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46-624: The first creation was made for Richard Woodville, 1st Baron Rivers , in 1466 and remained in this family until 1491. As borne by the Woodvilles the title was not derived from the name of a place, but from an ancient family name, Redvers, or Reviers, members of this family, whose arms are quartered on the Rivers shield, having been sometime Earls of Devon . The second creation was made in 1626 for Thomas Darcy, 1st Viscount Colchester , who had succeeded as 3rd Baron Darcy of Chiche (created in 1551). In 1613,

92-476: A French squire named Guillaume Renault  [ fr ] . Admiring the young soldier's bravery, the earl decided to knight him before surrendering. This dubbing has remained famous in French history and literature and has been recounted by the writer Alexandre Dumas . He remained a prisoner of Charles VII for two years, and was ransomed in 1431, after fourteen years' continuous field service. After his return to

138-410: A decade, leading to a feud that stretched from the moment Mowbray became Duke of Norfolk to the murder of de la Pole in 1450. The feud was often violent, and led to fighting between their followers. In 1435, Robert Wingfield , Mowbray's steward of Framlingham, led a group of Mowbray retainers who murdered James Andrew, one of de la Pole's men. When local aldermen attempted to arrest Wingfield's party,

184-670: A father may charge his child, I both charge you, and pray you to set all your spirits and wits to do, and to know his holy laws and commandments, by the which you shall, with his great mercy, pass all the great tempests and troubles of this wretched world. And that also, knowingly, you do nothing for love nor dread of any earthly creature that should displease him. And there as any frailty maketh you to fall, beseech his mercy soon to call you to him again with repentance, satisfaction, and contrition of your heart, never more in will to offend him. Secondly, next him above all earthly things, to be true liegeman in heart, in will, in thought, in deed, unto

230-451: A reversion of the barony was granted to Sir Thomas Savage, Bt (created Viscount Savage in 1626 and son-in-law of Darcy); this creation and the earldom both had a remainder to Darcy's heirs male of his body, with remainder to Savage and the heirs male of his body. Savage's son John succeeded to the Savage baronetcy and viscountcy in 1635. In 1640 on the death of the 1st Earl, John succeeded to

276-401: A two years' truce. This earned him a promotion from Earl to Marquess of Suffolk. However, a secret clause was put in the agreement which gave Maine and Anjou back to France, which was to contribute to his downfall. With the deaths in 1447 of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (shortly after his arrest for treason), and Cardinal Beaufort, Suffolk became the principal power behind the throne of

322-459: Is said to have been a nun , Malyne de Cay. The nighte before that he was yolden [yielded himself up in surrender to the Franco-Scottish forces of Joan of Arc on 12 June 1429] he laye in bed with a nonne whom he toke oute of holy profession and defouled, whose name was Malyne de Cay, by whom he gate a daughter, now married to Stonard of Oxonfordshire. Jane de la Pole (died 28 February 1494)

368-559: The Battle of Edgecote on 26 July 1469, Rivers and his third son John were taken prisoners at Chepstow . Following a hasty show trial, they were beheaded at Kenilworth on 12 August 1469. Richard Woodville's eldest surviving son Anthony succeeded him in the earldom. Lord Rivers had a large family. His fourth son, Lionel (d. 1484) became the Bishop of Salisbury . All his daughters made great marriages: Katherine Woodville , his eighth daughter,

414-500: The Battle of Verneuil on 17 August 1424, and throughout the next four years was Salisbury's chief lieutenant in the direction of the war. He became co-commander of the English forces at the Siege of Orléans (1429), after the death of Salisbury. When the city was relieved by Joan of Arc in 1429, he managed a retreat to Jargeau where he was forced to surrender on 12 June. He was captured by

460-563: The Duke of Bedford . In 1433 the Duke had married the 17-year-old Jacquetta of Luxembourg ; she was the Duke's second wife and he was significantly older and in ill health. When the Duke died in 1435, Jacquetta was left a childless and wealthy widow. She was required to seek permission from King Henry VI before she could remarry, but in March 1437 it was revealed that she had secretly married Richard Woodville who

506-541: The Duke of Somerset and the Earl of Shrewsbury in 1439 and the Duke of York in 1441–42, when he was made captain of Alençon and knight banneret . Woodville was created Baron Rivers by King Henry VI on 9 May 1448. Two years later, as Sir Richard, he was invested as a Knight of the Garter in 1450. He was appointed seneschal of Gascony in 1450 (but failed to reach it before its fall) then lieutenant of Calais in 1454–55. He

