John Neville, Marquess of Montagu

Also known as: Iohn Neuill marquesse Montacute / John Neville, Marquis of Montagu / marques Montacute / marquesse Montacute / sir Iohn Neuill · Family: House of York · Role: marquess · First appears: Edward IV 3

In c. 1463, John Neville, Marquess of Montagu, fought for Edward IV at Exham field against Henry VI and his supporters, including Robert Hungerford, Baron Hungerford, Thomas de Ros, Baron Ros, Ralph Percy, Thomas Wentworth, Thomas Hussey, John Finderne, William Tailboys, Earl of Kyme, Humphrey Neville, Ralph Grey, and Richard Tunstall. “There was a sore foughten field, and long yer either part could haue anie aduantage of the other: but at length the victorie fell to the lord Montacute,” and the battle ended with Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, Thomas de Ros, Baron Ros, William Moleyns, Baron Moleyns, and Robert Hungerford, Baron Hungerford taken. Afterward, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, and John Scrope, Lord Scrope captured Dunstanburgh and Banburgh, and Edward IV created John Neville Earl of Northumberland, placing him above his elder brother Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick in degree.

By c. 1471, he joined Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick at Coventry alongside John de Vere, Earl of Oxford and Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, strengthening their faction. At Barnet, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick resolved to fight Edward IV, and when the armies engaged, John Neville was overthrown and slain while trying to succour his brother. Edward IV was said to grieve his loss, having known him as “his faithfull friend and well-willer.”