Who was Anne Neville? The Facts.
By Anne O’Brien
Born: 11th June 1456 at Warwick Castle.
Warwick Castle
Father: Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Mother: Anne Beauchamp, the wealthy Beauchamp–Despenser heiress. On her death, her inheritance would be shared jointly between her two daughters, Isabel and Anne.
Childhood: spent mostly at Middleham Castle in North Yorkshire with her elder sister Isabel. The young Richard of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, came to Middleham to learn all the social and political skills required by a royal prince, as one of the Earl of Warwick’s henchmen. This is where Anne and Richard met, but there is no record of their reaction to each other.
Early Plans: To create two powerful dynastic marriages, Anne was betrothed to Richard in these early years at the same time as her sister Isabel was betrothed to Richard’s brother George, Duke of Clarence. The betrothals were broken after Warwick’s rebellion against Edward IV and Anne and her family were forced to flee to France. The marriage between Isabel and Clarence still took place in Calais, without the King’s permission.
Appearance: there is no true description of Anne. Did she really look like this? This drawing of Anne is taken from the Salisbury Roll – a charming portrait but unlikely to be as accurate as we might wish for.
Anne Neville
Princess of Wales: In France Anne was used as a pawn in the vicious political climate of the day to cement a difficult alliance between her father and the Lancastrians. In Angers Cathedral in December 1470, at 14 years old, she was married to Edward of Lancaster, exiled heir to the English throne, son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou. Warwick and Margaret of Anjou were, and remained bitter enemies, united purely through necessity. In an attempt to keep control of the situation and create an opportunity to annul the marriage at some future date, Margaret insisted that Anne’s marriage was never consummated.
Isolated in Margaret’s hostile court, Anne returned to England in the wake of the invading Lancastrian army led by Warwick. In the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury and their aftermath both her father and her husband were killed and her mother imprisoned in Beaulieu Abbey. Prince Edward’s fate is one of those fascinating subjects for historical debate. Either he died on the battlefield at Tewkesbury or was murdered at the hands of Richard of Gloucester in Tewkesbury Abbey itself. Certainly, so much blood was spilt in the Abbey that it had to be re-consecrated.
Tewkesbury Abbey
A modern plaque marks the burial place of Edward in the chancel of Tewkesbury Abbey.
Modern day plaque for Edward at Tewkesbury Abbey
Aftermath: As a prisoner by Edward IV, Anne was taken to London and placed in the safe keeping of Isabel and Clarence in their house at Cold Harbour (which no longer exists) with the intention of finding her a suitable husband. But Anne was betrayed by Isabel and Clarence who planned to secure the whole of Anne Beauchamp’s inheritance for themselves, thus robbing Anne of her half. The plan was to enclose Anne in a nunnery. Anne was dressed as a servant and made to work in Isabel’s kitchens to hide her from view and prevent Richard from rescuing her.
Duchess of Gloucester: Richard rescued Anne and took her to sanctuary in the
Church of St Martin le Grand. With an eye to the main chance, he saved Anne’s portion of
her inheritance, bargained for the release of her mother from the convent where the King
was keeping her in confinement and finally wed Anne – although the date is uncertain
or even the legality of the marriage for there was no papal dispensation, a legal
necessity because of their close family relationship. Anne was fifteen, Richard eighteen at
the time of their marriage. They made their home at Middleham Castle. The date of birth
of their son, Edward of Middleham, their only child, is unclear but perhaps as early as
1474.
Queen of England: When Edward IV died in 1483, Richard was named Lord Protector for his young nephew Edward, later inheriting the throne as Richard III after the critical situation surrounding the legitimacy of the two young princes. So Anne was crowned Queen of England on 6th July 1483. She did not live long to enjoy her new status, nor was it a happy time for her. Her son Edward of Middleham died suddenly in April 1484 and was buried in the church at Sheriff Hutton in North Yorkshire. It was a personal and a dynastic grief for Anne and Richard.
Edward of Middleham's Burial Place
Death: Anne died on 16th March 1485 at the age of twenty eight years after a period of ill-health. The suggestion of poisoning is not supported: tuberculosis or cancer have been suggested. She was buried in Westminster Abbey but the site is disputed and no memorial was erected for her. A more recent memorial was set up in 1960 by the Richard III Society on the wall of the Abbey near to where her grave might have been with the following inscription:
ANNE NEVILL 1456-1485 QUEEN OF ENGLAND YOUNGER DAUGHTER OF RICHARD EARL OF WARWICK CALLED THE KINGMAKER WIFE TO THE LAST PLANTAGENET KING RICHARD III.
“In person she was seemly, amiable and beauteous…And according to the interpretation of her name Anne full gracious” REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
A fitting tribute to Anne Neville, but one that I am sure does not do her complex life justice. Out of these ‘bare bones’ of Anne’s life, I created The Virgin Widow.
Anne O’Brien: January 2011
To Whom It May Concern,
I have great interest in learning more about Anne Neville and her parents, (Neville/Beauchamp). If you could suggest some sites, articles, URLs etc. it would be greatly appreciated…
Sincerely,
John Connor
Here try this, http://www.philippagregory.com/family-tree/richard-neville-earl-of-warwick-the-kingmaker
I too am very interested in this part of British history. In college I majored in British history. There were to many “gaps in this part of my course. It was disappointing.
Im really fascinated by the history of the Neville family in England and Ireland i know Neville came from Anglo Norman ancestry and we are a noble family in both countries even one Gilbert de Neville was the admirald of william the conqueror and is cousin on his mothers side i would like to know when the Neville’s split from Ireland and England and why ?
