Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick: Meet the “Real” Kingmaker

Thanks to the literary success of Philippa Gregory, and the popularity of the television series The White Queen, the Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville, has quickly become renowned in the world of historical fiction. But who exactly was he?

Throughout the centuries since his death, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick has made several appearances in literature, television, and film. Harry Turtledove’s Opening Atlantis and Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne In Splendour are just a few examples of books that feature him as a protagonist.

Most notably, five centuries earlier, the character of Warwick took a lead role in two of William Shakespeare’s History plays; King Henry VI Part 1 and Part 2. Famously, King Edward IV’s character commends Warwick, calling him “the setter-up and plucker-down of Kings.”

Some of the most popular novels that center on the Earl of Warwick were written within the last 15 years, by Philippa Gregory, one of the best-known authors of historical fiction. Warwick features in three of Gregory’s works: The White Queen (written from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville), The Red Queen (Margaret Beaufort), and most prominently in The Kingmaker’s Daughter (Anne Neville).

It was these three books that inspired the television series The White Queen, written by Emma Frost and directed by James Kent. This unique and exciting production packs five monarchs, multiple births, numerous battles, countless deaths, and 25 years’ worth of history into ten, hour-long episodes — 580 minutes of screentime. The first of these installments was broadcast on June, 16th, 2013.

The White Queen features a spectacular cast of actors and actresses, including Rebecca Ferguson (Elizabeth Woodville), Max Irons (King Edward IV), Eleanor Tomlinson (Lady Isabelle Neville), David Oakes (George, Duke of Clarence), and Aneurin Barnard (Richard III).

It was the actor James Frain, (who also portrayed the similarly fierce Thomas Cromwell in the television series The Tudors), who transformed himself into “The Kingmaker” for the benefit of The White Queen.

When asked about his experience of portraying Warwick, Frain gave a favorable description of the character: “The Kingmaker was a warrior in an age of warfare,” he stated, “the classic alpha male.” Frain noted that Warwick was “the most powerful man in the Kingdom and a father figure to King Edward IV.” He also explained the relationship between Warwick and the King: “ … in return for that gift of power, Warwick expected the gratitude and obedience of a son.”

Somewhat amusingly, when questioned about his most memorable scene, Frain revealed that it was undoubtedly “Warwick’s final battle scene because it meant getting down and dirty with swords, mud and blood.” 

James Frain is by no means the only man to have given a notable portrayal of Warwick. Richard Neville has also been played by James Oliver Wheatly, in 2015 (Britain’s Bloody Crown), and then by Stanley Townsend, in 2016 (The Hollow Crown).

The life of the Earl of Warwick has also inspired many works of non-fiction, such as Warwick the Kingmaker (by Paul Murray Kendall), Warwick: The Man Behind The Wars Of The Roses (by Tony Riches), and The Revolt Of The Earl Of Warwick Against King Edward IV (by John Allen Giles).

In The White Queen, Warwick is presented from the very beginning of the series as the supreme power in England; as a man who could wield this power, at whim, without restraint, and without consequence.

It is immediately obvious that Warwick is allowed to address the King—Edward IV—in whatever manner he chooses. He can spend what he wants, he can say what he wants, and he can do whatever he wants. If displeased with Warwick, the most the King will do is engage in a shouting match; the least he will do is roll his eyes and laugh.

Warwick has done something truly wonderful; he has secured the throne for Edward. Now, it is clear that he thinks of himself as the man around which everything else revolves.

The viewer is left in no doubt about Warwick’s authority and position. He is a doer. A risk-taker. A friend of the Crown. A go-getter. A fighter. A skilled strategist. An able administrator. A power-mad politician. A military mastermind. A wannabe-hero. A fifteenth-century-celebrity. A do-or-die sort of man, if ever there was one.

He is both a loyalist and a turncoat; unshakably loyal when it suits him, but a dangerous liability when things aren’t going his way. When it comes down to it, he is out for himself and his family, with very little care for anyone or anything else. Throughout the series, his two girls and his wife appear to love him unconditionally, despite his increasingly reckless behavior, and they uncomplainingly do as they are bid in the hope of pleasing him.

