Chapter 4: Edward IV’s first rule and the crisis of 1470-71
How did Edward IV establish himself as king?
Proclaimed king 4 march 1461 delayed coronation until June
Battle of Towton march 1461- Yorkist victory, 28,000 killed (bloodiest battle in English history)
Ed IV’s leadership and strategy( weather was on their side) was superior than the
Lancastrians
Aftermath, HVI, MOA and their son fled to Scotland and they stilled had foreign support from France
& Scotland
Large number of Lancastrian supporters in the NE which took 3 years for Ed IV to deal with
Great Lancastrian families such as Percy’s and Clifford’s were almost wiped out after Towton
How well did Edward IV deal with the Lancastrian problem?
HVI was an issue due to him not only being the Lancastrian figurehead but also was an anointed king
which places a dangerous threat to Ed IV’s claim to being on the throne
April 1464, battle of Hedgeley moor Both Yorkist
May 1464, battle of Hexham victories
HVI, was captured in Lancashire in July 1465 and sent to TOL
Wasn’t killed in fear of placing focus on prince Ed who could be a stronger king than his dad
& to prevent the Lancastrian coming together because of having a unifying cause ( much like
parliament of devils)
Ed IV countered by agreeing truces with France and scot ( brought foreign support to an
end)
Adopted a policy of conciliation towards Lancastrians in an attempt to build bridges with heirs of
those he killed & win over those nobles
Allowed families to gain control of estates, unfortunately didn’t work with Sir Ralph Percy (killed at
moor, 1464) or Somerset (involved with Lancastrian action in the north & killed at Hexham, 1464)
No major risings in the north in 1462 & HVI was captured due to being betrayed by local
gentry
How well governed was England during Edward IV’s first reign?
Re-assertion of royal authority through use of new men e.g. Lord Hastings (lord chamberlain)
Early part, disposed much patronage as possible, was a lot of titles or land available to
reward supporters due to policy of conciliation
Large amount of P on the Neville, rest to establishing a new Yorkist nobility
Revenues had fallen to > £24,000 per annum due to unpaid debt & wages left for years due to HVI
, The land revenue experiment, 1461- experienced estate admin ensured all revenue from crown
estates were paid to the crown
Increased contribution to royal finances
Chamber system of finance – income from land went directly to chamber which was Ed IV’s main
finance agency within his household
money was obtained and spent more quickly, under direct control of the king
Reduce opportunities for embezzling crown
Important factor that benefitted crown finances in 1 st reign was political stability and lack of war
Toured areas in the midlands & north where there had been disturbances
1468, most forms of retaining were illegal
how successful was Edward IV’s foreign policy?
Louis XI signed a truce with EdIV in Oct 1463, lead to truce with Scots in Dec 1463
Didn’t marry politically, married for love (Elizabeth Woodville, may 1464 in secret)
Nov 1467 commercial treaty was signed with Burgundy, same year alliance with Brittany
why did the Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick quarrel?
Warwick was rewarded with estates from the Percy’s and the Clifford’s, granted control over
northern march& given the task of bringing North under control
Warwick was in negotiations with France at the time of Ed’s marriage & treaty of burgundy
was signed without Warwick knowing, humiliates Warwick and suggests that he was losing
influence
Queen’s father became treasurer of England in 1466 (replaced W uncle), felt like was being
replaced
W, wanted control of S wales but was given to Herbert
Woodville’s, Herbert & Hastings were loyal to EdIV not house of York, W saw this as pushing him out
from his position as chief adviser to king
Why did Edward IV lose the throne in 1470?
His mistakes, marriage of Elizabeth alienated his key supporter Warwick, missed opportunity to
forge important alliance which may have helped cement his place on the throne
Treatment of Lord Montagu (W bro), who was given Earl of Northumberland helped his bro
in 1470 which led to Ed to flee Burgundy
Alliance with burgundy over France
Warwick’s betrayal, brought the Duke of Clarence to his side through the marriage of his Daughter in
1469 (against Ed’s wishes)
How did Edward IV establish himself as king?