There is a Neville Street in Cardiff and I read somewhere that this is connected to Anne Nevill – any info on this?
I have just looked this up Elizabeth, and it seems that the Neville family acquired Cardiff through marriage in 1445. If you type in Cardiffians.co.uk it will give you a good insight to the history of Cardiff from the Celtic tribes to the present, really interesting. 🙂
the picture above is not Edward of Middleham, it is in the same Church at Sheriff Hutton but is Edward Thwing
Does anybody know anything about Richard of Gloucester time at Penrith Castle in Cumbria.
I know little about the family tree as i have lived a busy life. The discovery of Richard 111 has piqued my imagination and I would love to know more about the mediaeval history of the family. My dad’
s name was Hilary Fynes-Clinton Nevill from NZ.
Anne Neville the wife of Richard 111 the last Plantagenet King of England who was defeated at Bosworth field in 1485. Daughter of Richard Neville Earl of Warwick. Cicerly Neville mother of Richard 111 was i think Anne’s father’s sister. i have been reading a very interesting book about Anne Neville called Richard 111’s tragic Queen by Amy Licence. It looks at Anne’s life from her perspective and not from her husband’s. Of course most of the Queen consorts in those days i think where pawns in a power struggle regarding the men of the nobility fighting over who had a more stronger claim to the throne during the Wars of the Roses. The fact Anne died so young in strange circumstances has never been really explained stories like Richard had her killed to marry Elizabeth of York who later married Henry V11 still remain answered after 500 years i don’t think they ever will now.
Cecily Neville was Anne Neville’s Father’s ( the Kingmaker ) Aunt, therefore Anne and Richard III were second cousins through her dad but I believe they were also 3rd or 4th cousins through Richard III’s Father ( the Duke of York, as he descended back to Edward III and Cecily Neville’s paternal ancestor married I believe one of Edward III other children, I think Katherine Swynford…if not her then a daughter of hers! Lol the family tree is quite complex ( I don’t have it to hand ) and there were a lot of inter-related marriages…if really was a cousins war!!
My opinion Rosamund Forbes is Anne died of TB or some sort of women’s complaint. I don’t think she was in good health especially after the death of her son Edward Prince of Wales in 1483. I will try and get a copy of the book you mentioned sounds interesting. The Wars of the Roses was a very dark period in English history which was ended by Richard’s death at Bosworth and the middle ages came to an end.
I am interested in more about Anne Neville and her family history I am related on her mother and fathers side ..distant but still related …
thank you!!!!!! it was wonderful to read more about Anne Neville
did you know if existing her letters ? or her sister isabel neville
thanks
Thank you so much! This a superb online site!.
Hi, After watching a couple of episodes of ‘The White Queen’ I am addicted to Anne Nevilles elusive life, lack of portraits and being buried in an unmarked grave. Was this normal, esp for a queet or was it because her husband/King was killed in battle so the proper ponce and ritual was never gotten around to. It seems like her story and life was hidden.
@Gayle, hi. Anne Neville passed away before Richard 3rd.
I have just read Phillippa Gregory’s The Kingmaker’s daughter, I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it.
The novel is not an exact account of Anne Neville’s life, but wonderfully written and I like to think it was pretty close to being accurate, but not quite of course.
Phillippa Gregory did an amazing job trying to discover all she could on the history of Anne Neville and her family. I highly recommend the read.
Thank you for your wonderful site. I have just discovered through ‘Ancestry’ that I am directly related to the Nevilles through the Montagu & Pomeroy families on my Father’s side. The saddest thing is that my father knew nothing about the family connections, whilst he was alive, having been born in the East End of London to very ordinary people (no fortunes or important positions there). The strangest thing is that I have always been fascinated by this time in history and have visited most of the castles and large houses in UK & Ireland without knowing the connections. I shall revisit these and read up on the history with a renewed interest.
Ann,
You should read up about John Neville, the Kingmaker’s brother who was killed at Barnet with him. My favourite character and forced into so many divided loyalties by his brother’s actions. He didn’t want to be traitorous to Edward but Edward didn’t reward him for his loyalty. Well he did but then he took it away. John eventually went with his brother and died with him but it is said he was wearing the king’s colours under his armour. Wendy
I have also recently discovered through Ancestry a connection with the Nevilles.
I am an American and I love English history. I started watching shows on them and get so intrigued that I start looking the characters up and learn about them. The only show I couldn’t watch was the Tudors, it made King Henry VIII out to be a slut. Which I am sure he wasn’t the greatest, but his entire life was not about that. Anyway, I love learning about the history!
Thank you Anne for your great website. I love learning more about the Tudors and the Neville family. I am a 20th great grandchild of Anne Neville (just discovered) and as I was always fascinated by their history it has added an extra meaning. Thanks again from Kate in Sydney, Australia
Glad you’re enjoying the website, Kate! Always nice to hear from a fellow Sydneysider. Natalie
my name is William Birdsall, and my roots were traced back to Ann Neville being my 19thgreat grandmother. iamfrom the De Birsales of Yorkshire.
If Anne Neville’s only son dies young, without issue, there is no way possible for grandchildren to exist..
The tomb in the picture is the wrong one, it is not Edward of Middleham, but the Earl of Thwing
Isn’t there an Australian man who is the rightfully
Descended Plantagenet heir to the throne? I saw a special on the tv about him. He doesn’t seem too keen about stirring things up now.