Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

Also known as: lord Henrie sonne to Humfreie duke of Buckingham · Family: House of York · Role: lord · First appears: Edward IV 13

Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was the son of Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham and was married to Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond. After Edward IV’s death, John Morton helped elevate him, brought gentlemen together in aid of Henry VII, and, while held in Buckingham’s custody, used flattering conversation to encourage his hostility toward Richard III. Morton urged him to seize the crown and overthrow Richard III.

At Northampton, Buckingham joined Richard III with three hundred horsemen and became his partner in his designs. Richard III later accused William Hastings, Baron Hastings of conspiring against both the protector and Buckingham, while reportedly rejecting Buckingham’s claim to the duke of Hereford’s lands; Buckingham’s hatred and distrust followed, and after Richard III’s coronation they turned against one another. Buckingham “would not come to his mortall enimie” and prepared open war, joined by Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset, Edward Courtenay, and Peter Courtenay.

The rising failed when flooding at the Severn cut Buckingham off from his allies and his Welsh forces scattered. He fled to the house of his servant Humphrey Banaster beside Shrewsbury, but Banaster betrayed his guest and master to John Mitton, who apprehended him. Richard III then had Buckingham beheaded without trial at Salisbury on All Souls’ Day.