept him away from Middleham for longer periods. In September 1459 Warwick crossed over to England and made his way north to Ludlow to meet up with Salisbury, the latter fresh from his victory over Lancastrians at the battle of Blore Heath , and York.

[33] At nearby Ludford Bridge their forces were scattered by the king's army, partly because of the defection of Warwick's Calais contingent under the command of Andrew Trollope . [34] As it turned out, the majority of the soldiers were still reluctant to raise arms against the king. [34] Forced to flee the country, York left for Dublin, Ireland, with his second son Edmund, Earl of Rutland , while Warwick and Salisbury sailed to Calais, accompanied by the duke's son, Edward, Earl of March (the future King Edward IV). [35] Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset , was appointed to replace Warwick as Captain of Calais, but the Yorkists managed to hold on to the garrison. [36] In March 1460 Warwick visited York in Ireland to plan the way ahead, and returned to Calais. [37] Then, on 26 June, he landed at Sandwich with Salisbury and March, and from here the three earls rode north to London. [38] Salisbury was left to besiege the Tower of London , [39] while Warwick took March with him in pursuit of the king.

[40] At Northampton , on 10 July, King Henry was taken captive, while the Duke of Buckingham and others were killed in battle. [41] In September York arrived from Ireland, and at the parliament of October that year, the duke walked up to the throne and put his hand on it. [42] The act, signifying usurpation, left the assembly in shock. [43] It is unclear whether Warwick had prior knowledge of York's plans, though it is assumed that this had been agreed upon between the two in Ireland the previous March. [44] It soon became clear, however, that this regime change was unacceptable to the lords in parliament, and a compromise was agreed. The Act of Accord of 31 October 1460 stated that while Henry VI was allowed to stay on the throne for the remainder of his life, his son Edward, Prince of Wales , was to be disinherited. Instead, York would succeed the king, and act as protector. [45] This solution was not ideal to either party, and further conflict was inevitable.

[46] On 30 December, at the Battle of Wakefield , York was killed, as were York's second son Edmund, Earl of Rutland , and Warwick's younger brother Thomas. [47] Salisbury was executed a day later. Warwick marched north to confront the enemy, but was defeated and forced to flee at the Second Battle of St Albans . [48] He then joined forces with Prince Edward of York, the new Yorkist claimant to the crown, who had just won an important victory at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross . [49] While Queen Margaret was hesitating to make her next move, Warwick and Edward hastened to London. [50] The citizens of the capital were scared by the brutal conduct of the Lancastrian forces, and were sympathetic to the House of York. On 4 March the prince was proclaimed King Edward IV, by an assembly that gathered quickly. [51] The new king now headed north to consolidate his title, and met with the Lancastrian forces at Towton in Yorkshire. Warwick had suffered an injury to the leg the day before, in the Battle of Ferrybridge , and may have played only a minor part in the battle that followed.

[52] The unusually bloody battle resulted in a complete victory for the Yorkist forces, and the death of many important men on the opposing side, such as Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland , and Andrew Trollope. [53] Queen Margaret managed to escape to Scotland, with Henry and Prince Edward. [54] Edward IV returned to London for his coronation, while Warwick remained to pacify the north. [55] Warwick's apex Painting by Henry Tresham representing Warwick's alleged vow prior to the Battle of Towton Warwick's position after the accession of Edward IV was stronger than ever. [57] He had now succeeded to his father's possessions, and in 1462 also inherited his mother's lands and the Salisbury title. [58] Altogether he had an annual income from his lands of over £7,000, far more than any other man in the realm but the king. [59] Edward confirmed Warwick's position as Captain of Calais, and made him Admiral of England and Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster, along with several other offices.

[60] His brothers also benefited: John Neville, Lord Montagu , was made Warden of the East March in 1463, and the next year created Earl of Northumberland . [61] George Neville , Bishop of Exeter , was confirmed in his post as chancellor by King Edward, and in 1465 promoted to the archbishopric of York . [62] By late 1461, risings in the north had been put down, and in the summer of 1462, Warwick negotiated a truce with Scotland. [7] In October the same year, Margaret of Anjou invaded England with troops from France, and managed to take the castles of Alnwick and Bamburgh . [63] Warwick had to organise the recapture of the castles, which was accomplished by January 1463. The leaders of the rebellion, including Sir Ralph Percy , were pardoned and left in charge of the retaken castles. [64] At this point, Warwick felt secure enough to travel south; in February he buried the remains of his father and brother at Bisham Priory , and in March he attended parliament at Westminster.

