Anne Neville (June 11, 1456 – March 16, 1485) is an English nobleman, daughter of Richard Neville (known as “kingmaker”). She became Princess of Wales by marrying Edward of Westminster, then Queen of England as wife and consort of King Richard III.
As a member of the powerful Neville family, she took part in the battle between the house of York and the house of Lancaster for the conquest of the throne of England despite herself during the War of the Roses.
His father Warwick engaged him as a child to Richard, the youngest brother of King Edward IV, then, later, arranged his marriage to Edward, the son of King Henry VI. His sister Isabel Neville, for his part, married George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV.
After the deaths of Edward of Westminster and Warwick, she married Richard. She becomes queen when Richard recovers the crown, June 1483, but dies in March 1485, five months before Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth. Her only son with Richard is Edward of Middleham (1473-1484), died before her.
Quick Facts: Anne Neville
- Known for: wife of Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VI; Wife of Richard von Gloucester; when Richard became King Richard III, Anne became Queen of England
- Born: June 11th, 1456 at Warwick Castle in London, England
- Parents: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, and his wife Anne Beauchamp
- Died: March 16, 1485, in London, England
- Spouse (s): Edward of Westminster, the son of Henry VI (m 1470-1471.); Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, brother of Edward IV (m. 1472-1485)
- Children: Edward, Prince of Wales (c. 1473-1484)
Anne Neville Biography
Anne Neville was born June 11, 1456, at Warwick Castle in London, England, and probably lived there and in other castles kept by her family while she was a child. She did attend various formal celebrations, including the feast in 1468 to celebrate Margaret of York’s wedding.
Anne’s father Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, became the kingmaker for his shift and influential role in the aforementioned War of the Roses. He was a nephew of the Duke of York’s wife, Cecily Neville, mother of Edward IV and Richard III.
He came into considerable possession and wealth when he married Anne Beauchamp. They had no sons, only two daughters, of whom Anne Neville was the younger, and Isabel (1451-1476) the older. These daughters would inherit a fortune, and thus their marriages were particularly important in the royal marriage game.
Anne Neville as goods for alliances
In 1460, Anne’s father and uncle, Edward, Duke of York, and Earl of March, defeated Henry VI in Northampton. In 1461 Edward King of England was proclaimed Edward IV. Edward married Elizabeth Woodville in 1464, surprisingly Warwick, who had plans for a more advantageous marriage for him.
By 1469, Warwick had turned against Edward IV and the Yorkists and joined the Lancastrian cause to encourage the return of Henry VI. Henry’s Queen Margaret of Anjou controls the Lancastrian effort from France.
Warwick married his older daughter, Isabel, George, Duke of Clarence, a brother of Edward IV, while the parties were in Calais, France. Clarence moved from the York to the Lancaster party.
Princess of Wales
Her father engaged her at the age of 14 with Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, the only son of King Henry VI of England. Ana’s father, dissatisfied with King Edward IV’s ingratitude, decided to change sides and support the Lancaster, allying himself with Queen Margaret of Anjou.
Despite this, the queen had reservations about Neville’s loyalty – due in part to the marriage of Warwick’s eldest daughter Elizabeth to Duke George of Clarence, brother of Edward IV, celebrated on July 11, 1469, in Calais-. It is not certain that between Anna and Edward a formal marriage ceremony came to pass — and if there was, it was never consummated.
The truth is that the nuptial or formal engagement ceremony – the legal equivalent of marriage – was held at Amboise Castle on December 13, 1470. The Earl of Warwick, sent to England by Queen Margaret to face Edward IV, found defeat and death at the Battle of Barnet on April 14, 1471.
Anne, meanwhile, returned to England, along with her husband and her mother-in-law, then finding herself fatherless. With the death of her husband at the Battle of Tewkesbury (May 4, 1471), Anne found herself a widow and a subject of contention for the members of the House of York.
An unconfirmed legend tells that the future Ricardo III found Anna working as a servant in London. The truth is that Ricardo had a deep affection for Anna from childhood, but he also longed for a part of the immense states of the Neville – most of it belonging to his mother, Anna of Beauchamp.
Duchess of Gloucester
Anne Neville and Richard’s wedding takes place on July 12, 1472, at Westminster Abbey, then they settle in a house near the castle of Middleham, with which they are familiar, Richard having been appointed Governor of the North at the request of the king.
Thanks to this marriage, she is made Duchess of Gloucester. They have only one child, Edward of Middleham, born in Middleham around 1473.
The young princes
Edward IV died in 1483. After his death, his minor son Edward became Edward V. But the young prince was never crowned. He was put in the cargo of his uncle, Anne’s husband, Richard von Gloucester, as a protector. Prince Edward and later his younger brother was brought to the Tower of London where they disappeared from history.
It is believed that they were killed, although it is not clear when. Stories have long been widespread that Richard III was responsible for the death of his nephew, removing the “princes in the tower” rival applicants for the crown.
Henry VII, Richard’s successor, also had motive and, if the princes survived Richard’s reign, would have had the opportunity to have them killed. Some have pointed at Anne Neville as having the motivation to order the deaths.
Heir to the throne
While the princes were still under Richard’s control. Richard had invalidated his brother’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville and his brother’s children declared illegitimate on June 25, 1483, thereby inheriting the crown itself as a legitimate male heir.
Anne was crowned when Queen and her son Edward Prince of Wales were made. But Edward died on April 9, 1484; Richard adopted Edward, Earl of Warwick, his sister’s son, as his heir, probably upon Anne’s request. Anne may not be able to carry another child because of her illness.
Death of Anne Neville
Anne dies on March 16, 1485, probably tuberculosis, in Westminster. On the day of his death, an eclipse occurs, which is taken as an omen of Richard’s fall in divine good graces. She is buried in Westminster Abbey, in an unmarked grave to the right of the altar, next to the confessor’s chapel.
Richard is said to have cried at his funeral. However, rumors claim that he poisoned her to marry his niece, Elizabeth of York. Richard denies this union project, although according to the Croyland Chronicle, he was urged to do so by the enemies of the Woodvilles, who fear that they will soon have to return the lands they have confiscated from them.
There is no memorial for her until 1960, when a bronze tablet was erected on a wall near her grave, by the Ricardians.