Queens of England + Anne Neville (1456-1485)
Anne was born in 1456, the younger daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Lady Anne de Beauchamp. Her father was one of the most powerful noblemen in England and supported the House of York. Anne met the sons of Richard, Duke of York, George and Richard, at Middleham Castle where she spent most of her childhood.
Her father helped Edward IV win the throne in 1461 but by 1470 the two had fallen out, mostly due to Edward’s marriage. Warwick switched his allegiance to the House of Lancaster and Anne played an important role in cementing it as Margaret of Anjou was suspicious of Warwick’s motives. Anne was formally betrothed to the son of Margaret and Henry VI, Edward of Westminster. She became the Princess of Wales in December 1470 when they were married in Angers Cathedral.
Warwick succeeded in briefly restoring Henry to the throne but the king was captured and he himself was killed in March 1471 when Edward returned to England. Anne returned to England with Margaret and Prince Edward with more troops but they were soundly defeated. Prince Edward was killed and Anne was taken prisoner. She ended up in the household of her sister Isabel and her husband, George, Duke of Clarence.
Anne became the subject of a dispute between George and his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard wanted to marry her, but Clarence wanted the whole inheritance to which she and Isabel were heiresses. He attempted to make Anne his ward to control her inheritance and opposed any marriage. Edward IV also opposed the marriage and refused Anne safe conduct to plea her case. In circumstances that are unknown, Anne managed to escape the household and married Richard in July 1472.
After the marriage, Anne and Richard made their home in Middleham Castle. They had one child, Edward, born in 1473. Anne later took in her sister’s two children after the Duke of Clarence was executed for treason in 1478. Isabel had died in 1476 after childbirth.
When Edward IV died in April 1483, Richard was named Lord Protector for his nephew Edward V. However, Richard had Edward and his siblings declared illegitimate and seized power as Richard III in June 1483. Anne was crowned with her husband and her son was made the Prince of Wales. Edward IV’s sons were taken to the Tower of London and never seen again. There are theories on their disappearance that include Anne’s involvement.
In April 1484, Anne’s son unexpected died at Sheriff Hutton while both his parents were absent. His death was a personal tragedy as well as a dynastic blow since they had no other children. Rumors arose that Richard planned to divorce Anne and remarry in the hopes of gaining another heir. Instead, he named their mutual nephew, Edward, Earl of Warwick, as heir presumptive. After her death he named another nephew heir, John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln.
Anne died less than a year after the death of her son in March 1485 from what was likely tuberculosis. The day she died, there was an eclipse which some took to be an omen of her husband’s fall from grace. She was buried in Westminster Abbey in an unmarked grave to the right of the High Altar. (x)