[65] That same spring, however, the north rose up in rebellion once more, when Ralph Percy laid siege to Norham Castle . [66] Warwick returned to the north and rescued Norham, but the Lancastrians were left in possession of Northumberland, and the government decided on a diplomatic approach instead. Separate truces were negotiated with Scotland and France, which allowed Warwick to retake the Northumbrian castles held by the Lancastrian rebels. [67] This time no clemency was given, and around thirty of the rebel leaders were executed. [68] Early tensions Edit Edward IV's secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville contributed to the growing tensions between Warwick and the king. At the negotiations with the French, Warwick had intimated that King Edward was interested in a marriage arrangement with the French crown, the intended bride being Louis XI 's sister-in-law, Bona, daughter of Louis, Duke of Savoy . [69] This marriage was not to be, however, because in September 1464, Edward revealed that he was already married, to Elizabeth Woodville .

[70] The marriage caused great offence to Warwick: not only due to the fact that his plans had been sabotaged, but also the secrecy with which the king had acted. [71] The marriage – contracted on 1 May of the same year – was not made public before Warwick pressed Edward on the issue at a council meeting, and in the meanwhile Warwick had been unknowingly deceiving the French into believing the king was serious about the marriage proposal. [70] For Edward the marriage may very well have been a love match, but in the long run he sought to build the Woodville family into a powerhouse independent of Warwick's influence. [72] This was not enough to cause a complete fallout between the two men, though from this point on Warwick increasingly stayed away from court. [73] The promotion of Warwick's brother George to Archbishop of York shows that the earl was still in favour with the king. In July 1465, when Henry VI was once more captured, it was Warwick who escorted the fallen king to his captivity in the Tower. [74] Then, in the spring of 1466, Warwick was sent to the continent to carry out negotiations with the French and Burgundians.

The negotiations centred around a marriage proposal involving Edward's sister Margaret . [75] Warwick increasingly came to favour French diplomatic connections. [76] Meanwhile, Edward's father-in-law, Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers , who had been created treasurer , was in favour of a Burgundian alliance. [77] This set up internal conflict within the English court, which was not alleviated by the fact that Edward had signed a secret treaty in October with Burgundy, while Warwick was forced to carry on sham negotiations with the French. [78] Later, George Neville was dismissed as chancellor, while Edward refused to contemplate a marriage between Warwick's oldest daughter Isabel , and Edward's brother George, Duke of Clarence . [79] It became increasingly clear that Warwick's position of dominance at court had been taken over by Rivers. [80] In the autumn of 1467, there were rumours that Warwick was now sympathetic to the Lancastrian cause, but even though he refused to come to court to answer the charges, the king accepted his denial in writing.

[81] In July the same year, it was revealed that Warwick's deputy in Calais, John, Lord Wenlock , was involved in a Lancastrian conspiracy, and early in 1469 another Lancastrian plot was uncovered, involving John de Vere, Earl of Oxford . [82] It was becoming clear that the discontent with Edward's reign was widespread, a fact that Warwick could exploit. [83] Rebellion and death Edit Warwick now orchestrated a rebellion in Yorkshire while he was away, led by a " Robin of Redesdale ". [84] Part of Warwick's plan was winning over Edward's brother George, possibly with the prospect of installing him on the throne. [85] The nineteen-year-old George had shown himself to share many of the abilities of his older brother, but was also jealous and overambitious. [86] In July the two sailed over to Calais where George was married to Isabel. [87] From there they returned to England, where they gathered the men of Kent to join the rebellion in the north. [88] Meanwhile, the king's forces were defeated at Edgecote , where William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke , was killed.

[89] The other commander, Humphrey Stafford, Earl of Devon , was caught in flight and lynched by a mob. [90] Later, Earl Rivers and his son John were also apprehended and murdered. [91] With his army now defeated, the king was taken under arrest by Archbishop Neville. [92] He was imprisoned in Warwick , and in August taken north to Middleham Castle . [93] In the long run, however, it proved impossible to rule without the king, and continuing disorder forced Warwick to release Edward in September 1469. [85] The Battle of Barnet , where Warwick was killed. Edward IV can be seen on the left, wearing a crown, Warwick on the right being pierced by a lance. It should be noted that in reality Edward did not kill Warwick. A modus vivendi had been achieved between Warwick and the king for some months, but the restoration of Henry Percy to Montagu's earldom of Northumberland prevented any chance of full reconciliation. [94] A trap was set for the king when disturbances in Lincolnshire led him north, where he could be confronted by Warwick's men.

[95] Edward, however, discovered the plot when Robert, Lord Welles , was routed at Losecote Field , and gave away the plan. [96] Warwick soon gave up, and once more fled the country with Clarence. Denied access to Calais, they sought refuge with King Louis XI of France. [97] Louis arranged a reconciliation between Warwick and Margaret of Anjou, and as part of the agreement, Margaret and Henry's son, Edward, Prince of Wales, would marry Warwick's daughter Anne. [98] The objective of the alliance was to restore Henry VI to the throne. [99] Again Warwick staged an uprising in the north, and with the king away, he and Clarence landed at Dartmouth and Plymouth on 13 September. [100] Among the many who flocked to Warwick's side was his brother Montagu, who had not taken part in the last rebellion, but was disappointed when his loyalty to the king had not been rewarded with the restoration of his earldom. [61] This time the trap set up for the king worked; as Edward hurried south, Montagu's forces approached from the north, and the king found himself surrounded.

[101] On 2 October he fled to the Netherlands. [102] King Henry was now restored, with Warwick acting as the true ruler in his capacity as lieutenant. [103] At a parliament in November, Edward was attainted of his lands and titles, and Clarence was awarded the Duchy of York . [104] At this point, international affairs intervened. Louis XI declared war on Burgundy, and Duke Charles responded by granting an expeditionary force to Edward IV, in order to reclaim his throne. [105] On 14 March Edward landed at Ravenspurn in Yorkshire, with the acquiescence of the Earl of Northumberland. [106] Warwick was still waiting for Queen Margaret and her son Edward, who were supposed to bring reinforcements from France, but were kept on the continent by bad weather. [107] At this point Edward received the support of his brother Clarence, who realised that he had been disadvantaged by the new agreement with the Lancastrians. [108] Clarence's defection weakened Warwick, who nevertheless went in pursuit of Edward. On 14 April the two armies met at Barnet .

[109] Fog and poor visibility on the field led to confusion, and the Lancastrian army ended up attacking its own men. [110] In the face of defeat Warwick attempted to escape the field, but was struck off his horse and killed. [111] Aftermath Edit Warwick's body – along with that of his brother Montagu, who had also fallen at Barnet – was displayed in London's St Paul's Cathedral to quell any rumours of their survival. [111] Then they were handed over to Archbishop Neville, to be buried in the family vault at Bisham Priory near the river Thames in Berkshire. No trace now remains of either the tomb or the church in which it was housed. [110] On 4 May of the same year (1471), Edward IV defeated the remaining Lancastrian forces of Queen Margaret and Prince Edward at the Battle of Tewkesbury , where the prince was killed. [112] Soon afterwards, it was reported that King Henry VI had also died in the Tower. [113] With the direct Lancastrian line exterminated, Edward could reign safely until his death in 1483.

[105] Warwick's offices were divided between King Edward's brothers Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the future Richard III . Clarence received the chamberlainship of England and the lieutenancy of Ireland, while Gloucester was made Admiral of England and Warden of the West March . [114] Clarence also received the earldoms of Warwick and Salisbury. [115] The earl's land had been forfeited and taken into the king's custody. When Gloucester married Warwick's younger daughter Anne in 1472, who had been recently widowed by the death of Prince Edward, a dispute broke out between the two princes over the Beauchamp and Despenser inheritances. [116] A compromise was eventually reached, whereby the land was divided, but Clarence was not pacified. In 1477 he once again plotted against his brother. This time the king could no longer act with lenience, and the next year the Duke of Clarence was executed. [117] Historical assessment "thou setter-up and plucker-down of kings" — William Shakespeare; Henry VI Early sources on Richard Neville fall into two categories.

The first are the sympathetic chronicles of the early Yorkist years, or works based on these, such as the Mirror for Magistrates (1559). The other category originates with chronicles commissioned by Edward IV after Warwick's fall, such as the Historie of the arrivall of Edward IV , and take a more negative view of the earl. [118] The Mirror portrayed Warwick as a great man: beloved by the people, and betrayed by the man he helped raise to the throne. [119] The other perspective can be found in Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy: a man driven by pride and egotism, who created and deposed kings at will. [120] In time, however, it is the latter view that dominated. The Enlightenment, or Whig historians of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, decried anyone who impeded the development towards a centralised, constitutional monarchy, the way Warwick did in his struggles with Edward.

