April 9, 1483: Anthony Woodville and Elizabeth Woodville Named Joint Co-Regents

This is a work of fiction by Alexandria Ingham. It's an imagination of what would have happened had Edward IV named his wife and brother-in-law as protectors of the young Edward V.

King Edward IV feared death. He knew it was happening, but he feared for the future of England. For too long the land had been at war, and he worried that his death would mean more war and destruction for his home. After all, he was leaving a 12-year-old prince on the throne.

England had never really fared well with a young king. His predecessor Henry VI had been the youngest ever English king as 9 months, and had a regency in control for more than a decade. Once he came to the throne, there was little he could do to change everything his regents had done.

Edward IV Chooses Between His Options

Edward knew that he needed a strong regent. There were only a handful of choices: his wife Elizabeth, his brother Richard, or his brother-in-law Anthony.

His wife would have been strong as queen regent, but she was a woman. No man would take orders from her, even if they were for his son. Plus she would often let her feelings get in the way. But she knew court the best. And she would always keep their son’s best interests at heart.

Richard knew court and he was a strong favourite among many of the nobles. However, something deep inside him didn’t trust the young duke. Maybe it was the execution of their other brother five years earlier. Things had never been quite right between them after that. Plus, their mother Cecily could wrap Richard around her little finger and Edward wasn’t too certain about Richard’s wife Anne. Richard wouldn’t be the one in charge. The two women would play him behind the scenes.

Anthony Woodville wouldn’t have the full court backing, but he was known to Prince Edward. He had already proven himself as a strong protector and leader. However, Anthony had been away from court for a long time while looking after Edward. He would need help.

If only he could amalgamate some of his options.

Believing that he only had Richard has an option, he started to write his brother’s name down as regent, but then stopped. He could amalgamate his options. Why did England need just one regent? What about two Woodvilles? Elizabeth and Anthony could work together, and Edward knew that they would—and they would both protect the young king.

The World Hears of Edward’s Decision

Richard, Duke of Gloucester was not happy with the news. In fact, there were plenty of people at court not happy with the news of who would become regent. How could two Woodvilles—two commoners—become co-regents. Edward V needed someone noble. They needed Richard.

Cecily tried to persuade her eldest son to make Richard regent, but Edward VI wasn’t having any of it. She should have known that her son wouldn’t listen to her.

In an attempt to take back power, Richard set off to Ludlow Castle to take Edward V as a hostage. He had the backing of prominent individuals at court, including the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings. While bringing Edward back to London, Anthony encountered the men and initially put up a fight. Richard wouldn’t even listen to his nephew, who commanded his uncle to stop. Instead, Richard sent Anthony Woodville and Edward’s half-brother Richard Grey north to Pontefract Castle. They were locked away, without any way to keep in touch with the outside world.

As soon as Elizabeth heard about the events, she worked with those at court who did support her. One unlikely supporter was Margaret Beaufort, who was godmother to the now heir to the throne, Richard, Duke of York. Margaret had to choose a side, where neither gave her an advantage to get her own son on the throne…yet. Having Margaret on her side did help Elizabeth come up with a plan of attack to get her brother and son back.

Elizabeth had Anne Neville arrested. It was a risky move, but one that got Richard’s attention. Cecily attempted to get her daughter-in-law out of prison, but Elizabeth threatened her with imprisonment too. The actions of Richard directly affected them. If was a traitor and Elizabeth believed that the two women had something to do with it.

Richard had no choice but to let Anthony and Richard Grey free. They returned to London, along with Edward V, who was now safe with his mother and uncle.

They wouldn’t take any chances, though. Edward V publically ordered his uncle’s arrest. In his first speech, at just 12 years old, he made it clear that Richard had chosen to ignore his direct commend to release Anthony and his half-brother. He also believed that Richard planned to act to harm him. Richard, Duke of Gloucester was placed in the Tower of London for suspicion of treason.

Anne Neville remained in the Tower of London, too. Cecily was placed under house arrest, in the lodgings of Margaret Beautfort and Thomas Stanley. She was in for some dark days with the staunch Lancastrian. While they had the same family line, it was clear they had no liking for each other.