Within a few hours of screentime, it may appear to the viewer that there are only two scenarios acceptable for Warwick; he will put one of his daughters on the throne, or he will die trying.

But, as with other performances of our time, the modern historian may wonder whether or not this portrayal is entirely accurate. When enjoying some light, historic entertainment, the majority of viewers willingly leave room for a little artistic license — but to what extent has the truth been fabricated in this case?

Who was Richard Neville, in reality rather than in fantasy? Let us take a moment to get to know the real Kingmaker, to discover why and how he became the most influential man of the 15th century and an integral figure in the Wars of the Roses.

Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, 6th Earl of Salisbury — “The Kingmaker.” But who was he? Well, he was an English nobleman, an administrator, a Landowner, the holder of the fortune of the house of Neville, a military commander, and undoubtedly the wealthiest and most powerful peer of his age. He was also a politician — the offices he held, at varying points in his life, included Captain of Calais, Lord High Admiral of England, and Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Finally, he was a fighter. Just a few of his notable battles included the Battle of St Albans, the Battle of Ludford, the Battle of Northampton, the Battle of Ferrybridge, the Battle of Barnet, and the famously bloody Battle of Towton.

However, if any historian desired to neatly sum up Warwick’s life within a few words, they could do so in ten major events. In 1428, Richard Neville was born. In 1445, at the age of 17, he was knighted, probably at the coronation of Margaret of Anjou (the wife of King Henry VI). Four years later, in 1449, he inherited the Warwick estates, and naturally became known as the Earl of Warwick, therefore outranking any member of his own family.

It was also in the year 1449 that Warwick made his first official appearance in history. His name, for the first time, was listed in the records of those in the service of King Henry VI. Then, in 1453, Warwick became a member of the Council of King Henry VI. In 1459, the Battle of Blore Heath signified the beginning of the Wars of the Roses.

In 1460, in a shocking turn of events, Warwick took King Henry VI prisoner. In 1461, almost entirely thanks to Warwick, Edward IV was crowned King. Henry, the Lancastrian that Warwick had once believed to be the rightful King, was imprisoned.

In 1460, King Edward IV also married Elizabeth Woodville, against the advice of Warwick. Five years later, still enraged that the King no longer followed his advice, Warwick joined forces with Edward IV’s brother, the Duke of Clarence, and raised a rebellion.

In 1470, Edward was rescued by his brother Richard (the future Richard III), and Warwick was exiled. In 1471, Warwick died in vain at the Battle of Barnet.

Richard Neville was born on November 22, 1428. His parents were Ralph Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, and his wife, Alice Montagu. At the time of his birth, the Neville family was already a powerful one, and Richard was the most important child in their prestigious nursery. He was born as the eldest son of his parent’s eleven children.

Richard’s other notable siblings included Sir Thomas Neville (the younger brother who later died at the Battle of Wakefield), George Neville (who became Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England), and Alice Neville (the great-grandmother of King Henry VIII’s 6th wife, Catherine Parr).

Richard and his siblings were of royal descent. Richard’s father, (also Richard Neville), was the eldest son and heir of Ralph Neville,1st Earl of Westmorland, and his wife, Lady Joan Beaufort. Joan Beaufort had been the daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. John of Gaunt was the third son of King Edward III.

At the age of just six, Richard was betrothed to a young girl named Anne Beauchamp. She was the daughter and heir of Richard de Beauchamp, the 13th Earl of Warwick, and Isabel Despenser.

Although it may not have been a love match initially, no doubt Richard would have been thankful for this arrangement later in life. It was thanks to this marriage that he inherited the title Earl of Warwick, which therefore naturally increased the status of the Neville family. Also as a result of his parent’s good planning, he came to possess a wealth of land and the fortune that had formerly belonged to the family of his wife.