[121] David Hume called Warwick "the greatest, as well as the last, of those mighty barons who formerly overawed the crown, and rendered the people incapable of any regular system of civil government." [122] Later writers were split between admiration for some of Warwick's character traits, and condemnation of his political actions. The romantic novelist Lord Lytton picked up on Hume's theme in his The Last of the Barons . [123] Though Lytton portrayed Warwick as a tragic hero who embodied the ideals of chivalry, he was nevertheless one whose time was past. [121] The late-nineteenth century military historian Charles Oman acknowledged the earl's ability to appeal to popular sentiments, yet pointed out his deficiencies as a military commander. [124] Oman found Warwick a traditional strategist, "not attaining the heights of military genius displayed by his pupil Edward." [125] Paul Murray Kendall 's popular biography from 1957 took a sympathetic view of Warwick, but concluded that he had ultimately fallen victim to his own overreaching ambition. [126] More recent historians, such as Michael Hicks and A. J.

Pollard , have tried to see Warwick in light of the standards of his own age, rather than holding him up to contemporary constitutional ideals. The insults Warwick suffered at the hands of King Edward – including Edward's secret marriage, and the refusal of the French diplomatic channel – were significant. [127] His claim to prominence in national affairs was not a product of illusions of grandeur; it was confirmed by the high standing he enjoyed among the princes on the continent. [128] Furthermore, Warwick's cause was not considered unjust by his contemporaries, which can be seen by the earl's popularity exceeding that of the king at the time of his first rebellion in 1469. [129] On the other hand, while Warwick could not easily suffer his treatment by the king, it was equally impossible for Edward to accept the earl's presence on the political scene. As long as Warwick remained as powerful and influential as he was, Edward could not fully assert his royal authority, and eventual confrontation became inevitable.

[130] Coat of Arms Edit Warwick's coat of arms The coat of arms of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, pictured at right, uses almost all typical forms of heraldry in England: The first quarter consists of his father-in-law, Richard Beauchamp , who bore with an escutcheon of De Clare quartering Despenser, now shown in Neville's fourth quarter. The second quarter shows the arms of the Montacutes (Montagu). The third quarter shows the arms of Neville differenced by a label for Lancaster . [131] Neville family tree Edit The chart below shows, in abbreviated form, the family background of Richard Neville and his family connections with the houses of York and Lancaster. Dashed lines denote marriage and solid lines children. Anne Neville is shown with her two husbands, in order from right to left. Kendall, Paul Murray (1957). Warwick the Kingmaker. London. ISBN 0-351-17096-0 . Oman, Charles (1899). Warwick, the Kingmaker (reprinted ed.). London; New York: Macmillan. Pollard, A.J. (1988).

The Wars of the Roses. Basingstoke: Macmillan Education. ISBN 0-333-40603-6 . Pollard, A.J. (2004). "Neville, Richard, sixteenth earl of Warwick and sixth earl of Salisbury [called the Kingmaker] (1428–1471)" (subscription required). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Digital object identifier: 10.1093/ref:odnb/19955 . Pollard, A.J. (2007). Warwick the Kingmaker. London: Hambledon. ISBN 978-1-84725-182-4 . Ross, Charles (1997). Edward IV (new ed.). New Haven, London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-07372-0 . Tuck, Anthony (1985). Crown and Nobility 1272–1461: Political Conflict in Late Medieval England. London: Fontana.

ISBN 0-00-686084-2 . Watts, John (1996). Henry VI and the Politics of Kingship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-42039-3 . Wilkinson, Bertie (1969). The later Middle Ages in England, 1216–1485. Harlow: Longmans. ISBN 0-582-48265-8 . Wolff, Bertram Percy (2001). Henry VI (new ed.). New Haven, London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-08926-0 .

