[MR] Wikipedia: Second and Third Earls Rivers

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1491, Richard Woodville, 3rd Earl Rivers died: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Woodville,_3rd_Earl_Rivers . He 
was a minor member of the Woodville family, and would not have inherited 
the title if his older brother Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl of Rivers, 
had not been offed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in his plot to seize 
the crown.

Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl of Rivers, was a much more interesting 
figure. Anthony fought for the Lacastrians in the War of Roses, but 
changed to the Yorkist side. Whether this was because his sister 
Elizabeth Woodville married Edward IV and became Queen of England in 
1464 is not clear from the Wikipedia article, but the Woodvilles 
obviously gained great power under the Yorkists until Richard, Duke of 
Gloucester usurped the throne. Anthony held a number of important posts 
under Edward IV.

Woodville later married Elizabeth de Scales, and assumed the additional 
title of Lord Scales

Anthony Woodville was acclaimed the greatest jouster in England. During 
an embassy visit by a Burgundian delegation to arrange a marriage of 
Margaret of York to Charles the Bold in 1467, he engaged in a friendly 
joust with Anthony of Burgundy (aka the Bastard of Burgundy). The 
bastard of Burgundy was considered the greatest champion of Burgundy. 
The two-day duel was carefully recorded by observers from both sides. 
According to the English accounts Woodville was winning the fight, 
having broken The Bastard's armor, when Edward IV stopped the fight. 
That night messengers arrived at court with the news that the Duke of 
Burgundy, Philip the Bold, had died. The delegation was ordered back to 
Burgundy, so the duel was never finished. The marriage, however, took 
place in 1468.

When Edward IV died, Anthony Woodville was protecting the Prince of 
Wales (now the uncrowned king Edward V) and his younger brother. 
Woodville was arrested by the Duke of Gloucester, and was summarily 
executed. The young king and his brother were moved to the Tower of 
London for "safekeeping" under Richard's protection. Then they 
disappeared, and England had a new king, Richard III.

Here is a brief biography of Anthony, 2nd Earl Rivers: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Woodville,_2nd_Earl_Rivers .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge