Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales (c. December 1473 or 1476 – 9 April 1484), was the son and heir apparent of King Richard III of England by his wife Anne Neville. He was Richard's only legitimate child and died aged seven or ten.[1]
Edward was born at Middleham Castle, a stronghold close to York that became Richard and Anne's principal base in northern England.[2] His birth date is usually given as around December 1473, but he may have been born as late as 1476.[3] Professor Charles Ross wrote that the date 1473 "lacks authority. In fact, he was probably not born until 1476."[4] The act of Parliament that settled the dispute between George of Clarence and Richard over Anne Beauchamp's inheritance just as if the Countess of Warwick "was naturally dead" was dated May 1474.[5] The doubts cast by Clarence on the validity of Richard and Anne's marriage were addressed by a clause protecting their rights in the event they were divorced (i.e. of their marriage being declared null and void by the Church) and then legally remarried to each other, and also protected Richard's rights while waiting for such a valid second marriage with Anne.[6] There were no provisions, however, for their heirs in case of this said divorce, which seems to confirm Richard and Anne had no children as of 1474. However, such provision was the province of the ruling king for those of royal blood, so would have been moot.
Edward was mostly kept at Middleham, and was known to be a sickly child.[7]
Edward died on 9 April 1484, the anniversary of the death of his uncle, Edward IV. The reasons for his sudden death are unknown. The Croyland Chronicle reads:
However, in a short time after, it was fully seen how vain are the thoughts of a man who desires to establish his interests without the aid of God. For, in the following month of April, on a day not very far distant from the anniversary of king Edward, this only son of his, in whom all the hopes of the royal succession, fortified with so many oaths, were centred, was seized with an illness of but short duration, and died at Middleham Castle, in the year of our Lord, 1484, being the first of the reign of the said king Richard. On hearing the news of this, at Nottingham, where they were then residing, you might have seen his father and mother in a state almost bordering on madness, by reason of their sudden grief.[10]
Edward's sudden death left Richard without a legitimate child. Contemporary historian John Rous recorded that Richard declared his nephew Edward, Earl of Warwick, his heir-presumptive, but there is no other evidence of this, and seems unlikely as Richard's own claim was based on the attainting of Warwick's father.[11] Similarly, John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln also seemed to have been designated as Richard's heir-presumptive, but was never publicly proclaimed as such.[12]
Richard's enemies were inclined to believe that Edward's sudden death was divine retribution for Richard's alleged involvement in the usurpation and subsequent disappearance of the sons of Edward IV, his nephews Edward V of England and Richard, Duke of York. It may have also emboldened them to renew hostilities.[13]
Burialedit
Effigy at Sheriff Hutton Church long believed to represent Edward of Middleham, but now thought to be an earlier work
The location of Edward's burial is unknown. A mutilated white alabaster cenotaph ("empty tomb")[14] in the Church of St Helen and the Holy Cross at Sheriff Hutton, with an effigy of a child, was long believed to represent Edward of Middleham, but is now thought to be an earlier work depicting one of the Neville family.[15]
^ abcdWeir, Alison (1996). Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy, Revised Edition. London: Random House. pp. 143–144. ISBN978-0-7126-7448-5.
^Ross, Charles. Richard III (Univ. of California Press, 1981) ISBN0-520-04589-0, p. 29, n22, citing P. W. Hammond Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales (1973) pgs. 12, 35–6, and also T. B. Pugh, Glamorgan County History III (1971) p 687.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Salisbury, Earls of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 72.
^. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Pierce, Hazel, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury 1473–1541 (University of Wales Press, 2009), p. 9.
^Wagner, John, Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Roses, ABC-CLIO, 2001, p. 211-212.
^Pollard, A.J. (2004). "Edward [Edward of Middleham], prince of Wales (1474x6–1484)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/38659. ISBN978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 28 December 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
edward, middleham, prince, wales, december, 1473, 1476, april, 1484, heir, apparent, king, richard, england, wife, anne, neville, richard, only, legitimate, child, died, aged, seven, edward, middlehamprince, wales, earl, chester, duke, cornwall, earl, salisbur. Edward of Middleham Prince of Wales c December 1473 or 1476 9 April 1484 was the son and heir apparent of King Richard III of England by his wife Anne Neville He was Richard s only legitimate child and died aged seven or ten 1 Edward of MiddlehamPrince of Wales Earl of Chester Duke of Cornwall and Earl of SalisburyEdward of Middleham with the White Boar of King Richard III Illustration from the contemporary Rous RollBornc December 1473 or 1476Middleham Wensleydale EnglandDied9 April 1484 aged 7 10 Middleham Wensleydale EnglandNamesEnglish Edward of Middleham Welsh Edward o MiddlehamHouseYorkFatherRichard III of EnglandMotherAnne Neville Contents 1 Birth and titles 2 Death 3 Burial 4 Titles styles and arms 4 1 Titles 4 2 Arms 5 Ancestry 6 References 7 BibliographyBirth and titles editEdward was born at Middleham Castle a stronghold close to York that became Richard and Anne s principal base in northern England 2 His birth date is usually given as around December 1473 but he may have been born as late as 1476 3 Professor Charles Ross wrote that the date 1473 lacks authority In fact he was probably not born until 1476 4 The act of Parliament that settled the dispute between George of Clarence and Richard over Anne Beauchamp s inheritance just as if the Countess of Warwick was naturally dead was dated May 1474 5 The doubts cast by Clarence on the validity of Richard and Anne s marriage were addressed by a clause protecting their rights in the event they were divorced i e of their marriage being declared null and void by the Church and then legally remarried to each other and also protected Richard s rights while waiting for such a valid