Further reading NFP: Images of Richard Neville (1428-1471) - Earl of Warwick 1449-1471 Richard Neville (1428-1471) - Earl of Warwick 1449-1471 Commonly known as the 'Kingmaker,' Richard Neville was the eldest son of his namesake, Richard Neville , 5th Earl of Salisbury, by Alice daughter and heiress of Thomas Montacute , 4th Earl of Salisbury. He is said to have been born at the family manor of Bisham in Berkshire on 22nd November 1428. Richard�s Earldom of Warwick came from his marriage, at the age of six, to the sister of the last of the Beauchamp family who held that title and was, at that time, the richest and most powerful Earldom in England. His greatest castles were Warwick (Warks), Cardiff (Glams), Abergavenny (Monmouths) and Barnard (Durham), but he also favoured Caversham (Oxon) and others. The Earl of Salisbury�s sister was married to the Royal claimant, the Duke of York .

Her brother and nephew therefore became the greatest supporters of the Yorkist cause against Margaret of Anjou and the Beauforts, who swayed the mind of the unworldly Henry VI . In this capacity, the Earl of Warwick won for the Yorkists the first battle of the civil wars, at St. Albans, in 1455. After this victory, poor Henry was obliged to make his enemy 'Captain of Calais', a position which gave Richard command of the only real standing force in the English dominions. It also gave him command of a considerable fleet with which, in 1458-9, he did good service against Spanish fleets in the Channel. In the same year, Warwick joined his uncle, the Duke of York, in the West of England, was defeated with him by the Lancastrians at Ludford and fled back to Calais by way of Guernsey. Thence in 1460 to Ireland and then again to Calais. In the summer of that year, he was back in Eng�land and helped to win, for the Yorkists, the Battle of Northampton.

While York and Warwick's father, Salisbury, went northwards to meet the forces which Queen Margaret had raised in Scotland and Yorkshire, Warwick remained in London in charge of Henry, whom he still professed to regard as King. His father's death at the Battle of Wakefield left Warwick head of the Neville family and added to his castles the great Yorkshire strongholds of Middleham and Sheriff Hutton. While York's death - though it left the nominal headship of the party to his son, the young Earl of March - gave Warwick undisputed command of the policy of that party. In February 1461, the Earl marched out, with poor Henry in his train, to meet the great Lancastrian army at St. Albans. He was beaten by it and fled to join March, who in the West had won the Battle of Mortimer's Cross. Edward IV, as March now claimed to be, entered London as a victor, with Warwick as his 'Kingmaker' by his side. It was not, however, Warwick but Edward himself whose generalship was responsible for the final Yorkist victory at Towton on Palm Sunday 1461.

Edward rewarded his great subject with the wardenships of the Cinque Ports and of the Scottish Marches and the office of Chamberlain; and Warwick's riches must have been enormous. Warwick seems to have had some skill in diplomacy and, for the first few years of the reign, Edward left most things in his hands. But he was anxious that the King should marry either one of his own daughters or a French princess chosen by himself. Wherefore Edward's marriage with Elizabeth Woodville and, still more, the favours which he showered on her relations, soon roused the jealousy of the Earl. By the year 1468, he seems to have determined to upset Edward's throne by some means or another. However, as too deep a stream of blood which he himself had spilt seemed to run between him and the Lancastrians, he turned to Edward's second brother, the Duke of Clarence. He married the young duke to his eldest daughter and raised an insurrection which he allowed Clarence to think would ultimately put him upon the throne.

Edward, a lazy man, was caught napping and allowed Warwick to take him prisoner; but then Warwick altogether belied his reputation for craft and reconciled himself to Edward, who, as soon as he was free, drove him from the Kingdom. There was now but one thing for the Earl to do. He must throw himself at the feet of the haughty Queen Margaret, whom he had slandered and vilified in every possible way, and by her agency raise the flag of King Henry. Louis XI of France, Warwick's steady friend, was able to mediate this astonishing alliance. The Nevilles rose for Warwick and the Western Lancastrians for Henry. Edward was driven from his Kingdom to the Burgundian Court, where his sister was queen, and the Kingmaker landed in England in October 1470. He thus 'remade,' as he had previously unmade, Henry VI as King of England; but Queen Margaret delayed her return. The restored government was profoundly unpopular in London and Clarence, nominally Warwick's ally, became discontented when Warwick married his other daughter to Prince Edward of Lancaster. This situation enabled King Edward to return in March 1471.