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552-521: The Hundred Years' War and participated in campaigns of Henry V , and then continued to serve in France for King Henry VI . He was one of the English commanders at the failed Siege of Orléans . He favoured a diplomatic rather than military solution to the deteriorating situation in France, a stance which would later resonate well with King Henry VI. Suffolk became a dominant figure in the government, and

598-583: The Kingdom of England in 1434, he was made Constable of Wallingford Castle . He became a courtier and a close ally of Cardinal Henry Beaufort . Despite the diplomatic failure of the Congress of Arras , the cardinal's authority remained strong and Suffolk gained increasing influence. His most notable accomplishment in this period was negotiating the marriage of King Henry VI with Margaret of Anjou in 1444, which he achieved despite initial reluctance, and included

644-500: The 1613 reversion of the Darcy of Chiche barony, the Colchester viscountcy and the Rivers earldom; the 1551 creation of the Darcy of Chiche barony became extinct. The earldom and the subsidiary titles became extinct when John Savage, 5th Earl Rivers , died in 1737. Elizabeth, Viscountess Savage , wife of Thomas, 1st Viscount Savage, daughter of the 1st Earl Rivers and mother of the 2nd Earl,

690-496: The Crown but later restored to his only son, John . His political successor was the Duke of Somerset . William de la Pole was born in Cotton, Suffolk , the second son of Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk , by his wife Katherine de Stafford , daughter of Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford , KG , and Philippa de Beauchamp . Almost continually engaged in the wars in France, he

736-562: The House of York. The Privy Council , in its horrified response to the King's marriage, said bluntly that Richard Woodville's low social standing in itself meant that the King must surely know "that Elizabeth was not the wife for him". Early in 1468, the Rivers estates were plundered by Warwick's partisans, and the open war of the following year was aimed at destroying the Woodvilles. After the Yorkist defeat at

782-491: The bride to England, and the family benefited further through this double connection to the royal family. Sir Richard was raised to the rank of Baron Rivers in 1448. Therefore their children would grow up enjoying considerable privilege and material comfort. Woodville was a captain in 1429, served in France in 1433 and was a knight of the regent Duke of Bedford in 1435. He was at Gerberoy in 1435 and served under William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk , in 1435–36. He then fought under

828-513: The christening of Prince Arthur (son of Elizabeth and Henry VII) on 24 September 1486 in Winchester Cathedral; Arthur's grandmother, Elizabeth Woodville, served as his Godmother, and her younger brother Edward was also present at the ceremony. The Visitation of Buckinghamshire of 1566 mentions the marriage of William Dormer of Wycombe (only later of Ascott House ) to "Agnes, da. of Sir Richard Woodvyle, Erle Ryvers" but does not say whether

874-530: The company and counsel of proud men, of covetous men, and of flattering men, the more especially and mightily to withstand them, and not to draw nor to meddle with them, with all your might and power; and to draw to you and to your company good and virtuous men, and such as be of good conversation, and of truth, and by them shall you never be deceived nor repent you of. Moreover, never follow your own wit in nowise, but in all your works, of such folks as I write of above, ask your advice and counsel, and doing thus, with

920-417: The departing from this wretched world here, you and they may glorify him eternally amongst his angels in heaven. Written of mine hand, The day of my departing from this land. Your true and loving father The following three years saw the near-complete loss of the English possessions in northern France ( Rouen , Normandy etc.). Suffolk could not avoid taking the blame for these failures, partly because of

966-638: The father was the first or the third earl, who the mother was or whether Agnes was legitimate. Considering though that she is thought to be born about 1458 the more likely candidate is the senior Richard Woodville. Woodville is a primary character in Philippa Gregory 's 2011 novel about Jacquetta of Luxembourg, The Lady of the Rivers . In The White Queen television series, he is portrayed by Robert Pugh . William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk KG (16 October 1396 – 2 May 1450), nicknamed Jackanapes ,

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1012-684: The first of several meetings in London at which they planned a French invasion. Suffolk passed Council minutes to Dunois, the French hero of the Siege of Orleans. It was rumoured that Suffolk never paid his ransom of £20,000 owed to Dunois. The Lord Treasurer, Ralph Cromwell , wanted heavy taxes from Suffolk; the duke's powerful enemies included John Paston and Sir John Fastolf . Many blamed Suffolk's retainers for lawlessness in East Anglia . Before he left on exile, exile that would lead to his death and beheading on

1058-464: The focus of his landed authority was forced upon him since this was where the majority of his estates were located. He was then a newcomer to political society in the region, and had to share influence with others. By the time of his majority, de la Pole—with his links to central government and the King—was an established power in the region. He hindered Mowbray's attempts at regional domination for over

