Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville Flashcards
Why was Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville controversial?
Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth was very controversial as she didn’t fit the image of a young, virtuous wife as she was a widow with 2 sons from her previous marriage
Nor did she offer any diplomatic or financial benefit that would’ve resulted from a French marriage
Elizabeth was the first English born Queen consort
She quickly won over the court and had many children in quick succession
Woodville loyalty
Elizabeth was married to Lord grey and had two sons Thomas and Richard
Grey had died fighting on the Lancastrian side at the second BOSTA
This put the Woodville loyalty into question
Impact on the nobility
The marriage to Elizabeth was ‘fate accompli’ and had been accepted by the Lords for fear of losing the king’s goodwill
Edward and Elizabeth had secretly married on May 1st 1464, Elizabeth was only introduced to the public in September 1464
The announcing of the marriage didn’t immediately alienate Edward’s supporters but the long-term consequences of the marriage began to erode his relationships with previously loyal subjects
There was now a lack of trust between Edward and the nobility as they were only informed about his marriage 5 months after
Elizabeth’s family
Edwards supported his wife’s large family, she had 2 sons, 5 brothers and
6 sisters
Their marriages led to political issues as Elizabeth’s sisters became the most desirable people to marry
Impact on Warwick
Warwick had been negotiating a marriage Alliance to a French princess Bona Savoy
Edward married in secret, humiliating Warwick
This marriage clearly undermined Warwick and demonstrated his declining influence over the King
Edwards ‘new men’ (William Herbert and lord Stafford) began to overshadow Warwick’s influence and were hostile towards him
Warwick’s daughters
The Marriage of Elizabeth’s family was prioritised over Warwick’s daughters
As co-heiress to the greatest estate in England, Warwick’s daughters, Isabel and Anne should have been the most desirable women to marry
They had little choice but to seek marriages with Edwards Brothers the Duke of Clarence and Gloucester
Edward opposed these marriages as it would make the Nevilles too powerful
Why did Warwick and Clarence rebel?
and what did they do to Eliz fam?
Edward lost his most powerful ally as well as his brother
Increasing resentment towards the Woodvilles led to Warick and Clarence rebelling against Edward
This resulted in the execution of Elizabeth’s father and brothers
