Anne Neville, 16th Countess of Warwick
Encyclopedia
Anne de Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick (13 July 1426 – 20 September 1492) was the daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
, and his second wife Isabel le Despenser
. Isabel was a daughter of Thomas le Despenser (22 September 1373 – 13 January 1399/1400 and Constance of York
. Anne was the mother of Anne Neville
, Queen consort
of England as the spouse of King Richard III
.
(now Berkshire
). She became the wife of Richard Neville
. Following the death of Anne's father, and subsequently that of her brother, Henry
(who had been created a duke), and her niece Anne de Beauchamp, Neville inherited the title and the considerable estates of the Earl of Warwick
through her.
However, this was contested by her three older half-sisters, children of her father's first marriage to Elizabeth, heiress of Berkeley. One of these, Eleanor, was married to Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (killed at the First Battle of St Albans
in 1455). The litigation over the Warwick inheritance only fueled the enmity between this branch of the Nevilles and the Beauforts (who they were closely related to by common descent from John of Gaunt's third marriage). Law considered that Anne being a full-blooded aunt of the last countess was more eligible to inherit, regardless of the rule of primogeniture, which would have dictated the Beauchamp estates would pass to the eldest - Margaret Countess of Shrewsbury (d.1468). Alternatively, it could have followed the practice of equal division of lands between heiresses. Richard Neville was able to successfully keep the estates intact.
. Her younger daughter, Anne Neville
, was married to Edward of Westminster
, the only son of King Henry VI
. When Edward of Westminster was killed in the Battle of Tewkesbury
, Anne was married to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III of England
. Although their mother was still living, the husbands of the two Neville sisters fought over her inheritance, with Richard eventually coming out on top. However, the son of the Duke of Clarence inherited the earldom of Warwick from Neville. Anne died in obscurity, having survived both her daughters and the sons-in-law who had effectively disinherited her.
Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Count of Aumale, KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Early Life:...
, and his second wife Isabel le Despenser
Isabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester and Warwick
Isabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester and Warwick was the posthumous daughter and eventually the sole heiress of Thomas le Despenser and his wife, Constance of York...
. Isabel was a daughter of Thomas le Despenser (22 September 1373 – 13 January 1399/1400 and Constance of York
Constance of York
Constance of York, Countess of Gloucester was the only daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and his wife Isabella of Castile, daughter of Pedro of Castile and Maria de Padilla. On about 7 November 1379, Constance married Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester , who was eventually...
. Anne was the mother of Anne Neville
Anne Neville
Lady Anne Neville was Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster and Queen of England as the consort of King Richard III. She held the latter title for less than two years, from 26 June 1483 until her death in March 1485...
, Queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of England as the spouse of King Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
.
Inheritance
Anne was born at Caversham Castle in OxfordshireOxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(now Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
). She became the wife of Richard Neville
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
. Following the death of Anne's father, and subsequently that of her brother, Henry
Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick
Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick was an English nobleman.He was the son of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and Isabel le Despenser...
(who had been created a duke), and her niece Anne de Beauchamp, Neville inherited the title and the considerable estates of the Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles.-1088 creation:...
through her.
However, this was contested by her three older half-sisters, children of her father's first marriage to Elizabeth, heiress of Berkeley. One of these, Eleanor, was married to Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (killed at the First Battle of St Albans
First Battle of St Albans
The First Battle of St Albans, fought on 22 May 1455 at St Albans, 22 miles north of London, traditionally marks the beginning of the Wars of the Roses. Richard, Duke of York and his ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, defeated the Lancastrians under Edmund, Duke of Somerset, who was killed...
in 1455). The litigation over the Warwick inheritance only fueled the enmity between this branch of the Nevilles and the Beauforts (who they were closely related to by common descent from John of Gaunt's third marriage). Law considered that Anne being a full-blooded aunt of the last countess was more eligible to inherit, regardless of the rule of primogeniture, which would have dictated the Beauchamp estates would pass to the eldest - Margaret Countess of Shrewsbury (d.1468). Alternatively, it could have followed the practice of equal division of lands between heiresses. Richard Neville was able to successfully keep the estates intact.
Children's marriages
Her older daughter, Isabel, married George, Duke of Clarence, the younger brother of King Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
. Her younger daughter, Anne Neville
Anne Neville
Lady Anne Neville was Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster and Queen of England as the consort of King Richard III. She held the latter title for less than two years, from 26 June 1483 until her death in March 1485...
, was married to Edward of Westminster
Edward of Westminster
Edward of Westminster , also known as Edward of Lancaster, was the only son of King Henry VI of England and Margaret of Anjou...
, the only son of King Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. When Edward of Westminster was killed in the Battle of Tewkesbury
Battle of Tewkesbury
The Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on 4 May 1471, was one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. The forces loyal to the House of Lancaster were completely defeated by those of the rival House of York under their monarch, King Edward IV...
, Anne was married to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
. Although their mother was still living, the husbands of the two Neville sisters fought over her inheritance, with Richard eventually coming out on top. However, the son of the Duke of Clarence inherited the earldom of Warwick from Neville. Anne died in obscurity, having survived both her daughters and the sons-in-law who had effectively disinherited her.