With this wife, Warwick would have two children. They were Isabel (the future Duchess of Clarence), and Anne (future Queen of England). He would also father another daughter, by an unknown woman. This child was called Margaret (illegitimate and therefore largely irrelevant to history).

To say that the Earl of Warwick experienced some major changes of heart throughout his career would be a dramatic understatement. Initially, he was loyal to Lancaster, and then to York, before a shocking series of events inspired him to revert to Lancaster again. It had all started so well.

Edward IV had been crowned King of England in 1461, almost entirely thanks to the unfailing support of his cousin, Warwick. Together, Edward and Warwick had defeated the Lancastrians in a long series of battles, culminating in the Battle of Towton in 1461, where the crown had finally been claimed.

For the first three years of the new King Edward’s reign, Warwick enjoyed no end of influence over the new King. Edward, perhaps in gratitude for what his cousin had done for him, happily shared his power.

So, what happened? As far as Warwick was concerned, where did it all go wrong for him and King Edward? Essentially, Warwick succumbed to a vice many a historical figure had succumbed to before him: jealousy.

The trouble began in 1464 when King Edward IV went against the advice of Warwick by marrying Elizabeth Woodville, the widow of John Grey of Groby. Warwick absolutely did not approve of this match. He was obsessed with the idea of securing a strong alliance with France and therefore favored a bride who was firstly French, and secondly royal.

Warwick was further angered by the fact that King Edward began distributing titles and positions among her male family members and granted the hands of England’s noblemen to her sisters, of whom there were many.

For a long time, Warwick had harbored plans to marry his eldest daughter, Isabel, to King Edward’s brother, George Duke of Clarence. To make matters worse for Warwick, King Edward suddenly began stalling these arrangements, perhaps on the advice of his wife. Naturally, the new Queen Elizabeth was intent on setting her family in high positions, ensuring no rival family overreached themselves.

As if that weren’t enough to upset Warwick, three years later, King Edward provided the final straw. In May of 1467, Warwick went at royal command to conclude a treaty with France. When he returned, he learned that in his absence, King Edward had fully committed himself to an alliance with Burgundy instead, almost certainly having bowed to pressure from his wife. It was shortly after this that Warwick retired to his private estates to enjoy some time to himself — and began plotting his revenge.

By the summer of 1469, Warwick was ready. With a single stroke of genius, he lured the King’s brother (George of Clarence) to the opposing side, took both George and his daughter Isabel to Calais, and arranged for them to be married without the King’s knowledge. In the meantime, he had successfully stirred up what would become known as the rebellion of Robin of Redesdale in Yorkshire. Naturally, King Edward was drawn north to respond to the rebellion; at the same time, Warwick invaded Southern England.

King Edward, who was outmatched and outnumbered, was captured by George and yielded himself as a prisoner. As far as Warwick was concerned, everything had gone to plan. He was extremely pleased with himself for the overthrow of the Woodville family and truly believed that he had secured Edward’s submission.

Less than a year later, in March 1470, a rebellion in Lincolnshire provided Edward with a good opportunity to gather his own army. Warwick, taken by surprise, fled once again to France with his family, his wife, two daughters, and son-in-law. Having lost any remaining power over the royal family in England, Warwick was forced to devise a new plan, and as usual, he was not lacking in ideas.

After a significant amount of persuasion on his part, Warwick managed to reconcile himself with the wife of the imprisoned King Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou. In the wake of this new friendship, he agreed to marry his youngest daughter, Anne Neville, to her son Edward, the supposed Prince of Wales.

In September of that same year, both Warwick and Clarence landed back at home, this time at Dartmouth. Margaret of Anjou promised that she would follow shortly with her own French army. King Edward took the opportunity to flee overseas, and power was consequently returned to King Henry VI. For six months, Warwick enjoyed total power and was regent in all but name.

George, Duke of Clarence, had been under the impression that it was he who would become King as a result of this invasion. Having already had his nose put severely out of joint over this change of plan, Clarence decided that his life had been altogether happier as the brother of a King than as the son-in-law of a regent. He secretly switched his loyalties once again, went groveling to his brother, and began conniving with Edward once again.