second marriage with Anne 6 There were no provisions however for their heirs in case of this said divorce which seems to confirm Richard and Anne had no children as of 1474 However such provision was the province of the ruling king for those of royal blood so would have been moot Edward was mostly kept at Middleham and was known to be a sickly child 7 In 1478 Edward was granted the title of Earl of Salisbury previously held by the attainted George Plantagenet 1st Duke of Clarence The title became extinct on his death 8 His father became King of England on 26 June 1483 deposing his nephew Edward V Edward did not attend his parents coronation probably due to illness 2 He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in a splendid ceremony in York Minster on 8 September 1483 following his parents royal progress across England 9 Death editEdward died on 9 April 1484 the anniversary of the death of his uncle Edward IV The reasons for his sudden death are unknown The Croyland Chronicle reads However in a short time after it was fully seen how vain are the thoughts of a man who desires to establish his interests without the aid of God For in the following month of April on a day not very far distant from the anniversary of king Edward this only son of his in whom all the hopes of the royal succession fortified with so many oaths were centred was seized with an illness of but short duration and died at Middleham Castle in the year of our Lord 1484 being the first of the reign of the said king Richard On hearing the news of this at Nottingham where they were then residing you might have seen his father and mother in a state almost bordering on madness by reason of their sudden grief 10 Edward s sudden death left Richard without a legitimate child Contemporary historian John Rous recorded that Richard declared his nephew Edward Earl of Warwick his heir presumptive but there is no other evidence of this and seems unlikely as Richard s own claim was based on the attainting of Warwick s father 11 Similarly John de la Pole 1st Earl of Lincoln also seemed to have been designated as Richard s heir presumptive but was never publicly proclaimed as such 12 Richard s enemies were inclined to believe that Edward s sudden death was divine retribution for Richard s alleged involvement in the usurpation and subsequent disappearance of the sons of Edward IV his nephews Edward V of England and Richard Duke of York It may have also emboldened them to renew hostilities 13 Burial edit nbsp Effigy at Sheriff Hutton Church long believed to represent Edward of Middleham but now thought to be an earlier work The location of Edward s burial is unknown A mutilated white alabaster cenotaph empty tomb 14 in the Church of St Helen and the Holy Cross at Sheriff Hutton with an effigy of a child was long believed to represent Edward of Middleham but is now thought to be an earlier work depicting one of the Neville family 15 Titles styles and arms editTitles edit 15 February 1478 onwards Earl of Salisbury 3 26 June 1483 onwards Duke of Cornwall 3 19 July 1483 onwards 16 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 8 September 1483 onwards Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester 3 17 Arms edit nbsp Edward s coat of arms as Prince of Wales From 1483 to 1484 Edward used the arms of his father debruised with a label of three points Argent Ancestry editAncestors of Edward of Middleham Prince of Wales8 Richard of Conisburgh 3rd Earl of Cambridge4 Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York9 Anne de Mortimer2 Richard III of England10 Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmorland5 Cecily Neville11 Joan Beaufort1 Edward of Middleham Prince of Wales12 Richard Neville 5th Earl of Salisbury6 Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick13 Alice Montacute 5th Countess of Salisbury3 Anne Neville14 Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl of Warwick7 Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess of Warwick15 Isabel le DespenserReferences edit Official Website of the British Monarchy royal gov uk Archived from the original on 8 October 2009 a b Panton p 162 163 a b c d Weir Alison 1996 Britain s Royal Families The Complete Genealogy Revised Edition London Random House pp 143 144 ISBN 978 0 7126 7448 5 Ross Charles Richard III Univ of California Press 1981 ISBN 0 520 04589 0 p 29 n22 citing P W Hammond Edward of Middleham Prince of Wales 1973 pgs 12 35 6 and also T B Pugh Glamorgan County History III 1971 p 687 Ross C D Richard III St Ives 1981 p 30 C Given Wilson ed Parliament Rolls of Medieval England Edward IV October 1472 2nd roll Princes of Wales englishmonarchs co uk nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Salisbury Earls of Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 24 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 72 Kendall P M Richard III 1955 Archived copy Archived from the original on 13 October 2011 Retrieved 3 December 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Pierce Hazel Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury 1473 1541 University of Wales Press 2009 p 9 Wagner John Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Roses ABC CLIO 2001 p 211 212 Pollard A J 2004 Edward Edward of Middleham prince of Wales 1474x6 1484 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 38659 ISBN 978 0 19 861412 8 Retrieved 28 December 2021 Subscription or UK public library membership required Richard III englishmonarchs co uk Routh P and Knowles R 1982 The Sheriff Hutton Alabaster Reconsidered Wakefield Historical Publications Richard s children Archived from the original on 21 January 2012 Retrieved 3 December 2011 Kendall P M Richard III 1955Bibliography editKendall Paul Murray 1955 Richard the Third Allen amp Urwin ISBN 0 04 942048 8 Panton Kenneth J 2011 Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy Scarecrow Press ISBN 978 0 8108 5779 7 Edward of Middleham Prince of WalesHouse of YorkCadet branch of the House of PlantagenetBorn December 1473 Died 9 April 1484 English royalty VacantTitle last held byEdward of the Sanctuary Prince of Wales1483 1484 VacantTitle next held byArthur Tudor Peerage of England VacantTitle last held byEdward of the Sanctuary Duke of CornwallEarl of Chester1483 1484 VacantTitle next held byArthur Tudor Political offices VacantTitle last held byThe Duke of Bedford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland1483 1484 VacantTitle next held byThe Marquess Cornwallis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward of Middleham Prince of Wales amp oldid 1217106772, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
