How Far Was Edward Iv Responsible for His Own Deposition in 1470?

How far was Edward responsible for his birth desposition in 1470? When Edward VI became exp onenessnt in 1461, he had to appoint with some unfavourable circumstances. Edward had non executed his enemies enthalpy VI, Prince Edward, or Margargont of Anjou, so they escaped to Scot repose. This provided an alternative King for Edwards opponents to support. He was in like manner a usurper to the great deal, thus the major(ip)ity of the nobility that were still patriotic to Henry VI could use this to their favour. Additionally, Edward did non control the distant parts of the country, particularly the North of England and Wales.The Kingdom was extremely divided. thither were still Lancastrian castles in the Midlands that inevitable to be captured and/or destroy. His government was as well as in severe debt. Considering Edwards age and inexperience, it was tallish(a) he would be able to deal with this smirch effectively and provide the top hat possible outcomes. However, so me circumstances were actually quite favourable. Although he had to deal with a difficult situation, it would be practically unworkable for Edward to do much worse than the chance King who governed before him, Henry VI.Edward had too proved his military credentials as a warrior King at the battles of Mortimers continue and Towton, sho get alongg he was not as incompetent a leader as Henry VI. He was besides an ideal tushdidate for kingship because he was two tall and charismatic, and although he was a usurper to the throne, he was technically the strongest claimant. The beginning of Edwards firstly reign can be considered reasonably successful. Edward immediatly destroyed the remaining Lancastrian castles and tried to establish his indicant base by reserveing a selected number of the nobility to help him, including Warwick, Montagu and Herbert.He likewise ordered the execution of the Earl of Oxford and his son after(prenominal) he discovered plots to kill the King. indeed Edward, marched his army north where a Lancastrian- stinting force invaded England, and defeated them. He excessively issued his close ally William Herbert to defeat opposite in Wales. However, soon after, Edward started to introduce his weaknesses. Edward resolved he was going to try to win over some of his opposition, rather than show them no mercy. He welcomed Somerset, a star Lancastrian to court and allowed him to join him in all his King-like heretoforets, such as hunting, jousting and withal sharing the same sleeping quarters.Sir Ralph Percy, was also given back his castles as a sign of Edwards willingness to trust him. This proved slight-traveled among the Yorkist nobility, and rightly so, as in the end, both Somerset and Percy betrayed him by fleeing back to Henry and handing over their castles to the Scots. Finally, Somerset was recaptured and executed. Although Edwards misunderstanding was not as severe as opposite mis wagess, such as spliceing Eliza beth Woodville, it was his first mistake proving his naivity and inexperience. His choice of wife was his most major mistake. Most English kings hook up with contrary princesses to create alinements and to increase diplomatic influence.It would also pr flusht an alliance between the Lancastrians and France. Edward knew that marrying Elizabeth Woodville, a woman from low nobility, would be considered a serious error, so he hook up with her in secret. Her previous trades union was to a Lancastrian, doubting Thomas Grey, an new(prenominal) reason as to why he shouldnt relieve oneself matrimonial her. In addition, Elizabeth Woodville had an extremely large family, which meant the King would have to reward his new family with backing and titles. This created resentment among noble families, there was right off less land and titles for them to gain and less places for leading nobles at court.The Woodvilles also invaded the marriage market significantly. Elizabeths 5 sisters all g et married into important noble families, reducing the prospects of other Yorkist nobles. By 1475, Edward had split the nobility even more than it had been before and this was mainly his fault. Warwick, was increasingly resenting the King for a number of reasons. He had been negotiating with the King of France, Louis XI, to marry Bona of Savoy, a french princess to Edward. When he discovered that Edward had already married Elizabeth Woodville in secret, he was humiliated.As well as this, now that the Woodvilles were in the marriage buisness, Warwicks arrangements to marry his two daughters were now ruined. One of Elizabeths sons, Thomas Grey married Anne Holland, who was meant to marry one of Warwicks nephews. Not only did he countercheck Warwick in the marriage industry, but he also implemented his own ideas in foreign policy, creating an alliance with Burgundy rather than France, therefore completely ignoring Warwicks suggestion. The traditional view of Edwards first reign was t hat he was too puppylike and inexperienced to rule effectively, but by his second reign he controlled the situation much better.However, some historians such as Professor Carpenter have argued in opposition to this view. He did cope extremely well in both Lancastrian and foreign interference. He did not allow Warwick or the Woodvilles to dominate him, and by antagonizing Warwick he was proving his independance from the Kingmaker. Besides, Warwick was extremely difficult to please. He was not satisified even after he had recieved a number of titles and land. Edward did not give him land in Wales that he had originally call for because Edward desperately needed a wider power base, so he gave this land to the Herberts.Warwick was so ambitious, he was even willing to go against the Yorkist regime to get what he wanted. He joined forces with the Kings brother, Clarence, as they both resented the Woodvilles. He did everything in his power to antagonize the King. He arranged for Clarence to marry one of his daughters against the Kings wishes. He also organised a insubordination against the King in the North. In doing so, he proved his extreme childish behaviour. grandeur were meant to ensure law and order, not force out rebellion. He even organized a rebellion to make Clarence the King of England, which in hindsight, we know did not succeed.Warwicks traitory streak was on-going. He wanted to get rid of Edward VI by whatever means possible, even if it meant resorting to a French/Lancastrian alliance in 1470. He was now involving foreigners into the conflict. Warwick finally brought Henry VI back onto the throne in 1470, while Edward and his closest ally escaped the Kingdom. Overall, Edward was largely responsible for his desposition in 1470. Some of Edwards descions during his first reign can be justified, for example rewarding other nobles rather than Warwick to increase his power-base or retention his traditional trading ally Burgundy to outer space himself from Warwick.However, there are some descions that are injustifiable, mainly his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. If this descion wasnt made, he would have probably avoided a number of conflicts with Warwick. On the other hand, Warwick and m any(prenominal) other nobles were overly ambitious, and if he didnt antagonize him by marrying Elizabeth Woodville, it is believably that he would have antagonized him in any other descion he made. Warwick and Clarence should also take a large part of the function as they were prepared to betray their own side in pursuit of their ambitions.