Edward IV - First Reign 1461-70

1461-5

• Took Edward over 3 years to eliminate Lancastrian enemies- they concentrated their power in Northumberland and sustained by French and Scottish help.
• Invasion scares on the south coast and disturbances in several parts of the kingdom.
• 1464- Henry VI and Margaret returned to England. They recieved support from Percy Earls of Northumberland.
• Henry VI+ Margaret marched army made up of scottish and French mercenaries, Joined by troops raised by Duke of Somerset.
• Edward IV sent a yorkist army lead by John Neville.
• Lancastrians beaten at Hedgeley Moor April 1464.
• Margaret and son escaped, Henry VI captured and imprisoned in 1465.
• Edward married Elizabeth Woodville in 1464.

• Edward successfully negotiated truces with James III of Scotland and Louis XI of France to deny Lancastrians any aid abroad.
• Opened up negotiations with Duke of Burgundy for trading opportunities and secure an ally if the French went back on their truce.
• Warwick tried to convince Edward to marry the French king's daughter to make the alliance last longer but Edward secretely married Elizabeth instead. - Alienated the French.
• Failed to persuade the Hanseatic League to agree with his request for trading concessions.

• Adopted policy of conciliation- Lancastrians pardoned and encouraged to serve the Crown.
• Henry VI imprisoned but well treated.
• Tried to improve the efficiency and authority of the government, particulary in the farthest regions but his successes were few.
• Law and order restored in some regions and government improved but still not very effective.
• Crown's finances were recovering but national debt remained high.
• Failure- Over-rewarding close family and a small circle of noble supporters.- Caused resentment amongst Lancastrians and some Yorkists.

• 2 principles: Pardon + reconciliation for Lancastrians. Employment, patronage and rewards for nobles of both factions.
• Some Lancastrians reluctant to accept his offer.
• Edward didn't have the financial or material resources available to reward them.- He miscalculated resources available to him.
• Yorkist supporters were impatiently waiting for their rewards in land and office.
• Demands made by his closest allies and family.
• Edward exploited his defeated enemies to meet the demands of his Yorkist supporters and the enemies' families were affected by the confiscations and this created resentment.
• 22 years of Edward's reign- He created or revived 37 noble titles, 22 were bestowed during his first reign.
• Was meant to provide him with a wide circle of grateful supporters but title did not always bring with it any land.

Brothers:

• George created Duke of Clarence, Richard created Duke of Gloucester.- George had lands to the value of £3660 (£1.78 mil) and offices with combined annual salary of just over £650(£305,000).

The Nevilles:

• William made Earl of Kent. John given Earldom of Northumberland. George appointed Archbishop of York.
• Warwick- given the most land and money and much power in the north.

Woodvilles:

• Elizabeth's father, Richard made Earl Rivers and Anthony created Lord Scales.

Favoured Individuals:

• Hastings- Chamberlain of the Royal Household. Herbert- Earl of Pembroke and ruled Wales for King.

• A.J. Pollard: 'The mightiest of over-mighty subjects.
• Career began in 1449 (aged 21), he succeed his wealthy earldom beacuse of his wife, Anne.
• Offered support to Richard Duke of York in 1453 and was rewarded Captain of Calais.
• Supported Edward after death of Richard DoY.- assisted organising his coronation.
• Possessed vast estates across England and Wales, this made him powerful.
• Held the title of four Earldoms bestowed on him by Edward IV.

Kingmaker:

• Bishop of St Andrews: 'Warwick was governer of the realm of England beneath King Edward.'
• 'They have but 2 rulers- M. de Warwick and another, whose name I have forgotton.' - governer of Abbeville reported this to the King of France - Warwick appeared powerful overseas as he conducted the king's foreign policy.
• 'My lord Warwick...has made a new king of the son of the Duke of York.' - Papal Legate wrote this to the Duke of Milan, Italy.
• Some modern historians say 'Warwick ruled while Edward reigned.'

Kingserver:

• 'The relationship between the two was more a partnership between mighty subject and insecure king, and it would be wrong to suppose that Warwick was the sole author of royal policy during these early years.'- A.J Pollard
• 'The whole pattern of Edward'd activities in the years 1461-9 suggests that he was very much king in fact as well as his name.'- Charles Ross
• 'An alliance of mutual interests which triumphed in 1461, not a puppet and puppeteer.'- David Cook

