Earl of Warwick in revolt against Edward IV by 1469 Essay

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick has been labelled by historic tradition, with any(prenominal) justification, as the kingmaker. It is with his reinforcement that Edward IV was able claim the throne from henry VI, Warwicks backup man during the Wars of the Roses, and in particular at the Battle of Towton was vital in narrow the basic Yorkist king on the throne. It is clear that he was instrumental in Edwards rise to the throne, tho his contribution has sometimes been all everyplaceemphasised. Pickering suggests that their confederation in winning the throne was equal, the victories Edwards give birth and even that Edward containmed more(prenominal) adept in date than his ally. He says Edward was n each made by Warwick, nor controlled by him. Nevertheless, his relationship with Richard, some(prenominal) as an ally and a friend, moldiness have been very good. What take aim him then, less than a decade later, to revolt against Richard in support of the exiled Henry VI? The first thing to understand about Warwick was his character and to see that it was pure ambition that drove him. With the amativeism that the epithet Kingmaker implies, one could photographic film him as the noble-knight. However he seems to have far from the vignette that is perceived from the word Kingmaker. groovy says of him Warwick was not a wholly attractive character. His bodily fluid was short, and when thwarted he was sullenly unforgiving. The Old English Chronicle (edited by T.Hearne) describes the unquenched ambition that drove him his insatiable mind could not be topic in that respect was none in England who was before him or who receiveed fractional the possessions that he didyet he desired more.It is with the possessions and the despite that Richard Nevilles grievances with the king started to appear. Edward IV, as previously explained, came to the throne very very much as Warwicks protg. He must have thought that with Edward on the throne he would have a co ntrolling influence over the king, and with this influence the obvious military unit he so desired.Warwick was rewarded handsomely for his keep support, given titles and territories such as Captain of Calais, admiral of England and constable of capital of Delaware Castle, all of which were very cardinal (and powerful) posts. He was by far the mightiest of Richards subjects, that he loseed the monopoly of Royal power that he yearned for, as royal patronage was (rightfully) extended to different leading Yorkists. Most prominently was Warwicks stewardship of the dukedom of Lancaster, given to Lord Hastings, and the lieutenancy of Southern Wales which was given to the recently knighted, Sir William Herbert.Despite this set back for Warwick, he still was in full support of Edward, and to some extent had control of Edwards thinking. Edward was still a relatively young king, and Warwick was there for advice, and with help in making decisions. Warwicks support was also required for Edward, as his kingship was still under-threat in the north and west by Margaret of Anjous continued attempts to re-instate her husband to the throne. This drove Edward and Warwick together come along more during the earlier years of Edwards reign, and indeed in 1462 Warwick seemed to have won a critical battle for Edward. He forced the lords in Bramburgh (including Somerset and Sir Ralph Percy) to surrender to Edwards allegiance, on the condition that their lands were re-instated. Although this was not the final problems Edward faced from the Lancastrian supporters during his reign, it showed that in 1462, Warwick was firm behind Edward as King of Britain.A factor which historians have usually put forward as a major cause of Warwicks treachery is Edwardss conglutination to Elizabeth Woodville. In 1464, Warwick was, to further the kings alliance to France, transcription a marriage between the King and a French Princess. In the final stages of these arrangements, on 14th Septemb er 1464, Edward revealed to Warwick and the rest of his assembled nobles at the council in Reading, that he was already married to Elizabeth.The assembled magnets were stunned and horrified at the news, and it especially hurtful to Warwick whos embarrassment over the whole French alliance marriage affair must have been huge. The chronicle of the time (Edited by J.Warkworth), says that after the announcement (The Earl of Warwick was) greatly displeased with the kingAnd yet they were conciliate several times but they never loved each other afterwardsOne must however beware of putting, as traditionally been done, too much emphasise on this marriage as a turning point in the relationships between Edward IV and Richard Neville. It is certainly a major factor in the breakd birth of their relationship, however one must take into account that it occurred five years before Warwicks revolt, and Warwick, at least publically, still supported the king during these years.Having said this, Richa rds marriage, though romantic and loving, was a serious, irresponsible mistake for a king to make. Elizabeth was, by