A Warwickshire coup! Shortlived as it was!
‘Warwick’s underhand scheme?
Well, it was designed to realise his ambitious dream!’
Never a man to give up on what he wanted, Earl Warwick during 1469 colluded with Louis XI. He now had another ace up his sleeve in the form of Edward IV’s brother George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence. The Duke was an avericious young blade with few principles who wished to depose his brother and replace him as king.
‘A most disloyal young upstart!
His aim, to upset the royal apple cart!’
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence.
Clarence was also part of a most ungallant whispering campaign against King Edward which put his own mother in a most dishonouable light. He claimed that his brother Edward IV’s birth was the result of an extra marital affair that his mother had had with a low born soldier.
‘Clarence was quite prepared to dishonour his mother!
If it served to undermine the king, his brother!’
The spring of 1469 saw uprisings in northern England. The rebels cited high taxation as their chief complaint.
‘The high taxes they blamed fairly or unfairly!
But squarely!
On the influence of the Woodvilles!’
Edward advanced northwards to put a stop to the uprest. In July Warwick, from Calais announced that the king was surrounded by a dangerous brood of unsavoury advisers who had to be removed. Warwick rode north with a force claiming that he was going to aid king Edward. In fact his intention was to join the rebels.
The forces of the crown and the rebels crossed swords at the battle of Edgecote on July 26th 1469. The battle was characterised by great carnage and resulted in a decisive victory for the rebels. This was terrible news for the king. The enormity of the defeat caused an exodus of nobles from his ranks.
The king in custody!
Seeing that he was not the master of his destiny, King Edward simply waited for the inevitable visit from Warwick’s men. This came swiftly and King Edward was conveyed to Coventry to face Warwick and Clarence. Edward IV was now a prisoner in his own realm. Warwick swiftly took revenge on the Woodvilles, the queen’s father and brother. A double tragedy for Queen Elizabeth, as she lost both her father and her brother.
‘With his own priorities, Warwick went quickly ahead!
For Woodville’s senior and junior, it meant off with your head!’
However, the people of England were not at peace with the new arrangement. A rebellion in the name of Henry VI erupted in the north. Warwick was only able to suppress it with the help of King Edward. The king obliged by travelling northwards and was received amid great fanfare in the city of York. This episode illustrated the affection that existed for the captive monarch. When King Edward returned to London, he was feted by the populace with much exuberance. Warwick and Clarence realised that they could no longer pull the strings of power in England.
It was clear to all, that King Edward was back in control.
‘No longer captive, now very much at large!
King Edward moved swiftly to take charge!’
King Edward IV.
