Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick

Also known as: R. Warwike / cousine of Warwike / earle of Warwiks / erle of Warwike · Family: House of York · Role: earl · First appears: Henry VI 44

Richard Neville was the eldest son of Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury and Alice Montagu, Countess of Salisbury, and brother to John Neville and George Neville. In 1451 he joined his father and Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York in secret planning against the king’s councillors; by c. 1454, York had become protector, Salisbury chancellor, and Warwick captain of Calais. In 1455 he married Anne Beauchamp, sister and heir of Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, through whose inheritance he was created Earl of Warwick. He supported Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury in their agreements with Henry VI, yet after the conflict at Saint Albans he also granted Thomas Clifford, Lord Clifford a thousand marks as part of the settlement.

By c. 1459 Warwick had reinforced York with soldiers from Calais, refused to trust Henry VI’s pardon, and escaped with Edward IV and Salisbury to Devonshire. He ordered the execution of Iamin Findill and John Felow, while John Dinham seized royal ships for the Yorkist cause. After the Yorkists landed at Sandwich in c. 1460, Warwick joined Edward IV, William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, and Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex in the advance on Coventry; their forces defeated Henry VI at Northampton and captured him. Warwick later helped govern the king, and in 1464 met him on Edward IV’s command and brought him to the Tower.

Warwick’s relationship with Edward IV changed after the king’s marriage, which was described as “the onlie cause, why the earle of Warwike conceiued an hatred against king Edward”. He formed a conspiracy with his brothers George Neville and William Neville, Marquess Montagu, joined with George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, and in c. 1469 captured Edward IV and brought him to Warwick Castle. After seeking aid from Louis XI, Warwick allied with Margaret of Anjou, Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, and John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, and married his daughter Anne Neville to Edward of Westminster. In 1470 he released Henry VI from the Tower and restored his royal treatment, but at Barnet in c. 1471 his forces were defeated; Warwick was struck down and slain among his enemies. The later material records that, after Edward IV’s marriage was again reported to him, Warwick assembled forces, freed Henry VI, and was then slain when Edward returned and regained the crown.