Richardss standards, a commoner. Edward was the first king since the Norman Conquest to wed a commoner however this was not really the problem it was that he at sea out on strengthening his position as king by arranging a more political marriage. Furthermore by get hitched withing a Woodville, he alienated his other major noble families, especially the Nevilles. The Woodvilles, much to Warwicks and others annoyance, managed with this marriage to promote their family to the upper echelons of the English aristocracy. It also enabled them to marry off some of their lesser relations to be married to either nobility or families of a very high standing which further enhanced their political position.The marriage did have significant repercussions for the relationship of Edward and Richard, however Keen points out, that rather than the damage the marriage itself caused, i t was the undermining of Warwicks plans that led to their relationship,If the marriage of the king put a period to his friendly association with Warwick-and it did-this was not, it would seem, because of its domestic help repercussions, but because it was a direct challenge to Warwicks continual finesse.It was not, as the quotation states, because of the repercussions of the marriage domestically that Warwick felt aggrieved, rather it was because it aired publicly and formally for the first time Edwardss difference in belief with Warwick about the foreign policy that they should employ. It was clear from Warwicks failed attempt to marry Richard off to a French Princess that Warwick was in favour of Edward forming an alliance with Englands traditional enemies, the French. Indeed, he had been in regular contact with Louis XI of France, in an attempt to broker an alliance between France and England. Richard, conversely, wanted put his support in his present enemy, the Burgundians.Th is was a contentious issue for the King to see with, his leading advisor, whose protg, he was, had completely antithetical views upon the very important issue of foreign relations, and it was hear that Edward proved that he was no lasting dependent, or felt indebt of Warwick. He favoured the Burgundian option, and ignoring Richardss pressure, he applied for and was given a double subsidiary from the parliament to help support the Burgundians and invigorate English continental ambitions. Edward was maturing into his proclaim king and he began to take more and more control over the running of the kingdom. Conversely of course, Richard Nevilles influence over the king was rapidly diminishing, and with this influence the power he so lusted after.It was this Maturity, and the lack of power that Warwick was afforded that ultimately, I believe led to Warwicks treachery. He had, when Edward was young, influenced and controlled the King. He had had his power that his personality demande d, however as Edward matured he started to take things into his own hands, which Richard, having tasted power, could not take. To make matters worse for Richard, power was being taken past from him and given to other nobility. His siblings were being passed over for marriage that was being afforded to others, and although his chum, George Neville, was enthroned as archbishop of York in September 1465, he felt his and his families power-base was faltering. It was here that Warwick decided to act, for the first time, against the king, in an attempt to enhance his standing.Firstly Warwick continued to negotiate with Louis XI. Keen describes Warwicks actions,For four years he instead continued to absorb with Louiss encouragement what was in effect a private diplomacy of his own, independent and opposed to that of the kingHe was effectively siding against his own king, believing the French to be more powerful than the Burgundians and also enhancing his own power-base if he ever wanted to challenge the king (which he goes onto do).At much the same time, however, Warwick was engineering the marriage, against the Kings wishes, of his daughter, Isabel, to the kings younger brother and presumptive heir, George, Duke of Clarence. He would, if this marriage went ahead, become immediately more powerful, and a pose a threat to the Woodvilles dominance. Clarence, like Warwick, was extremely aspirant and would do almost anything to further his own cause. By the spring of 1469 Warwick and Clarence were in league with one another and also with Louis XI to undermine the Woodvilles, and maybe to over throw the king. Pickering says Clarence encouraged Warwick to turn against the King and helped spread the rumor that his brother was not Duke Richards son but the bastard of an genus Sagittarius called BlaybourneThis rumour was almost certainly unfounded, yet both risked turning against their own king They did this for their own gain, one with the view of taking his brothers pl ace as king, the other with the view to once again controlling the king himself. thence in July 1469, Clarence defied his brothers wishes and married Isabel and on the 12th July, Warwick, with the support of his brother Archbishop Neville and George, Duke of Clarence, published the Calais Manifesto.