He caught Warwick in a trap at Barnet, slew him and then advanced to meet and destroy the true Lancastrian army at Tewkesbury. He was laid to rest in his mother�s family mausoleum of Bisham Priory (Berks). Warwick, in spite of his great reputation, was merely a selfish baron of the worst type of the bastard-feudal age of the fifteenth century. His enormous riches bought him a following, which he was able to reward from the goods and lands of his enemies. Edited from CRL Fletcher's 'Historical Portraits' (1909) The pictures on this page are cropped examples of images in our high resolution photo library. Please e-mail us for details of these or similar image availability at our very reasonable reproduction rates. Richard Neville Earl of Warwick, The Kingmaker - Philippa Gregory Philippa Gregory Established historian & writer. International No 1 best seller. Signup to Philippa's latest news and get updates of her upcoming releases. Name... Richard Neville Earl of Warwick, The Kingmaker 1428 - 1471 The Nevilles were an ancient, noble family from Durham in the north of England.

Richard Neville married Anne Beauchamp and through her secured the earldom of Salisbury and a substantial fortune. Luckier still Anne’s brother Henry died and so did his daughter, meaning Richard found himself Earl of Warwick. Warwick emerged in the 1450s at the centre of English politics. Originally a supporter of King Henry VI , a territorial dispute with the Duke of Somerset led him to collaborate with Richard Duke of York in opposing the king. York was killed, but his son Edward , with Warwick’s assistance, went on to take the crown of England. Edward’s decision to marry Elizabeth Woodville , and keep it a secret from Warwick for five months, changed their relationship forever. Warwick turned his allegiances to Edward’s brother George Duke of Clarence , marrying his eldest daughter Isabel to him. When the plot failed, Warwick instead supported Henry VI back on to the throne, and married his youngest daughter Anne to his son Edward of Lancaster . They triumphed until the Battle of Barnet when Edward IV won, killing Warwick. Edward IV went on to kill Edward of Lancaster at Tewkesbury, securing victory for the Yorks.

Richard "Kingmaker" Neville (1428 - 1471) - Find A Grave Memorial Barnet Greater London, England Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick and 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute. He was known as Warwick the Kingmaker, administrator, and military commander. He was the son of Richard Neville , 5th Earl of Salisbury. Warwick was the wealthiest and most powerful English peer of his age, with political connections that went beyond the country's borders. One of the main protagonists in the Wars of the Roses, he was instrumental in the deposition of two kings, a fact which later earned him his epithet of "Kingmaker". He was originally a supporter of King Henry VI, a territorial dispute with the Duke of Somerset led him to collaborate with Richard, Duke of York, opposing the king. From this conflict he gained the valuable post of Captain of Calais, a position that benefited him greatly in the years to come. The political conflict later turned into full-scale rebellion, and both York and Warwick's father, Salisbury, fell in battle. York's son, however, later triumphed with Warwick's assistance, and was crowned King Edward IV .

Edward initially ruled with Warwick's support, but the two later fell out over foreign policy and the king's choice of partner in marriage. After a failed plot to crown Edward's brother, George, Duke of Clarence, Warwick instead restored Henry VI to the throne. The triumph was short-lived however: on April 14, 1471 Warwick was defeated by Edward at the Battle of Barnet, and killed. Warwick's body along with the body of his brother Montagu, who had also died at Barnet, was displayed in London's St Paul's Cathedral to quell any rumors of their survival. Then they were handed over to Archbishop Neville, to be buried in the family vault at Bisham. On May 4 of the same year, Edward IV defeated the remaining Lancastrian forces of Queen Margaret and Prince Edward at the Battle of Tewkesbury, where the prince was killed. Soon afterwards, it was reported that King Henry VI had also died in the Tower. With the direct Lancastrian line exterminated, Edward could reign safely until his death in 1483.

Richard married Anne de Beauchamp, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warick and Isabel le Despenser. They were the parents of Isabel and Anne Neville. Their eldest daughter, Isabel , married George , Duke of Clarence, the younger brother of King Edward IV of England. Their younger daughter, Anne , was married to Edward of Westminster , the only son of King Henry VI . Edward of Westminster was killed in the Battle of Tewkesbury. Anne re-married to Richard , Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III of England. Although their mother was still living, the husbands of the two Neville sisters fought over her inheritance, with Richard eventually coming out on top. However, the son of the Duke of Clarence inherited the earldom of Warwick from Neville. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick - theislandwiki Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick From theislandwiki Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, Lord of the Isles 1449-1459, 1461-1471 Inheritance Neville is far better known as Warick the Kingmaker for his involvement in the rise and fall of English kings during the War of the Roses.

