Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers

Also known as: Richard Wooduile, lord Riuers / Richard Woodville, Baron Rivers / Richard lord Riuers / sir Richard Wooduile / sir Richard Wooduile lord Riuers · Family: England · Role: nobleman · First appears: Henry VI 26

Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers, was the father of Elizabeth Woodville and Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers. He joined Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York in Normandy and, around 1451, was sent by Henry VI with other envoys to learn Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York’s demands and seek concord between the opposing armies.

Around 1459 at Sandwich, John Dinham captured Richard and his son Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers in their beds; Richard was an ally of Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset in the campaign. In 1465, during Edward IV’s reign, “Hir father also was created earle Riuers, and made high constable of England.” Around 1469 at Northampton, men led by Robert Hilliard captured Richard and his son John Woodville; both were brought to Northampton and beheaded without judgment.

Relationship record

Life events

• c. 1451 · Henry VI sent envoys to learn York's demands and seek a concord between the opposing armies.(Henry VI 45)
  • With: Henry VI Thomas Bourchier Richard Andrew Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
  • “Whilest both these armies laie thus imbattelled, the king sent the bishop of Winchester, and Thomas Bourchier, bishop of Elie, Richard Wooduile, lord Riuers, & Richard Andrew, the kéeper of his priuie seale, to the duke: both to know the cause of so great a commotion, and also to make a concord; if the requests of the duke and his companie séemed consonant to reason.”
• c. 1459 · John Dinham captured Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers and Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales at Sandwich.(Henry VI 56 · 📍 Sandwich)
  • With: John Dinham Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers
  • “which suddenlie entered the same, and tooke the lord Riuers and his sonne also in their beds, robbing houses, and spoiling ships.”
• 1465 · Elizabeth Woodville's father was created Earl Rivers and made high constable of England.(Edward IV 4)
  • With: Edward IV
  • “Hir father also was created earle Riuers, and made high constable of England”
• c. 1469 · Richard Woodville and John Woodville were captured and beheaded without judgment.(Edward IV 8 · 📍 Northampton)
  • With: John Woodville
  • “where they tooke the earle Riuers, father to the quéene, and his son sir Iohn Wooduile, whome they brought to Northampton, and there beheaded them both without iudgement.”

Henry VI 26

• child: Elizabeth Woodville “and had by this ladie manie noble sonnes, and faire daughters, of the which one was the ladie Elizabeth, after quéene of England”