Biography of John Woodville 1445-1469

On 22nd April 1433 John Duke Bedford (age 43) and [his mother] Jacquetta Luxemburg (age 18) were married at Thérouanne [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol (age 43) and [his grandmother] Margherita Baux (age 39). He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were half fifth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

The marriage caused a rift with Philip "Good" Duke Burgundy (age 36), John's late wife's brother, who regarded the marriage, some five months after his sister's death, an insult to her memory. There was no issue from the marriage with John dying a year and a half later.

On 20th July 1460 Thomas Scales 7th Baron Scales (age 63) was murdered by boatmen whilst travelling from the Tower of London [Map] to Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His daughter [his future sister-in-law] Elizabeth succeeded 8th Baroness Scales. She was, or had been married to, Henry Bourchier (the year of his death may been 1458). She was in 1466 married to [his brother] Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 20), brother of [his future brother-in-law] King Edward IV's (age 18) wife [his sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 23); an example of the Woodville family marrying rich heiresses.

On 1st May 1464 [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 22) and [his sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 27) were married at Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire [Map]. [his mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 49), Elizabeth's mother, being the only witness. The date not certain. She the daughter of [his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 59) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford. He the son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and [his future sister-in-law] Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 48). They were sixth cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In January 1465 John Woodville (age 20) and Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 65) were married. Described as a 'Diabolical Marriage' by opponents of the Woodvilles. He being nineteen, she sixty-five. His first wife, her fourth husband. Regarded as an example of the Woodville family increasing their wealth and power. See Woodville Marriages The difference in their ages was 45 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 60) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 50). They were fifth cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Chronicle of William of Worcester [1415-1482]. In January [1465], [his wife] Catherine, Duchess of Norfolk (age 65), a young woman of nearly eighty years, was married to John Woodville (age 20), brother of the Queen, aged about twenty years; a diabolical marriage. The Revenge of Bernard later became apparent to them.

Mense Januarii Katerina, ducissa Norffolchiæ, juvencula ætatis fere iiijxx. annorum, maritata est Johanni Widevile, fratri reginæ, ætatis xx. annorum; maritagium diabolicum. Vindicta Bernardi inter eosdem postea patuit.

On 26th May 1465 [his sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 28) was crowned Queen Consort England by Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 47) at Westminster Abbey [Map].

[his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 23) attended.

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 23), [his brother] Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 25), [his brother] Richard Woodville 3rd Earl Rivers (age 12) and William Calthorpe (age 55) were created Knight of the Bath.

Elizabeth Tilney Countess of Surrey (age 21) carried her train.

Richard Choke (age 45) was created Knight of the Bath.

On 24th July 1469 the Yorkist army suffered a defeat against a Lancastrian army led by Robin of Redesdale at the Battle of Edgecote Moor. The Yorkist army was commanded by Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon (age 30) and William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46).

Thomas Vaughan (age 69), John Wogan, Henry Neville (age 32), John Conyers (age 36), and brothers John Dudley (age 42) and Oliver Dudley were killed.

Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon, John Conyers (age 58) and William Parr (age 35) fought.

[his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 64) and John Woodville (age 24) were captured.

On 27th July 1469 William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46) was executed following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor. His son [his brother-in-law] William (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 2nd Baron Herbert of Raglan. [his sister] Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon (age 13) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

On 12th August 1469 Woodvilles father and son were beheaded at Kenilworth Castle [Map] by supporters of Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 40).

[his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 64) was beheaded. His son [his brother] Anthony (age 29) succeeded 2nd Earl Rivers, 2nd Baron Rivers. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Scales Countess Rivers by marriage Countess Rivers.

John Woodville (age 24) was beheaded.

Warkworth's Chronicle [1461-1474]. 12th August 1469 And at that tyme was the [his father] Lorde Ryvers (age 64) takene, and one of his sonnes (age 24), in the forest of Dene, and brought to Northamtone, and the Earl of Penbroke (deceased) a[nd] Sere Richard Herbarde (deceased) his brother were behedede at Northamtone, alle iiij, by the commawndement of the Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick (age 40), and Thomas Harbarde was slayne at Brystow, &c.

Note 1. "Hic W. Harberde, gravissimus et oppressor et spoliator ecclesiasticorum et aliorum multorum per annos multos, hunc tandem, justo Dei judicio pro suis sceleribus et nequiciis, receepit.mercedem. Die Sabbati proximo ante assumpcionem beatissime semper Virginis Marie, captus est Dominus de Rywaus, cum domino Johanne filio suo, et, juxta castrum de Kelingworthe, pariter decollati sunt [Here W. Herbert, the most grievous oppressor and plunderer of the Church and many others for many years, finally received the just reward for his crimes and wickedness by the judgment of God. On the Saturday next before the assumption of the most blessed Virgin Mary, the Lord Rivers was captured, along with his son John, and they were both beheaded near the castle of Kelingworth]." - MS. Arundel, Coll. Arm. fol. 171 rº.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 12th August 1469. The Northamptonshire men, with diverse of the Northern men by them procured, in this fury made them a captain, and called him Robin of Redesdale, and suddenly came to the manor of Grafton [Map], where the [his father] earl Rivers (age 64) father to the [his sister] Queen (age 32) then lay whom they loved not, and there by force took the said earl and sir John (age 24) his son, and brought them to Northampton [Map], and there without Judgement stroke of their heads, whose bodies were solemnly interred in the Blackfriars at Northampton.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. On 12th August 1469. On the Saturday before the Assumption of the most blessed Virgin Mary, [his father] Lord de Rywans (age 64) along with Lord John (age 24), his son, were captured, and they were executed together near the castle of Kenilworth [Map].

Die Sabbati proximo ante Assumptionem beatissime semper Virginis Marie captus est Dominus de Rywans cum domino Johanne filio suo, et juxta castrum de Kelingworth pariter docollati sunt.