He came to be Lord of the Channel Islands through sheer fluke, having assumed the title while married to Anne de Beauchamp, surviving sister of of Henry de Beauchamp, who was destined to become Lord of the Isles, but died before the previous incumbent, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester . When Henry died his titles passed to his two-year-old daughter Anne, and she assumed the Lordship, or Ladyship of the Isles, only to die two years later. After arguments about succession, Henry's titles passed to his aunt, Anne, and thence to her husband Richard. It is doubtful that he ever had much time to contemplate his responsibilities in the islands while he was manoeuvring to replace one English monarch with another during one of the most turbulent periods in the country's history. Channel Islands Ten days after the death of Anne de Beauchamp, heiress of Warwick, her uncle Richard Neville was made Count of Warwick (23 July 1449) and on 14 June 1450 he received the various titles which had previously been attached to this position, presumably including the Lordship of the Channel Islands.

Guernsey records of 7 May 1459 refer to Monsieru de Warwick, Seigneur des Iles. The following year Warwick's titles were confiscanted by Henry VI:"Jam infra paucum tempus placuit nobis dictam Insulum nostram de Gersey cum omnibus aliis Insulis ad tunc Racardo nuper comiti Warrewicci pertinentem in manum nostram resumers" but he appears to have got them back in 1461 and remained in overall control of the Channel Islands for another ten years. Family The son of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, Warwick was the wealthiest and most powerful English peer of his age, with political connections that went beyond the country's borders. One of the main protagonists in the Wars of the Roses, he was instrumental in the deposition of two kings. Through fortunes of marriage and inheritance, he emerged in the 1450s at the centre of English politics. Originally a supporter of Henry VI, a territorial dispute with the Duke of Somerset led him to collaborate with Richard, Duke of York, opposing the king.

From this conflict he gained the strategically valuable post of Captain of Calais, a position that benefited him greatly in the years to come. The political conflict later turned into full-scale rebellion, and both York and Warwick's father, Salisbury, fell in battle. York's son, however, later triumphed with Warwick's assistance, and was crowned Edward IV. Edward initially ruled with Warwick's support, but the two later fell out over foreign policy and the king's choice of partner in marriage. After a failed plot to crown Edward's brother, George Duke of Clarence, Warwick instead restored Henry VI to the throne. The triumph was short-lived however: on 14 April 1471 Warwick was defeated by Edward at the Battle of Barnet, and killed. Warwick had no sons. The eldest of his two daughters, Isabella Plantagenet, married George, Duke of Clarence. His youngest daughter Anne – after a short-lived marriage to King Henry's son Edward – married King Edward's younger brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who later became Richard III. Warwick's historical legacy has been a matter of much dispute.

Historical opinion has alternated between seeing him as self-centred and rash, and regarding him as a victim of the whims of an ungrateful king. It is generally agreed, however, that in his own time he enjoyed great popularity in all layers of society, and that he was skilled at appealing to popular sentiments for political support. Becoming Warwick The Nevilles were an ancient family who came to prominence in the 14th century wars against the Scots. In 1397 Ralph Nevil had been created [[Earl of Westmorland. Ralph's son Richard Neville, the later Earl of Warwick's father, was a younger son by a second marriage, and therefore not heir to the earldom. Richard was born on 22 November 1428. Little is known of his childhood. At the age of six he was betrothed to Anne Beauchamp, daughter of Richard de Beauchamp and his wife Isabel Despenser. This made him heir not only to the earldom of Salisbury, but also to a substantial part of the Montague, Beauchamp, and Despenser inheritance. Circumstances were, however, to increase his fortune even further.

Beauchamp's son Henry, who was married to Richard's sister Cecille, died in 1446. When Henry's daughter Anne died in 1449, Richard also found himself jure uxoris Earl of Warwick. Richard's succession to the estates did not go undisputed, however. A protracted battle over parts of the inheritance ensued, particularly with Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, who was married to a daughter from Richard Beauchamp's first marriage. The dispute was about land, not about the Warwick title, as Henry's half-sisters were excluded from the succession. By 1445 Richard had been knighted, probably at Queen Margaret's coronation on 22 April that year. He appears to have entered into the service of Henry VI by 1449, when mention is made of his services in a grant. He performed military service in the north with his father, and might have taken part in the war against Scotland in 1448–9. When Richard Duke of York unsuccessfully rose up against the king in 1452, both Warwick and his father rallied to the side of the king.

Question: At which battle in 1471 did Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, die?
Answer: BARNET