Anne Neville

Anne Neville (June 11, 1456 - March 16, 1485) was Queen consort of King Richard III of England 1483-1485.

Princess of Wales

At fourteen, Anne was betrothed by her father to Edward, Prince of Wales, heir to Henry VI of England. Anne's father, dissatisfied with the favours he had received for helping King Edward IV of England to the throne, had changed sides and allied himself with Margaret of Anjou, Queen consort of Henry VI. Margaret harboured suspicions about Warwick's motives, particularly since Anne's sister, Isabel, had by now married the reigning king's brother, George, Duke of Clarence. It is not certain that a formal marriage ceremony ever took place between Anne and Edward -- and, if so, whether their marriage was ever consummated -- but they were either married or formally betrothed (the legal equivalent of marriage) at the Chateau d'Amboise in France, probably on December 13, 1470.

Related Topics:
Betrothed - Edward, Prince of Wales - Henry VI of England - Edward IV of England - Margaret of Anjou - George, Duke of Clarence - France - December 13 - 1470

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The Earl of Warwick, who had been dispatched by Margaret to England to restore King Henry to the throne, succeeded in this task but was defeated and killed in battle a few months later. Anne arrived back in England with her new husband and mother-in-law to find herself fatherless. With the death of Edward at the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471, Anne became a widow and the subject of some dispute between members of the House of York. There is a story that she was discovered by King Edward's younger brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, working as a servant in London. Whatever the truth, it is likely that Richard's desire to marry her arose out of a childhood affection, and that Clarence's desire to prevent such a marriage was motivated by his determination to be the sole heir to the Neville sisters' titles and properties (a large portion of which came to them from their mother, Anne Beauchamp).

Related Topics:
Battle of Tewkesbury - May 4 - 1471 - Widow - House of York - London

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