Edward V Is Crowned King of England

Elizabeth and Anthony knew that they needed to act quickly. England didn’t want a young king, so they needed all the right people in their favour. They had some of the right people through marriage, but many were loyal to the Plantagenets—and not to Edward. Despite the king being the son of Edward IV, people hated the Woodvilles. And there were plenty of questions over Edward IV’s birth, and therefore his right to the throne.

The best thing Elizabeth and Anthony could do was arrange a speedy coronation. It took place on July 6, 1483. It was a lavish affair, making it clear that Edward V was the true heir to the throne. Anybody who went up against him would end up in the same position as Richard and Anne, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Elizabeth also knew that she would have to look abroad for alliances. Edward V needed to be married as soon as he was of age. His father had slipped in this regard, although her daughters had some potential marriages.

As a regent of a young king Elizabeth and Anne of France had plenty in common. Anne was younger than the English queen, but admired her for her assumption and strength. Viewing Richard as an attempted usurper, Anne agreed to offer Elizabeth French support in return for a marriage alliance. Deciding that she couldn’t let her daughter Anne of York marry the aging Maximillian I, Elizabeth suggested a marriage alliance between Anne and the young king Charles VIII of France. Anne found it suitable and the two were officially betrothed.

Knowing that she needed to keep the Archduke on side and finding that the Scottish pact had fallen through after her husband’s death, Elizabeth negotiated with Maximillian to marry her first daughter Elizabeth. The marriage took place extremely quickly, and Elizabeth soon left the English court behind.

Edward V still needed a marriage, but Elizabeth now had time with her two alliances. Besides, she had other things to deal with.

An Attempt at an Uprising

In 1484, there was an attempt to overthrown Anthony and Elizabeth as regents. This uprising wanted to remove Edward from the throne and place the disgraced Richard there instead. Elizabeth turned to her new alliance in France and to the Holy Roman Emperor for help. Both agreed to send ships and an army, quickly quashing the uprising.

Elizabeth knew who was to blame instantly and looked towards Cecily, Duchess of York. It didn’t take long for Elizabeth and Anthony to find out that Thomas Stanley was also conspiring against the king. Margaret begged Elizabeth for leniency, stating that she had nothing to do with it. She wouldn’t when all she wanted was to see her son Henry back in England.

Inclined to believe Margaret, Elizabeth only had Cecily and Thomas arrested. The Duke of Buckingham was also arrested. It was time to make examples of a few people. The first to be executed was the Duke of Buckingham. He was followed by Thomas Stanley.

During this time, Elizabeth received news that her nephew, Edward of Middleham was extremely sick. Knowing that none of this was the boy’s fault, she sent Edward V’s own doctor to the boy. It was too late and on April 9, 1484, exactly a year after his uncle, Edward of Middleham died. Elizabeth decided to go in person to tell Anne, knowing how hard it was to lose a child. She didn’t

gloat, but it was clear that Anne blamed Elizabeth for everything that had happened to her son.

When Anthony told Richard about the death of Edward, Richard attempted to attack him. Luckily a guard heard the ruckus and stepped in before Anthony was killed. When Edward V heard of his uncle’s actions, he decided the time had come for Richard’s execution. On June 25, 1485, Richard was executed by axe swiftly in front of a small number of people.

Anne Neville had already died in March 1485 of causes unknown. There was only Cecily left, who wept for the loss of her son at the time of his execution. She begged to be taken next, but was left in the Tower until she was almost forgotten about.

A Time for Marriage for Edward V

By the time Edward turned 16, he felt ready to rule himself. His uncle and mother took a small step back, but did ask that they help him arrange a powerful marriage. However, war was brewing with the Scots. Elizabeth and Anthony needed to do something about that and arranged a marriage between James III’s eldest son, James, to Cecily of York. It wasn’t the most popular marriage with the Scottish, but it was the strongest alliance.

When James III died and James IV ascended to the throne, Edward V was now at an age to do more negotiating. The two young kings worked together well to secure the best alliance for their two countries. Cecily became the Queen of Scotland and left England just weeks later.

The next country to turn to was Spain.  Joanna of Castile, daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. It was the perfect alliance. Spain was growing in power. With France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Scotland now in alliance with England, Spain was the next one to work with. Edward did look at others, but he wanted this alliance.