When in March of 1471, Edward landed at Ravenspur with the intention of reclaiming his throne, Clarence found an opportunity to join him. All of a sudden, Warwick was caught off guard, completely out of his depth. For the first time in his life, the Kingmaker had been totally outmaneuvered.

Warwick’s struggle for power came to an untimely end on April 14, 1471, when he was killed by King Edward’s troops while fighting at the Battle of Barnet.

In The White Queen, Warwick is portrayed as a courageous military hero. To prove his loyalty to his army, and to guarantee that he will not flee the battlefield, he murders his own horse.

This supposed act of bravery may seem familiar to us and it is an intriguing and somewhat believable tale. However, it was actually at the Battle of Towton, ten years earlier, that this event occurred. This had been a much easier battle for Warwick; 25,000 Lancastrian supporters had died on the field, and only 8,000 Yorkists.

At the Battle of Barnet, Warwick is known to have been pulled from his horse just moments before his death, having been pursued by King Edward’s men. Knowing that he had been defeated, Warwick had deserted his side and unsuccessfully attempted an escape.

The Real Kingmaker: A Lasting Legacy 

Warwick’s body, along with the body of his brother Montagu (who also fell at the Battle of Barnet), was displayed for a short time at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. This was a successful attempt to silence any murmur that the Kingmaker might still be alive.

Once satisfied that rumors had been quashed, King Edward IV allowed the bodies to be taken into the care of their younger brother, Archbishop Neville. It was he who chose to bury the bodies in the family vault at Bisham Priory, by the side of the River Thames in Berkshire.

The final resting place of these brothers can no longer be visited. No trace remains; neither of the tomb in which they lie nor of the Church in which they were housed.

Since Warwick had no sons, his property and fortune were divided between the two brothers of King Edward. Half went to George (who was already married to Isabel Neville), and half to Richard (who would soon elect to marry the younger sister, Anne).

It is unfortunate that Warwick did not live to see his only dream play out before his own eyes. One of his daughters did sit on the throne of England, if only for a brief spell. As the wife of King Richard III, Anne Neville, the Kingmaker’s daughter, was Queen from June 1483 until her death in March 1485. Her only son, Edward Prince of Wales, predeceased both her and her husband. Not that an heir would have mattered — King Richard III was killed just a few months later, and Tudor rule began a new era in Britain.

The series The White Queen ends promptly after the death of King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, which took place in August of 1485. This is where the epic story of the Wars of the Roses truly comes to an end.

By this point, not many of his descendants remained. However, this was by no means where Warwick’s legacy ended. His only surviving family were his two grandchildren. The young son and daughter of Isabel Neville and George Duke of Clarence ensured the continuity of the family name, if only for a short while.

Edward Warwick, (affectionately known as Teddy), was executed by King Henry VII at the age of 24. Margaret Pole, Edward’s elder sister, lived well into the reign of King Henry VIII. Continuing family tradition, she was executed for treason in 1541. In 1886, Pope Leo XIII beatified her as a martyr for the Catholic Church.

We may draw this article to a close on a slightly lighter note: Not only has Warwick inspired works of film and literature but also a selection of hobbies and pastimes. Warwick the Kingmaker now gives his name to a board game that can be played by two to seven players.

Through war, diplomacy, and politics, the players must attempt to gain control over members of the House of Lancaster, or the House of York. The aim is to place one of them on the throne of England while eliminating pretenders. Amazingly, it is suggested by the designers that one should put aside between two to six hours in which to play.

There is no doubt that the story of Warwick’s life has been embellished and enhanced through historical fiction. There is also no doubt that Warwick’s political genius and military ability have been exaggerated over time. To what extent the Earl of Warwick has been changed is left for the modern historian to decide.

The only thing we can safely assume is that, if he were here to view a modern interpretation of his character, he would approve of the courageous and powerful man he is now known as. Of all the characters in The White Queen, it is the brilliant, sword-wielding Warwick who is the most memorable.