Proclaimed king 4 march 1461 delayed coronation until June
Battle of Towton march 1461- Yorkist victory, 28,000 killed (bloodiest battle in English history)
Ed IV’s leadership and strategy( weather was on their side) was superior than the
Lancastrians
Aftermath, HVI, MOA and their son fled to Scotland and they stilled had foreign support from France
& Scotland
Large number of Lancastrian supporters in the NE which took 3 years for Ed IV to deal with
Great Lancastrian families such as Percy’s and Clifford’s were almost wiped out after Towton
How well did Edward IV deal with the Lancastrian problem?
HVI was an issue due to him not only being the Lancastrian figurehead but also was an anointed king
which places a dangerous threat to Ed IV’s claim to being on the throne
April 1464, battle of Hedgeley moor Both Yorkist
May 1464, battle of Hexham victories
HVI, was captured in Lancashire in July 1465 and sent to TOL
Wasn’t killed in fear of placing focus on prince Ed who could be a stronger king than his dad
& to prevent the Lancastrian coming together because of having a unifying cause ( much like
parliament of devils)
Ed IV countered by agreeing truces with France and scot ( brought foreign support to an
end)
Adopted a policy of conciliation towards Lancastrians in an attempt to build bridges with heirs of
those he killed & win over those nobles
Allowed families to gain control of estates, unfortunately didn’t work with Sir Ralph Percy (killed at
moor, 1464) or Somerset (involved with Lancastrian action in the north & killed at Hexham, 1464)
No major risings in the north in 1462 & HVI was captured due to being betrayed by local
gentry
How well governed was England during Edward IV’s first reign?
Re-assertion of royal authority through use of new men e.g. Lord Hastings (lord chamberlain)
Early part, disposed much patronage as possible, was a lot of titles or land available to
reward supporters due to policy of conciliation
Large amount of P on the Neville, rest to establishing a new Yorkist nobility
Revenues had fallen to > £24,000 per annum due to unpaid debt & wages left for years due to HVI
, The land revenue experiment, 1461- experienced estate admin ensured all revenue from crown
estates were paid to the crown
Increased contribution to royal finances
Chamber system of finance – income from land went directly to chamber which was Ed IV’s main
finance agency within his household
money was obtained and spent more quickly, under direct control of the king
Reduce opportunities for embezzling crown
Important factor that benefitted crown finances in 1 st reign was political stability and lack of war
Toured areas in the midlands & north where there had been disturbances
1468, most forms of retaining were illegal
how successful was Edward IV’s foreign policy?
Louis XI signed a truce with EdIV in Oct 1463, lead to truce with Scots in Dec 1463
Didn’t marry politically, married for love (Elizabeth Woodville, may 1464 in secret)
Nov 1467 commercial treaty was signed with Burgundy, same year alliance with Brittany
why did the Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick quarrel?
Warwick was rewarded with estates from the Percy’s and the Clifford’s, granted control over
northern march& given the task of bringing North under control
Warwick was in negotiations with France at the time of Ed’s marriage & treaty of burgundy
was signed without Warwick knowing, humiliates Warwick and suggests that he was losing
influence
Queen’s father became treasurer of England in 1466 (replaced W uncle), felt like was being
replaced
W, wanted control of S wales but was given to Herbert
Woodville’s, Herbert & Hastings were loyal to EdIV not house of York, W saw this as pushing him out
from his position as chief adviser to king
Why did Edward IV lose the throne in 1470?
His mistakes, marriage of Elizabeth alienated his key supporter Warwick, missed opportunity to
forge important alliance which may have helped cement his place on the throne
Treatment of Lord Montagu (W bro), who was given Earl of Northumberland helped his bro
in 1470 which led to Ed to flee Burgundy
Alliance with burgundy over France
Warwick’s betrayal, brought the Duke of Clarence to his side through the marriage of his Daughter in
1469 (against Ed’s wishes)