Ferdinand seemed to agree. The problem for Ferdinand was that Joanna was young. By 1491, she was just 12 years old. He didn’t want to send his daughter to a foreign country without some sort of certainty that this marriage would happen. Edward gave his word, but Ferdinand also worried about the support Cecily Neville was still gaining, despite being locked in the castle. Edward made it clear that Cecily had nothing to gain. She didn’t have an heir to the throne.

However, Ferdinand new that Henry Tudor was also growing an army in the Low Countries. He was a huge risk to the throne, thanks to his mother’s devious actions. Edward wanted to know what Ferdinand wanted him to do. There was nothing he could do about Henry, so he could only lock Margaret away. That would just lead to the following growing stronger. Instead, Edward made Margaret come to court. There she could be watched fully. She would also need to act as Lady-in-Waiting to Joanna of Castile when she came to court.

It was good enough. Ferdinand sent his daughter and Edward met her at Dover.

In 1492, Elizabeth Woodville died of natural causes. England had grown to love the queen, as she cared for those lower than her. Her funeral was attended by everyone who could make it, proving to Ferdinand that there was a strong support for the Woodvilles and Edward V. Rather than focusing on grief, Edward arranged his marriage to Joanna. Edward was 22 and Joanna just 13 at the time of their marriage on December 25, 1492.

An Heir to the English Throne

It was time to conceive an heir. Edward V had succeeded far better as king than anyone expected, but he needed to make sure his line was protected. Margaret encouraged Edward to hold back for a short period, knowing what it was like to give birth so young, but Edward pressed forward. By the time Joanna was 14, she was pregnant with their first child. The child didn’t survive and almost took Joanna’s life with it.

That death was followed by another: Edward’s uncle, Anthony. There were rumours that he was poisoned, but Edward brushed them off as nothing. However, he did need someone to take his place. As Margaret had proven to be supportive of Joanna, he suggested that Henry Tudor finally come to court. Margaret was delighted. Her son was finally allowed back on English soil without fear of imprisonment.

Joanna’s next pregnancy when she was 16 was more successful. She gave birth to a baby boy, who was named Edward after Edward IV. Two daughters followed, named Elizabeth and Isabella, after Elizabeth Woodville and Isabella I of Castile. A second son followed, but this boy—named Ferdinand—would die just 12 weeks old. Edward was devastated and was full of grief.

The royal couple would have four more children, who would all survive.

Edward V would live to a good age: 54. On June 25, 1524 he died of consumption. His wife was devastated and the first signs of her deteriorated mental health appeared. The 19-year-old Edward, Prince of Wales became King Edward VI of England. He would later become King of Castile and France after his mother’s death in 1555. As Lutherism spread across Europe, he worked with his cousin, the Holy Roman Emperor, to push back conversion across England.

Edward VI contracted smallpox, which weakened his immune system. When France declared war just two years after battling the disease, he was injured and his immune system too weak to fight off the infection that grew. Edward died without heirs, leaving the country to his younger brother, William. William became William IV of England and William I of Castile and Aragon and continue the Plantagenet line for another three generations.

What really happened on April 9, 1483:

On this day, Edward IV died unexpectedly of pneumonia. He did name a regent for his child king, but it would be Richard, Duke of Gloucester. It didn't take long for Richard to imprison Anthony Woodville and Richard Grey in the north. They were executed on June 25, 1483.

Edward V was taken to the Tower of London, possibly as a way to keep him safe. Richard took over the government and soon declared Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville null and void. The children were made illegitimate and Richard, as the only heir to the throne, became Richard III of England with Anne Neville as his queen.

Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, went missing in the Tower of London and have been presumed dead. Historians debate over what really happened, but we will never know.

Elizabeth Woodville took her daughters into sanctuary, where they remained until 1484. Richard III promised Elizabeth that her daughters would be safe from harm, although there were rumors that he planned to marry his niece Elizabeth of York. Richard III was eventually killed in battle by Henry Tudor and his minority army with the help of his step-father Thomas Stanley. The Wars of the Roses came to an end in 1485, as Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York married to join the Houses of York and Lancaster together.