- Also called:
- 6th earl of Salisbury
- Byname:
- the Kingmaker
- Born:
- November 22, 1428
- Died:
- April 14, 1471, Barnet, Hertfordshire, England (aged 42)
- Political Affiliation:
- house of York
Richard Neville, 16th earl of Warwick
-
Who was Richard Neville, 16th earl of Warwick?
Richard Neville, the 16th earl of Warwick (1428-1471), was an English nobleman known as "the Kingmaker" for his influence during the Wars of the Roses. Through marriage, he became the earl of Warwick in 1449, gaining vast estates.
Initially, Warwick sided with the Yorkists, helping Edward IV gain the crown in 1461. However, tensions grew as Edward asserted his independence, leading Warwick to ally with George, duke of Clarence, and briefly detain the king in 1469. After a failed revolt in 1470, Warwick fled to France and reconciled with Margaret of Anjou, restoring Henry VI to the throne.
In 1471, Edward returned, and Warwick was killed at the Battle of Barnet. For a brief period, Warwick was the true architect of the Yorkist triumph and the real ruler of the kingdom. He worked to restore public order and improve the administration of justice.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why was Richard Neville known as 'the Kingmaker'?
Richard Neville, the 16th earl of Warwick (1428-1471), was called "the Kingmaker" because of his influence and power during the Wars of the Roses. He was a key player in the conflict between the houses of Lancaster and York.
Warwick helped Edward IV gain the crown in 1461. Later, he restored the deposed Lancastrian monarch Henry VI to power between 1470 and 1471.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What role did Warwick play in the Wars of the Roses?
Richard Neville, the 16th earl of Warwick, played a pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York, so much so that he was nicknamed "the Kingmaker".
Initially, Warwick sided with the Yorkists, helping Edward IV to gain the crown in 1461. However, tensions grew between them as Edward began to assert his independence, leading Warwick to switch allegiances.
In 1470, Warwick restored the deposed Lancastrian monarch, Henry VI, to power. But Edward returned in 1471, and Warwick was killed at the Battle of Barnet.
4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Warwick help Edward IV become king?
Richard Neville, the 16th earl of Warwick, known as the Kingmaker, played a crucial role in helping Edward IV gain the throne in 1461.
Initially, Warwick and his father allied with Richard, the duke of York, in their struggle against the Lancastrian Edmund Beaufort. Warwick's military skills were evident at the Battle of St. Albans in 1455, where his flank attack secured a Yorkist victory. After this win, Warwick was appointed captain of Calais. In 1460, he captured Henry VI at Northampton. Following the deaths of York and Salisbury, Warwick joined forces with Edward, York's son. Together, they entered London, where Edward declared himself king. Warwick and Edward's victory at the Battle of Towton solidified Edward's position as king.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why did Warwick later turn against Edward IV?
Richard Neville, the 16th earl of Warwick, initially secured the crown for Edward IV in 1461, but tensions rose as Edward began to assert his independence. Warwick's plan to marry Edward to a French noblewoman to ally with France was thwarted when Edward secretly married Elizabeth Woodville in 1464.
The open break occurred in 1467 when Edward dismissed Warwick’s brother, repudiated a treaty with France, and allied with Burgundy. Warwick then instigated opposition against Edward, leading to armed protests and the king's brief imprisonment in 1469. By 1470, Edward regained control, causing Warwick and Clarence to flee to France, where they allied with their former enemy Margaret of Anjou.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Warwick's actions impact English history during the 15th century?
Richard Neville, the 16th earl of Warwick, significantly impacted 15th-century English history during the Wars of the Roses. Known as the "Kingmaker," Warwick initially secured the crown for the Yorkist king Edward IV in 1461.
However, tensions rose as Edward asserted his independence, leading Warwick to ally with Edward's brother George, duke of Clarence. After failed revolts, Warwick fled to France and reconciled with his former enemy, Margaret of Anjou. In 1470, he restored the deposed Lancastrian monarch Henry VI to power, briefly becoming the master of England once more. Edward's return in March 1471 led to Warwick's death at the Battle of Barnet.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Richard Neville, 16th earl of Warwick (born November 22, 1428—died April 14, 1471, Barnet, Hertfordshire, England) was an English nobleman called, since the 16th century, “the Kingmaker,” in reference to his role as arbiter of royal power during the first half of the Wars of the Roses (1455–85) between the houses of Lancaster and York. He obtained the crown for the Yorkist king Edward IV in 1461 and later restored to power (1470–71) the deposed Lancastrian monarch Henry VI.
The son of Richard Neville, 5th earl of Salisbury (died 1460), he became, through marriage, earl of Warwick in 1449 and thereby acquired vast estates throughout England. In 1453 Warwick and his father allied with Richard, duke of York, who was struggling to wrest power from the Lancastrian Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset, chief minister to the ineffectual king Henry VI. The two sides eventually took up arms, and, at the Battle of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, in May 1455, Warwick’s flank attack won a swift victory for the Yorkists. As his reward Warwick was appointed captain of Calais, an English possession on the coast of France. From Calais he crossed to England in 1460 and defeated and captured Henry VI at Northampton (July 10). York and Parliament agreed to let Henry keep his crown, probably through the influence of Warwick, who preferred to have a weak king.
The situation soon changed, however. York and Warwick’s father, the earl of Salisbury, were killed in battle in December 1460, and on February 17, 1461, the Lancastrians routed Warwick at St. Albans and regained possession of the king. Retreating, Warwick joined forces with York’s son Edward. They entered London unopposed, and on March 4, 1461, Edward proclaimed himself king as Edward IV. Later that month Warwick and Edward won a decisive victory over the Lancastrians in the Battle of Towton, in Yorkshire.
Although Warwick wielded the real power for the first three years of Edward’s reign, gradually the king began to assert his independence. Warwick hoped to marry Edward to a French noblewoman—thereby gaining France as an ally—but Edward spoiled this scheme by secretly wedding Elizabeth Woodville in May 1464. Tensions between the two men mounted as Edward provided his wife’s relatives with high state offices.
Warwick then won to his side Edward’s brother George, duke of Clarence. In August 1469 they seized and briefly detained the king and executed the queen’s father and one of her brothers. A fresh revolt engineered by Warwick broke out in northern England in March 1470. After suppressing it, Edward turned on Warwick and Clarence, both of whom fled to France (April 1470). There Warwick was reconciled with his former enemy, Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI’s wife. Returning to England in September 1470, he drove Edward into exile and put Henry VI on the throne. Once more Warwick was master of England. Edward landed in the north in March 1471, however, and on April 14 his troops killed Warwick at the Battle of Barnet.