Edward (1469-71) Flashcards
(26 cards)
What were Edward IV’s major military victories during his first reign?
Edward IV won major victories at Mortimer’s Cross in February 1461 and Towton on March 29, 1461, securing the throne.
How did Edward IV demonstrate his popularity before the Battle of Towton?
He was received enthusiastically in London before the battle.
When was Edward IV proclaimed king and crowned?
He was proclaimed king on March 4, 1461, and crowned in June.
What was the result of Edward IV’s military and political support at the beginning of his reign?
Edward’s kingship began with broad military and political support, and his battlefield success proved crucial in gaining noble confidence.
What actions did Edward IV take for political consolidation between 1461 and 1464?
He ruthlessly suppressed opposition by executing Lancastrian nobles and fining rebel towns like Beverley and Hull.
What did Edward IV establish to control the north of England?
He set up the Council of the North under Warwick to control the volatile north.
Who did Edward IV appoint to replace Lancastrian lords in Wales and the Midlands?
He appointed loyal Yorkist peers such as Lord Hastings and William Herbert.
What was the result of Edward IV’s actions by 1464?
By 1464, Lancastrian military resistance in England was largely crushed after battles at Hedgeley Moor and Hexham.
What strategic pardons did Edward offer?
Edward offered strategic pardons to moderate Lancastrians such as the Earl of Devon, Ralph Percy, and Somerset to neutralise future threats.
How did Edward’s policies differ from Margaret of Anjou’s?
Edward demonstrated flexibility, unlike Margaret of Anjou’s earlier vengeance-driven policies.
What was the result of Edward’s use of strategic pardons?
Helped reduce resentment and bought time to stabilise the new regime, though some nobles later re-defected.
What was a key aspect of Edward’s initial foreign policy?
He avoided entanglements and signed truces with France and Scotland in 1463 to isolate Margaret of Anjou.
What was the result of Edward’s foreign policy decisions?
Prevented renewed war and allowed focus on internal consolidation.
What was a weakness related to the over-reliance on Warwick?
Warwick was given too much power, including positions such as Captain of Calais and Warden of the West Marches.
This created a dangerous “overmighty subject” situation by 1469.
How did Warwick’s political clout compare to the king’s?
Warwick’s political clout nearly matched the king’s, especially between 1461–64.
This allowed his family to accumulate more land and titles than most royal cousins.
What was the impact of the secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville?
The marriage infuriated Warwick and brought the ambitious Woodville family into the nobility.
This included marriages into royal bloodlines, such as the Duchess of Exeter.
How did nobles like Warwick and Clarence view the Woodvilles?
They viewed the Woodvilles as parvenus, which alienated key nobles and triggered court factionalism.
What was the result of the secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville?
It alienated key nobles, triggered court factionalism, and accelerated Warwick’s disillusionment.
What was the impact of Warwick’s foreign policy during 1466–69?
Warwick’s foreign policy was ignored in favour of Burgundian ties.
This led to tensions with Warwick and his supporters.
How did the promotion of the Woodvilles affect Edward’s reign?
The aggressive promotion of the Woodvilles caused resentment, exemplified by Anthony Woodville’s ostentatious tournaments.
This resentment contributed to unrest among the nobility.
What actions did Warwick and Clarence take against Edward in 1469?
Warwick and Clarence spread rumours of Edward’s illegitimacy and staged Robin of Redesdale’s rebellion.
These actions were part of a larger plot to undermine Edward’s authority.
What was the result of the unrest caused by Warwick and Clarence?
Edward was captured at Olney in 1469 and briefly held prisoner; Warwick executed Earl Rivers and John Woodville, humiliating Edward’s authority.
What led to internal rebellion and civil breakdown from 1469–70?
Edward’s failure to compromise with Warwick or Clarence escalated rebellion.
This failure resulted in increased tensions and conflict.
What happened after the Losecoat Field rebellion?
Warwick and Clarence fled to France in March 1470 after the rebellion was exposed.
