Warwick the Kingmaker

The Earl of Warwick
Warwick, from the Rous Roll.
Born	(1428-11-22)22 November 1428
Died	14 April 1471(1471-04-14) (aged 42) Barnet, Hertfordshire
Cause of death	Slain in battle
Resting place	Bisham Abbey, Berkshire
Title	16th Earl of Warwick
Tenure	1449–1471
Other titles	6th Earl of Salisbury 5th Baron Montagu 7th Baron Monthermer
Other names	Warwick the Kingmaker
Known for	Influence during the Wars of the Roses
Years active	c. 1449–1471
Nationality	English
Residence	Middleham Castle, et al.
Locality	Warwickshire, Yorkshire
Net worth	c. £7,000 at death
Wars and battles	Wars of the Roses • First Battle of St Albans • Battle of Ludford Bridge • Battle of Northampton • Second Battle of St Albans • Battle of Ferrybridge • Battle of Towton • Battle of Edgecote Moor • Battle of Barnet
Offices	Captain of Calais Lord High Admiral of England Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster
Predecessor	Anne de Beauchamp, 15th Countess of Warwick
Successor	Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick
Spouse(s)	Anne Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick
Issue	Isabel, Duchess of Clarence Anne, Queen of England
Parents	Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury Alice Montacute, 5th Countess of Salisbury
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Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick KG (22 November 1428 – 14 April 1471), known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander. The son of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, Warwick was the wealthiest and most powerful English peer of his age, with political connections that went beyond the country's borders. One of the leaders in the Wars of the Roses, originally on the Yorkist side but later switching to the Lancastrian side, he was instrumental in the deposition of two kings, which led to his epithet of "Kingmaker".

Through fortunes of marriage and inheritance, Warwick emerged in the 1450s at the centre of English politics. Originally he was a supporter of King Henry VI; however, a territorial dispute with the Duke of Somerset led him to collaborate with Richard, Duke of York, in opposing the king. From this conflict he gained the strategically valuable post of Captain of Calais, a position that benefited him greatly in the years to come. The political conflict later turned into full-scale rebellion, where in battle York was slain, as was Warwick's father Salisbury. York's son, however, later triumphed with Warwick's assistance, and was crowned King Edward IV. Edward initially ruled with Warwick's support, but the two later fell out over foreign policy and the king's choice of Elizabeth Woodville as his wife. After a failed plot to crown Edward's brother, George, Duke of Clarence, Warwick instead restored Henry VI to the throne. The triumph was short-lived however: on 14 April 1471 Warwick was defeated by Edward at the Battle of Barnet, and killed.