Today we’re following up on where we left off in 1459 as we tick through the early years in the Wars of the Roses.
Tag: Richard Neville
1459: And So It Begins
Moving on from 1458, let’s keep marching through the Wars of the Roses’ first half with 1459:
1457: The Queen Can’t Read the Room
We’re picking up where we left off in 1456 as we work our ways through the first half of the Wars of the Roses.
1456: The Retreat to Coventry
We’re picking up where we left off in our coverage of the Wars of the Roses’ first half. You can catch up on 1455 here.
When Anne Neville Was Lancastrian
Anne Neville is a curious figure in history because she is essentially a blank canvas who happened to be at the epicenter of intrigue during the Wars of the Roses. She was a queen consort of England, but one who wore the crown for less than two years and is understandably overshadowed by her more famous peers: Marguerite of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville and Elizabeth of York. She is dynastically insignificant – her only son died during childhood. She was not born into royalty, but rather married into a conquering family. And she did not hold power long enough to have any lasting impact on England.
And yet, she is an intriguing figure. For nearly 12 years she was married to one of England’s most famous (and infamous) monarchs: Richard III. She was in the eye of the mysterious storm that surrounded the disappearance of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York (aka the Princes in the Tower). And she was the only figure to have married into both royal houses at war: Lancaster and York. Anne was born a Yorkist and died a Yorkist, but from December 1470 until May 1471 she was the Lancastrian Princess of Wales.
Lancaster’s Decision to Stay in England After the Battle of Barnet
Today in 1471 the Battle of Barnet was fought in England between the House of York’s Edward IV and the House of Lancaster’s Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. The battle resulted in Lancaster’s defeat and Warwick, the “Kingmaker,” was killed while attempting to escape the field. At the time of the battle, Edward IV had recently been deposed thanks to Warwick’s betrayal when he defected to the Lancastrian cause, turning his back on the House and family on which he had built his career.
Continue reading “Lancaster’s Decision to Stay in England After the Battle of Barnet”