• Warwick was unhappy with the position/power he'd been given, not grateful for the freedom he had in conducting national affairs.
• His titles included: Captain of Calais, Constable of Dover Castle, he had Admiralship of England and Ireland, Wardenship of the eastern and western Marches on the Scottish border.
• Warwick and William Herbert enemies as Warwick wanted control of Wales and the Marches, Herbert believed that his contribution to putting Edward on the throne was deserving of reward.
• 1465- defeat of the lancastians in battle, exile of Lancastrian leaders and capture of Henry VI.
• May 1464- Edward secretly married Elizabeth. -Warwick not consulted and left embarrassed as he had been working hard at an alliance with France- proposing a marriage between Edward IV and Louis XI's sister in law.
• Warwick favoured alliance with France, Edward preferred Burgundy- Burgundy was England's ally in 100 years war- ended in 1453. Burgundy enemy of France and France feared Anglo-Burgundian alliance- didn't want England to renew war + take control of France.
• France wanted to destroy Burgundy's trade, Edward wanted to exploit it, Burgundy's rulers, Phillip and Charles the Bold wanted independence from France.
• 1467-Warwick withdrew from court. 1468- Edward arranged marriage of his sister Margaret to Duke Charles of Burgundy- ended hope of French alliance and made Louis XI a dangerous enemy. Woodville influence increased, Warwick's declined.

• Opposed Edward's marriage and resented Woodville influence at court.
• Irritation at Woodville's cornering the marriage market.- By beginning of 1467, queen's siblings had marriages with Duke of Buckingham+ heirs of earls of Arundel, Essex, Kent and Pembroke.
• Thomas Grey married heiress of Duke of Exeter. Her 20yo brother married 65yo Duchess of Norfolk.- Woodville greed and ambition.
• Clarence turned to Warwick- agreed to marry Warwick's oldest daughter Isobel but King wouldn't allow it- serious blow to Warwick and Clarence, they blamed Queen and her brother Anthony, Lord Scales, for influencing the King against it.
• They plotted the destruction of the Woodvilles and downfall of Edward. - Warwick had a talent for propoganda and creating friendships so generally popular while the Woodvilles were not.
• Warwick not as popular as he thought as majority of nobility did not support him.

• April 1469- 2 Warwick inspired rebellions led by Robin of Redesdale and Robin of Holderness in the north.
• Also, economic crisis caused by bad harvests caused general discontent. Warwick hoped to keep Edward busy while he and Clarence went to Calais to plot his usurption.
• Commanded troops and issued manifesto outlinining grievences + stating intentions to rid kingdom of  'evil councillors'. Clarence was married to Isobel.
• This and their return to England in July 1469 alarmed Edward- he called on his supporters, Earls of Pembroke and Devon, to bring their forces to join his.
• Pembroke's largely Welsh army heavily defeated at Edgecote, Pembroke captured and executed and Edward fled but was captured by Warwick.
• Warwick failed to govern the Kingdom. The nobility did not support him against a Lancastrian rising in north-west.
• He had to release Edward to help.
• 1470- Warwick began new plot- encouraged rebellion under Sir Robert Welles, Lincolnshire.- Edward defeated Rebels, Welles captured and executed.
• 1470- Battles of Losecoat and Nibley green- family feuds between members of the nobility broke out , taking advantage of the chaos.

• Warwick and Clarence fled to France. Louis XI wanted to use them as a diplomatic tool against Burgundy. Louis persuaded Warwick, Clarence and Margaret of Anjou to join forces.
• Louis XI hoped to restore Henry VI to the throne. In return, Louis expected England to break treaty with Burgundy and help him in his conflict with Duke Charles.
• Prince Edward would marry Anne Neville.
• September 1470- Warwick returned. He recruited an army with French financial and military assistance.
• He did this easily as Edward was in the north putting down a rebellion led by Warwick's brother in law.
• Edward, Richard, Hastings and Earl Rivers were forced to flee and seek shelter in Burgundy. Charles the Bold intended  to use them against the french.
• Henry VI was restored- brought England into conflict with Burgundy. Warwick and MoA supported Louis XI.
• Warwick lost support of parliament- they had not been consulted about declaring war. The powerful merchant community feared damage to the wool industry.
• Duke Charles gave Edward 50,000 crowns, helped him plan return to England and gave him Burgundian troops.

• Edward was joined by Clarence on his march to London in 1470. Clarence was forgiven.
• Clarence was disappointed at Warwick's failure to consider his candidature for the crown.
• He opposed the restoration of Henry and he got into conflict with Warwick.
• Warwick was defeated and killed in the battle of Barnet(1471).
• A number of Lancastrian magnates were killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471, including; Duke of Somerset and Prince Edward (MoA's son)
• Margaret escaped but was captured a few days later.
• Edward ordered the murder of Henry VI.

• Henry VI's half brother Jasper fled to France with his 14yo nephew, Henry, Earl of Richmond.
• After death of his elder brother Edmund in 1456, Jasper was entrusted with the government of Wales.
• He was never a major figure at court and never became a target for Yorkist enemies.
• The Tudors were one of the few families who could lay claim to the throne. This elevated their status to serious political opponents.
• Edward IV's triumph in 1471 made the future look bleak for the Tudors.