Editing Edward IV (section)

===1461 to 1470===
[[File:Rose Noble, Edward IV, from 1464 - Bode-Museum - DSC02744.JPG|thumb|right|upright=0.8|Rose [[Noble (English coin)|Noble]] coin of Edward IV, minted in 1464]]

Most of the nobility had either remained loyal to Henry or stayed neutral, forcing Edward to rely heavily on the Nevilles. Consolidating the regime initially took precedence, but [[John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu|John Neville]]'s victory at the 1464 [[Battle of Hexham]] seemed to end the Lancastrian threat.{{Sfn|Ross|1974|p=61}} This exposed internal divisions, particularly over foreign policy, which in this period largely focused on the relationship between England, [[Kingdom of France|France]] and the [[Duchy of Burgundy]], with two of the parties manoeuvring to form an alliance against the third.{{Sfn|Penn|2019|p=60}} Although Edward preferred Burgundy as a partner, he allowed Warwick to negotiate a treaty with [[Louis XI of France]], which included a suggested marriage between Edward and [[Anne of France]] or [[Bona of Savoy]], respectively daughter and sister-in-law of the French king.{{Sfn|Ross|1974|p=91}}

In October 1464, Warwick was enraged to discover that on 1 May, Edward had secretly married [[Elizabeth Woodville]], a widow with two sons, whose Lancastrian husband, [[John Grey of Groby]], died at the Second Battle of St Albans.{{Sfn|Ross|1974|pp=85–86}} If nothing else, it was a clear demonstration he was not in control of the king, despite suggestions to the contrary.{{Sfn|Penn|2019|p=114}} Edward's motives have been widely discussed by contemporaries and historians. Although Elizabeth's mother, [[Jacquetta of Luxembourg]], came from the upper nobility, her father, [[Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers|Richard Woodville, Lord Rivers]], was a middle-ranking provincial baron. The [[Privy Council of England|Privy Council]] told Edward with unusual frankness that "she was no wife for a prince such as himself, for she was not the daughter of a duke or earl."{{Sfn|Ross|1974|p=85}}

The marriage was certainly unwise and unusual, although not unheard of; Henry VI's mother, [[Catherine of Valois]], married her chamberlain, [[Owen Tudor]]. By all accounts, Elizabeth possessed considerable charm of person and intellect, while Edward was used to getting what he wanted.{{Sfn|Penn|2019|pp=112–113}} Historians generally accept the marriage was an impulsive decision, but differ on whether it was also a "calculated political move". One view is the low status of the Woodvilles was part of the attraction, since unlike the Nevilles, they were reliant on Edward and thus more likely to remain loyal.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|1964|p=146}} Others argue if this was his purpose, there were far better options available; all agree it had significant political implications that impacted the rest of Edward's reign.{{Sfn|Carpenter|1997|p=170}}

[[File:Marriage Edward IV Elizabeth Woodville Wavrin Anciennes Chroniques d'Angleterre Francais 85 f109.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|The marriage of Edward IV to [[Elizabeth Woodville]], from the illuminated manuscript ''Anciennes Chroniques d'Angleterre'', by [[Jean de Wavrin]]]]
One reason for this was that twelve of the new queen's siblings survived into adulthood, creating a large pool of competitors for offices and estates, as well as in the matrimony market. Resentment built when her sisters made a series of advantageous unions, including that of [[Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham|Catherine Woodville]] to [[Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham]]; [[Anne Woodville]] to William, heir to [[Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex]]; and Eleanor Woodville with Anthony, heir to [[Edmund Grey, 1st Earl of Kent]].{{Sfn|Ross|1974|p=93}}

In 1467, Edward dismissed his [[Lord Chancellor]], Warwick's brother [[George Neville (bishop)|George Neville, Archbishop of York]]. Warwick responded by building an alliance with Edward's disaffected younger brother and heir, the Duke of Clarence, who held estates adjacent to the Neville heartland in the north. Concerned by this, Edward blocked a proposed marriage between Clarence and Warwick's eldest daughter [[Isabel Neville, Duchess of Clarence|Isabel]].{{Sfn|Penn|2019|pp=203–205}} In early July, Clarence defied his brother by travelling to Calais, where he married Isabel in a ceremony conducted by George Neville and overseen by Warwick. The three men issued a 'remonstrance', listing alleged abuses by the Woodvilles and other advisors close to Edward and then returned to London, where they assembled an army to remove these 'evil councillors' and establish good government.{{Sfn|Penn|2019|pp=210–211}}

With Edward still in the north, the royal army was defeated by a Neville force at [[Battle of Edgcote|Edgecote Moor]] on 24 July 1469. After the battle, Edward was held in [[Middleham Castle]]; on 12 August, his father-in-law Richard Woodville and Richard's younger son, [[John Woodville]], were executed at [[Kenilworth]]. It soon became clear there was little support for Warwick or Clarence; Edward was released in September and resumed the throne.{{Sfn|Gillingham|2001|p=160}} Outwardly, the situation remained unchanged, but tensions persisted and Edward did nothing to reduce the Nevilles' sense of vulnerability. The Percys, traditional rivals of the Neville family in the North, fought for Lancaster at Towton; their titles and estates were confiscated and given to Warwick's brother John Neville. In early 1470, Edward reinstated [[Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland|Henry Percy]] as [[Earl of Northumberland]]; John was compensated with the title [[Marquess of Montagu]], but this was a significant demotion for a key supporter.{{Sfn|Ross|1974|pp=135–136}}

[[File:The South Gate, Exeter - The Reception of King Edward IV, 1470.jpg|thumb|right|Watercolour by [[George Townsend (artist)|George Townsend]], 1885, of King Edward IV's reception to Exeter in 1470]]
In March 1470, Warwick and Clarence exploited a private feud to start the [[1470 Lincolnshire Rebellion]]; when it was defeated, the two fled to France in May 1470.{{Sfn|Kendall|1970|p=228}} Seeing an opportunity, Louis XI persuaded Warwick to negotiate with his enemy, Margaret of Anjou; she eventually agreed, first making him kneel before her in silence for fifteen minutes.{{Sfn|Ashley|2002|p=170}} With French support, Warwick landed in England on 9 September 1470 and announced his intention to restore Henry.{{Sfn|Kendall|1970|p=236}} By now, the Yorkist regime was deeply unpopular and the Lancastrians rapidly assembled an army of over 30,000; when John Neville switched sides, Edward narrowly escaped capture and was forced to seek refuge in [[Bruges]].{{Sfn|Ross|1974|pp=152–153}}