1104-430: The king our aldermost high and dread sovereign lord, to whom both you and I be so much bound to; charging you as father can and may, rather to die than to be the contrary, or to know anything that were against the welfare or prosperity of his most royal person, but that as far as your body and life may stretch you live and die to defend it, and to let his highness have knowledge thereof in all the haste you can. Thirdly, in

1150-630: The latter rained arrow fire upon the aldermen, but Mowbray secured royal pardons for those responsible. By 1440, de la Pole was a royal favourite. He instigated Mowbray's imprisonment on at least two occasions: in 1440 and in 1448. The first saw him bound over for the significant amount of £10,000, and confined to living within the royal Household, preventing him from returning to seek revenge in East Anglia. Likewise, apart from an appointment to commissions of oyer and terminer in Norwich in 1443 (after

1196-582: The long and honourable record of his public services. However, on 28 January he was arrested, imprisoned in the Tower of London and impeached in parliament by the Commons. The King intervened to protect his favourite, who was banished for five years, but on his journey to Calais his ship was intercepted by the ship Nicholas of the Tower . Suffolk was captured, subjected to a mock trial, and executed by beheading. His body

1242-453: The loss of Maine and Anjou through his marriage negotiations regarding Henry VI . When parliament met in November 1449, the opposition showed its strength by forcing the treasurer, Adam Moleyns , to resign. Moleyns was murdered by sailors at Portsmouth on 9 January 1450. Suffolk, realising that an attack on himself was inevitable, boldly challenged his enemies in parliament, appealing to

1288-508: The mercy of God, you shall do right well, and live in right much worship, and great heart's rest and ease. And I will be to you as good lord and father as my heart can think. And last of all, as heartily and as lovingly as ever father blessed his child in earth, I give you the blessing of Our Lord and of me, which of his infinite mercy increase you in all virtue and good living; and that your blood may by his grace from kindred to kindred multiply in this earth to his service, in such wise as after

1334-528: The poet Geoffrey Chaucer and his wife, Philippa Roet . In 1437, Henry VI licensed the couple to establish a chantry and almshouse for thirteen poor men at Ewelme, which they endowed with land at Ewelme and in Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire; the charitable trust continues to this day. Suffolk's only known legitimate son, John , became the second Duke of Suffolk in 1463. Suffolk also fathered an illegitimate daughter, Jane de la Pole. Her mother

1380-510: The same way, I charge you, my dear son, always as you be bounden by the commandment of God to do, to love, to worship, your lady and mother; and also that you obey always her commandments, and to believe her counsels and advices in all your works, the which dread not but shall be best and truest to you. And if any other body would steer you to the contrary, to flee the counsel in any wise, for you shall find it naught and evil. Furthermore, as far as father may and can, I charge you in any wise to flee

1426-561: The ship before he cleared England he sat down and wrote a letter to his boy, John, just eight years old and presumably still with his mother Alice Chaucer. The letter survives, and it helps bring a medieval character to life. My dear and only well-beloved son, I beseech our Lord in Heaven, the Maker of all the World, to bless you, and to send you ever grace to love him, and to dread him, to the which, as far as

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1472-555: The suppression of Gladman's Insurrection ), he received no other significant offices or patronage from the crown. A recent biographer of Mowbray's, the historian Colin Richmond, has described this as Mowbray's "eclipse". De la Pole fought Mowbray with what one contemporary labelled "greet hevyng an shoving." Suffolk was married on 11 November 1430 (date of licence), to (as her third husband) Alice Chaucer (1404–1475), daughter of Thomas Chaucer of Ewelme , Oxfordshire, and granddaughter of

1518-683: The two Civil War sieges of Hull in 1642 and 1643. From the 1430s until his death, de la Pole, who became increasingly powerful, both at court and in the region, was rivalled in East Anglia by John Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk . Mowbray had enough political clout in the 1430s to control parliamentary representation in Suffolk , but the local importance of the duke weakened his grasp. Mowbray clashed with de la Pole, and committed many illegalities doing so. These included damaging property of rivals, assaults, false allegations of outlawry (with confiscation of goods), and even murder. For Mowbray, East Anglia as

1564-583: The weak and compliant Henry VI. In short order, he was appointed Chamberlain, Admiral of England , and to several other important offices. He was created Earl of Pembroke in 1447, and Duke of Suffolk in 1448. However, Suffolk was suspected of responsibility in Humphrey's death, and later of being a traitor. On 16 July he met in secret with Jean, Count de Dunois , at his mansion of the Rose in Candlewick Street,

