Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick
Encyclopedia
Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick (25 February 1475 – 28 November 1499) was the son of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence
and a potential claimant to the English throne during the reigns of both Richard III
(1483–1485) and his successor, Henry VII
(1485–1509). He was also a younger brother of Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury
.
, formerly Lady Isabella Neville, elder daughter of the 16th Earl of Warwick
("Warwick the Kingmaker"). He was created Earl of Warwick
in 1478, shortly after the attainder
and execution of his father for treason. His potential claim to the throne following the deposition of his cousin, Edward V
, in 1483, was overlooked because of the argument that the attainder
of his father also barred Warwick from the succession (although that could have been reversed by an Act of Parliament).
After the death of King Richard's son (Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales
) in 1484, the 10-year-old Warwick was named heir to the throne - possibly thanks to the influence of Queen Anne
, his aunt, who had adopted him and his sister Margaret following their parents' deaths. However, as soon as the Queen died, the King named his sister Elizabeth's son, the adult John Earl of Lincoln
, his heir in place of Warwick. As the American historian Paul Murray Kendall
put it in 1955, "Warwick . . . appears to have been what in the present age would be called a retarded child." British historian Jeremy Potter mentioned (in 1983) some of the contemporary evidence upon which historians based that conclusion: "Warwick ... may have been simple-minded: later he was said not to be able to tell a goose from a capon." King Richard is believed to have named him his heir as a temporary measure only to please his dying queen, who survived her own son's death by less than a year.
by Henry VII. His claim, albeit tarnished, remained a potential threat to Henry, particularly after the appearance of the pretender Lambert Simnel
in 1487. In 1490, he was confirmed in his title of Earl of Warwick
despite his father's attainder (his claim to the earldom of Warwick being through his mother). But he remained a prisoner until 1499, when the pretender Perkin Warbeck
appeared. A plot between Warwick and Warbeck for Warwick's escape was alleged, and Warwick was beheaded for treason. It was thought at the time that Warwick was executed in response to pressure from Ferdinand of Aragon
and Isabella of Castile, whose daughter, Catherine of Aragon
, was to marry Henry's heir, Arthur
. Catherine was said to feel very guilty about Warwick's death, and that her trials in later life were punishment for it.
Upon Warwick's death, the House of Plantagenet
became extinct in legitimate male line.
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, 1st Earl of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Warwick, KG was the third son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, and the brother of kings Edward IV and Richard III. He played an important role in the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the...
and a potential claimant to the English throne during the reigns of both 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...
(1483–1485) and his successor, Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
(1485–1509). He was also a younger brother of Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury
Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury was an English peeress, one of two women in sixteenth-century England to be a peeress in her own right with no titled husband, the daughter of George of Clarence, the brother of King Edward IV and King Richard III...
.
Life
He was born on 25 February 1475, at Warwick, the family home of his mother, the Duchess of ClarenceIsabella Plantagenet, Duchess of Clarence
Lady Isabel Neville was the elder daughter of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker of the Wars of the Roses, and Anne de Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick. She was the wife of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence...
, formerly Lady Isabella Neville, elder daughter of the 16th Earl of Warwick
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...
("Warwick the Kingmaker"). He was created 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:...
in 1478, shortly after the attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
and execution of his father for treason. His potential claim to the throne following the deposition of his cousin, Edward V
Edward V of England
Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III...
, in 1483, was overlooked because of the argument that the attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
of his father also barred Warwick from the succession (although that could have been reversed by an Act of Parliament).
After the death of King Richard's son (Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales
Edward of Middleham, 1st Earl of Salisbury , was the only son of King Richard III of England and his wife Anne Neville. He was Richard's only legitimate child and died aged 11....
) in 1484, the 10-year-old Warwick was named heir to the throne - possibly thanks to the influence of Queen Anne
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...
, his aunt, who had adopted him and his sister Margaret following their parents' deaths. However, as soon as the Queen died, the King named his sister Elizabeth's son, the adult John Earl of Lincoln
John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln
John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln was the eldest son of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk and Elizabeth of York, Duchess of Suffolk. His mother was the sixth child and third daughter born to Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville...
, his heir in place of Warwick. As the American historian Paul Murray Kendall
Paul Murray Kendall
Paul Murray Kendall was an American academic and historian. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Frankford High School in 1928. In 1932 he received an Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia. He received an Master's degree in 1933, also from U of V...
put it in 1955, "Warwick . . . appears to have been what in the present age would be called a retarded child." British historian Jeremy Potter mentioned (in 1983) some of the contemporary evidence upon which historians based that conclusion: "Warwick ... may have been simple-minded: later he was said not to be able to tell a goose from a capon." King Richard is believed to have named him his heir as a temporary measure only to please his dying queen, who survived her own son's death by less than a year.
Execution
After King Richard's death in 1485, Warwick was kept a prisoner in the Tower of LondonTower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
by Henry VII. His claim, albeit tarnished, remained a potential threat to Henry, particularly after the appearance of the pretender Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel was a pretender to the throne of England. His claim to be the Earl of Warwick in 1487 threatened the newly established reign of King Henry VII .-Early life:...
in 1487. In 1490, he was confirmed in his title of 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:...
despite his father's attainder (his claim to the earldom of Warwick being through his mother). But he remained a prisoner until 1499, when the pretender Perkin Warbeck
Perkin Warbeck
Perkin Warbeck was a pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII of England. By claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, the younger son of King Edward IV, one of the Princes in the Tower, Warbeck was a significant threat to the newly established Tudor Dynasty,...
appeared. A plot between Warwick and Warbeck for Warwick's escape was alleged, and Warwick was beheaded for treason. It was thought at the time that Warwick was executed in response to pressure from Ferdinand of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Isabella of Castile, whose daughter, Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
, was to marry Henry's heir, Arthur
Arthur, Prince of Wales
Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales was the first son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and therefore, heir to the throne of England. As he predeceased his father, Arthur never became king...
. Catherine was said to feel very guilty about Warwick's death, and that her trials in later life were punishment for it.
Upon Warwick's death, the House of Plantagenet
House of Plantagenet
The House of Plantagenet , a branch of the Angevins, was a royal house founded by Geoffrey V of Anjou, father of Henry II of England. Plantagenet kings first ruled the Kingdom of England in the 12th century. Their paternal ancestors originated in the French province of Gâtinais and gained the...
became extinct in legitimate male line.