English noble Earl Warwick made and broke kings in medieval England, before one defeated him.
Richard Neville, the First Earl of Warwick, has been called ‘The Kingmaker’ since the late middle ages for his actions in the Wars of the Roses, when he made, deposed and restored kings of England.
Warwick was born into the Neville family in 1428 and his father was the Earl of Salisbury. Warwick gained his own title, Earl of Warwick, in 1449 through a fortuitous marriage, and ruled large estates across England.
Richard, Duke of York was trying to rid King Henry VI’s court of the Duke of Somerset, and both Salisbury and Warwick joined him. The latter is credited for the victory of the Yorkists at the Battle of St. Albans in 1455. With Richard briefly ascendant, Warwick was rewarded with captaincy of Calais, one of the last English possessions in France. Here he was in control of a veteran force, and when conflict was resumed in England Warwick bought his soldiers over the Channel and captured Henry VI, who was allowed to stay in power if York could dominate him. The conflict continued, and both York and Warwick’s father were killed in battle, while Warwick lost another fight and the king was freed. However, Warwick was able to link with York’s son Edward, take London, crown the rival as Edward IV, and then defeat Henry at Towton.
It’s debated how much power Warwick had in the first years of Edward’s reign. Some contemporary sources say he was ruler in all but name, but Edward began to exert himself, in particular rejecting Warwick’s planned French alliance and marriage to a French heiress, in favour of marriage to the Lancastrian widow Elizabeth Woodville and a Burgundian alliance.
Warwick was squeezed as the Woodville’s aggregated power, and Warwick found a willing rebel ally in Edward’s own brother, George, Duke of Clarence.
In 1469 Warwick rebelled with Clarence alongside him, capturing the king, but they had to free him. Warwick now pushed the north of the country into rebellion while going to France to summon support. Here pragmatism led Warwick to ally with Margaret of Anjou, his old enemy and wife of Henry VI, and he returned to England and restored Henry to the throne. Edward had to flee.
As was a pattern in the Wars of the Roses, Edward gathered forces abroad and landed with his own army, and this managed to kill Warwick at the Battle of Barnet in 1471. Edward would retake the throne, and Henry would be killed.
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Youth
Warwick was born into the Neville family in 1428 and his father was the Earl of Salisbury. Warwick gained his own title, Earl of Warwick, in 1449 through a fortuitous marriage, and ruled large estates across England.
Making Edward VI
Richard, Duke of York was trying to rid King Henry VI’s court of the Duke of Somerset, and both Salisbury and Warwick joined him. The latter is credited for the victory of the Yorkists at the Battle of St. Albans in 1455. With Richard briefly ascendant, Warwick was rewarded with captaincy of Calais, one of the last English possessions in France. Here he was in control of a veteran force, and when conflict was resumed in England Warwick bought his soldiers over the Channel and captured Henry VI, who was allowed to stay in power if York could dominate him. The conflict continued, and both York and Warwick’s father were killed in battle, while Warwick lost another fight and the king was freed. However, Warwick was able to link with York’s son Edward, take London, crown the rival as Edward IV, and then defeat Henry at Towton.
Remaking Henry VI
It’s debated how much power Warwick had in the first years of Edward’s reign. Some contemporary sources say he was ruler in all but name, but Edward began to exert himself, in particular rejecting Warwick’s planned French alliance and marriage to a French heiress, in favour of marriage to the Lancastrian widow Elizabeth Woodville and a Burgundian alliance.
Warwick was squeezed as the Woodville’s aggregated power, and Warwick found a willing rebel ally in Edward’s own brother, George, Duke of Clarence.
In 1469 Warwick rebelled with Clarence alongside him, capturing the king, but they had to free him. Warwick now pushed the north of the country into rebellion while going to France to summon support. Here pragmatism led Warwick to ally with Margaret of Anjou, his old enemy and wife of Henry VI, and he returned to England and restored Henry to the throne. Edward had to flee.
Death
As was a pattern in the Wars of the Roses, Edward gathered forces abroad and landed with his own army, and this managed to kill Warwick at the Battle of Barnet in 1471. Edward would retake the throne, and Henry would be killed.
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