The Sun Splendour' the reign Edward IV 1471–1483 (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes

The Yorkist succession crisis

The Death of Edward

📌 Why was there a succession crisis following Edward's death?

• 1481: England and France renew their alliance
• 1482: Ed faced trying to keep Scotland from attacking the North of England
• Jan 1482: Ed advised Burgundy to seek a truce with France
• 27th March 1482: Mary of Burgundy killed in riding accident, succeeded by her 4yr-old son Philip
• Dec 1482: Treaty of Arras signed by Mary's Widower, Archduke Maximilian, and Louis XI – the Dauphin was betrothed to Maximilian's daughter Mary
• Also was attempting to keep alliances with both France and Burgundy
• England was excluded from these negotiations

Hannes Kleineke's interpretation

• The agreement left Edward's foreign policy in ruins
• He lost his French pension and proposed marriage alliance with the next king of France
• Had also lost alliance with Burgundy
• England was now surrounded by hostile powers
• Could have recovered from this situation but his sudden death prevented this Edward died on the 9th of April in 1483
• There are many sources on the cause of Edward's death

Hannes Kleineke

Mancini says Edward caught a cold whilst out fishing when he "allowed the damp cold to strike his vitals when one day he was taken in a small boat with those whom he had bidden go fishing and watched their sport too eagerly"

• Others considered pneumonia or typhoid
• Some attributed it to his unhealthy lifestyle as he lead a very sedentary life in the later years of his reign
• Poison had been considered

By 1483, Edward IV's foreign policy lay in shambles. He had lost his French pension, a proposed marriage alliance with France's future king, and the crucial alliance with Burgundy, leaving England encircled by hostile powers. Though he might have recovered, Edward's sudden death on April 9, 1483, halted any chance of redemption. The cause of his death remains debated: chroniclers like Mancini suggested a cold caught while fishing, while others point to pneumonia, typhoid, or even poisoning, potentially worsened by his sedentary lifestyle in his later years.

Edward's Will

• Gave the throne to his eldest son, the Prince of Wales
• His second son was given the Duchy of York
• Richard Duke of Gloucester was made Protector of the Realm whilst the sons came of age
• The Woodvilles' objected to this as they were not included at all
• They also were largely unliked by the other nobles in government and the rest of the country

After handing the throne to his eldest son and assigning the Duchy of York to his second son, Richard Duke of Gloucester was named Protector of the Realm. The Woodvilles, however, were left out of these arrangements and faced widespread disapproval from both nobles and the public.

Pro-Woodville

• Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers: Edward V's tutor
• Elizabeth Woodville: Edward's wife
• Thomas, Marquis of Dorset (Elizabeth's eldest son)
• The Woodville family
• Edward V, Ed IV's son, very close with the Woodville family, especially Earl Rivers
• Gloucester is loyal to his brother and for now isn't on bad terms with any noble, friends with Hastings who was in exile with him and Edward in 1471

Anthony Woodville

After the king's death, the throne was passed to his eldest son, the Prince of Wales. His younger son was granted the Duchy of York. Meanwhile, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed Protector of the Realm until the young princes came of age. However, the influential Woodville family, who were excluded from these decisions, objected strongly. Their exclusion exacerbated their unpopularity among the nobles and the wider population, intensifying tensions within the realm.

Anti-Woodville

• John, Lord Howard: Served Edward for many years but did not inherit his share of estates when the Duke of Norfolk died – they were given to Edward's second son, Richard of York
• Henry, Duke of Buckingham (friends with Gloucester, has limited power)
• Their growing power
• Edward was keen to provide for his two stepsons
• They were given estates to inherit (Exeter)

Anti-Woodville

Lord Hastings: has a disliking particularly for Thomas, Marquis of Dorset (Elizabeth Woodville's son), also dislikes Anthony Woodville (who wanted Hasting's position as Lieutenant of Calais and deserted the Burgundian army in 1476) Why were the other nobles worried about the Woodvilles?