Earl of Warwick

Warwick, Earl of (Richard Neville; 1428–71), British soldier and influential leader. He is known as “the Kingmaker” for having put Edward IV and Henry VI on the throne. In 1453 Warwick aided the duke of York in his attempt to seize the power of the Lancastrian duke of Somerset, chief adviser to Henry VI. In 1455, during the War of the Roses, when the 2 sides fought at the Battle of Saint Albans, Warwick and the Yorkists were victorious over the Lancastrians. In 1460 the 2 sides fought again at the Battle of Northampton. Warwick won again, this time capturing the king, who was allowed to keep his throne because he was deemed such an ineffectual leader. Later that same year, the Lancastrians captured and killed York, and a few months later, regained King Henry. Warwick managed to enter London with York's son, Edward, proclaim him king in March of 1461, and, in effect, rule England for the first 3 years of Edward's reign. That same month Warwick and Edward defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton. Warwick gradually became disenchanted with the independent-minded Edward, who married against his wishes, and so in 1470, Warwick teamed with Lancastrian Henry VI and his wife, Margaret, in France and brought them back to England, where he deposed Edward and restored the crown to them. In 1471 Warwick was killed at Barnet in a battle against Edward.

See also: United Kingdom.