1610-517: The years this diminished as a result of territorial losses in France and collapsing royal finances in England. Richard Woodville was honoured with military ranks, in which he proved himself a capable soldier. Further honours for both came when Henry VI married Margaret of Anjou , whose uncle was Jacquetta's brother-in-law (Jacquetta's sister Isabelle married Margaret of Anjou's paternal uncle Charles du Maine). The Woodvilles were among those chosen to escort

1656-476: Was an English magnate , statesman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War . He became a favourite of Henry VI of England , and consequently a leading figure in the English government where he became associated with many of the royal government's failures of the time, particularly on the war in France . Suffolk also appears prominently in Shakespeare 's Henry VI , parts 1 and 2 . He fought in

1702-684: Was appointed Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1459 to defend Kent against invasion by the Yorkist earls (but was captured at Sandwich ). In the Wars of the Roses , he was initially a Lancastrian , but he became a Yorkist when he thought that the Lancastrian cause was lost. He reconciled himself to the victorious Edward IV , his future son-in-law. On 1 May 1464, Edward married Rivers' daughter Elizabeth , widow of Lancastrian knight Sir John Grey . Richard Woodville

1748-489: Was at the forefront of the main policies conducted during the period. He played a central role in organizing the Treaty of Tours (1444), and arranged the king's marriage to Margaret of Anjou . At the end of Suffolk's political career, he was accused of maladministration by many and forced into exile . At sea on his way out, he was caught by an angry mob, subjected to a mock trial , and beheaded. His estates were forfeited to

1794-444: Was created Earl Rivers in 1466, appointed Lord Treasurer in March 1466 and Constable of England on 24 August 1467. The power of this new family was very distasteful to the old baronial party, and especially so to the Earl of Warwick . Rivers was regarded as a social upstart, and in an ironical episode, his future son-in-law in 1460, while accepting his submission, had rebuked him for daring, given his lowly birth, to fight against

1840-403: Was created Countess Rivers in her own right in 1641. This title was for life only and became extinct at her death in 1650. A new Rivers barony , held by the family of Pitt and its later representative, that of Pitt-Rivers, was in existence from 1776 to 1880. Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers KG (1405 – 12 August 1469), also Wydeville,

1886-526: Was far below her in rank and not considered a suitable husband for the lady still honoured as the king's aunt. The couple were fined £1000, but this was remitted in October of the same year. Despite this inauspicious start, the married couple soon prospered, thanks mainly to Jacquetta's continuing prominence within the royal family. She retained her rank and dower as Duchess of Bedford, which initially provided an income of between £7000 and £8000 per year, though over

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1932-562: Was later found on the sands near Dover , and was probably brought to a church in Suffolk, possibly Wingfield . He was interred in the Carthusian Priory in Hull by his widow Alice, as was his wish, and not in the church at Wingfield, as is often stated. The Priory, founded in 1377 by his grandfather the first Earl of Suffolk, was dissolved in 1539, and most of the original buildings did not survive

1978-483: Was married before 1450 to Thomas Stonor (1423–1474), of Stonor in Pyrton , Oxfordshire. Suffolk's nickname "Jackanapes" came from "Jack of Naples ", a slang name for a monkey at the time. This was probably due to his heraldic badge , which consisted of an "ape's clog", i.e. a wooden block chained to a pet monkey to prevent it from escaping. The term "jackanape" later came to mean an impertinent or conceited person, due to

2024-556: Was seriously wounded during the Siege of Harfleur (1415), where his father died from dysentery . Later that year his elder brother Michael, 3rd Earl of Suffolk , was killed at the Battle of Agincourt , and William succeeded as 4th earl. He served in all the later French campaigns of the reign of Henry V, and in spite of his youth held high command on the marches of Normandy in 1421–22. In 1423 he joined Thomas, Earl of Salisbury , in Champagne . He fought under John, Duke of Bedford , at

2070-594: Was the father of Elizabeth Woodville and father-in-law of Edward IV . Born at Maidstone in Kent , Richard Woodville was the son of Richard Wydeville (Woodville), chamberlain to the Duke of Bedford , and Joan Bittlesgate (or Bedlisgate), the daughter of Thomas Bittlesgate of Knightstone in the parish of Ottery St Mary in Devon. He was also a grandson of John Wydeville who was Sheriff of Northamptonshire (in 1380, 1385, 1390). Woodville followed his father into service with

2116-401: Was the wife of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham . "Woodville" is the modern spelling of the name: in their own time "Wydeville", "Wydville" and other variants were used. Richard and Jacquetta had 14 children: Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, noted another 'Richard' who would seem to have been born before Richard the 3rd Earl. A 'Richard Woodville, esquire for the body' was present at

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